A chef has shared the best method for cooking steak at home, and it does not involve a grill. Chef Charles Kim, known as Chef Fatty on TikTok, says home cooks should use an air fryer or oven instead of relying on high heat to achieve a golden crust and juicy centre.
Why high heat can ruin steak
The chef warned against using extreme heat, explaining that browning steak is not a scale but a window. He said: “That’s cause browning steak isn’t a scale, it’s a window. The Maillard reaction is what creates that golden delicious crust on steak and that happens between 280℉ (approximately 137℃) and 330℉ (approximately 165℃).”
“Once you go above 350℉, you get pyrolysis, which is charring and burning of the steak which makes it taste bitter. And that’s why when you see those ads for those perfect grill marks on a steak, that’s a scam, cause that’s just little bits of pyrolysis with no real Maillard reaction.”
The Maillard reaction explained
The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that occurs when heat is applied. It causes browning and creates hundreds of flavour and aroma compounds, resulting in the savoury, rich crusts on steak.
The chef also dispelled the myth around charring marks, noting that steak does not need aesthetic grill marks. Instead, he recommended aiming for the Maillard reaction at a lower temperature.
How to cook the perfect steak
To achieve the perfect cook, the chef recommended cooking the steak in the air fryer or oven to your preferred temperature. For a medium rare steak, the core temperature should be 130℉ (approximately 54℃).
Once the desired temperature is reached, finish the steak in a pan at 400℉ (approximately 204℃) with your fat of choice. Finishing in a hot pan helps the outside develop a lovely, golden brown coating while keeping the centre juicy and tender.
