Adding This One
Thing to Your Steak Will Make It 20 Percent Tastier...
Cheyenne Buckingham 1/9/2019
We hate to break it to you, but you
may not be cooking your steak correctly.
Have you ever wondered how to prepare
a steak so that you maximize its natural flavor?
Maybe you’re that person that
dumps a pile of seasonings or steak rub on the meat and
call it a day, but you
may be missing one pivotal step that’s so simple: salting your steak.
With the help of two acclaimed
chefs, we concluded that salt is the secret ingredient that
helps pulls all of
a steak’s distinctive flavors out so you have an irresistible dish every
single time.
We feel that the simple step of salting your steak the right way
can make a world of difference to
the final result. Once you learn how to salt
a steak for maximum flavor, you’ll ditch those seasoning
bottles STAT.
How does salt
make such a big difference in the flavor of steak?
“Salt enhances flavors in all
foods,” says Vincent Olivieri, director of culinary development and
chef de cuisine
at Fairway Market Café and Steakhouse.
But how, specifically, does that apply to a
hunk of steak?
“Salt releases moisture in the
muscle [of the meat] and releases the natural flavors of steak,”
says Tender
Greens Chef and Vice President of Stores, Pete Balistreri.
When should you
salt your steak?
Balistreri says to always salt your
steak right before cooking.
“Salt will begin to cook the
steak’s surface and release moisture from the muscle if salted too far
in
advance. Ideally, we want to keep the juices in the steak by salting right
before we cook,”
Balistreri says. Olivieri concurs.
“It’s always good to salt a steak
prior to cooking to dry the outside,” says Olivieri. “A dry steak
will give you
a crispy sear.”
Can you overdo or
under do the amount of salt you use on your steak?
“Absolutely! The thicker the cut,
the more salt needed,” Balistreri says. “If you are cooking a
thick rib
eye or New York
steak, you’ll need a little more salt than if you are cooking a thin
skirt
steak. When salting, it’s important to salt well above the steak and ‘make the
salt rain.’
This allows for even coverage and avoids concentrated spots of
salt.”
Olivieri says that when it comes to
larger roasts, like prime rib, you should go heavy on the
salt because the fat
will absorb most of it and give you that crispy crust that everyone loves to
eat.
Who doesn’t want that?
OK got it, so it
depends on the thickness of the steak. What types of steak call for less
salt?
“If the Kobe Beef or Wagyu is a
standard grilling steak, I would recommend slightly less on the salt,
as the
fat will cause that beef to be very delicate,” says Balistreri. “For the
standard certified
grass-fed steak, it’s more about the thickness of the steak
than the type.”
And if you’re using a tougher cut
of meat, you might need to use a lighter touch.
“When dealing with a tougher cut,
like something that requires a marinade, go lighter on the salt
and heavier on
an acid. Whether it be lemon juice, vinegar, or wine, leave the salt light
until the end,
and season to your liking,” says Olivieri.
Is there a
specific amount of salt you use?
“I usually give a light sprinkling,
making sure to cover all the meat. I’d say the most important
aspect of salt
application is the quality of your salt. At the Steakhouse, we use imported
flaky
French sea salt, Maldon Large crystals [of sea salt] are strictly used
for finishing, adding that flavor
and a crunchy texture,” says Olivieri
.
Wait, what is
finishing salt, and why is it important?
“Just as important as seasoning the
steaks right before you cook them; a great finishing sea
salt larger than the
kosher salt you use prior to grilling will make a world of difference to the
finished experience. These finishing salts go a long way and should be used
lightly. There are
many types of finishing salts: smokey, spicy, sweet, and
standard,” says Balistreri. This is an
easy way to switch up the taste of steak
if you’re into trying new flavors.
Recap: How to
salt a steak like a chef
Both chefs provided a great deal of
information, so let’s take a step back and review the key points.
You should
salt your steak right before you throw it on the grill, as this will allow the
juices to stay
intact for optimal flavor. Thicker cuts of steak will typically
need more salt than thinner cuts.
The exception? A thicker steak that requires
an already salt-filled marinade…you’ll want to cut back
the salt and swap in an
acidic liquid such as lemon juice or wine. There you have it folks, your next
steak just got 20 percent tastier, all thanks to the humble salt. Now, let’s
fire up the grill!
Note: I have tried this and it works!
Hayden