Chef Angela Hartnett has shared her essential steak cooking tips, including a simple step that makes all the difference to your steak recipe.
Key Advice: Bring Steak to Room Temperature
During a recent episode of the Dish from Waitrose podcast, actor Simon Pegg sought the chef's expertise on cooking steak at home, asking: "I wanted to pick your brains about... the perfect way to cook a steak. Because I'm - I'll do, like, two minutes, one minute, one minute. But I never quite know."
Simon's preferred cut is rump, which he typically enjoys rare. Angela's first piece of advice is to ensure the pan is thoroughly heated before the steak is added. The chef also emphasises the importance of seasoning the steak with salt and pepper. Crucially, however, the meat must be brought to room temperature prior to cooking.
Angela said: "Some people won't season the steak, but I season it with salt and pepper. Make sure it's at room temperature before you put it in the pan, so it's not coming straight from the fridge."
Even Cooking and Better Texture
If your steak has been stored in the fridge, it's essential to remove it well in advance and allow it to reach room temperature naturally. Under no circumstances should you cook a steak straight from the fridge. Cooking a steak at room temperature enhances both its taste and texture by ensuring even cooking, minimising the grey band on the exterior of the meat, and helping the pan retain its heat for a superior crust.
To infuse the meat with flavour, Angela heats a knob of butter in the pan until it begins to foam. For a rare steak, Angela advises cooking it for three minutes on each side. Once cooked, there's another crucial step Angela never overlooks — allowing the steak to rest before serving.
Use a Meat Thermometer
Finally, one technique Angela consistently recommends is using a meat thermometer. She said: "And I have a tip that... If you really want to, use a... I'm sure Nick (Frost) will have one, a thermometer." Despite all the guidance the chef offered, Angela does ultimately give Simon her stamp of approval for his steak-cooking technique.
