Angela Hartnett, a top UK chef, has shared her go-to steps for cooking the perfect steak at home. The advice came during a recent episode of the Dish from Waitrose podcast, where actor Simon Pegg asked for her expertise on cooking rump steak rare.
Hartnett emphasised that the steak must be at room temperature before cooking. 'Make sure it’s at room temperature before you put it in the pan, so it’s not coming straight from the fridge,' she said. She also seasons the steak with salt and pepper before it hits the pan.
For cooking, Hartnett insists the pan must be hot. She adds a knob of butter until it foams, then cooks the steak for three minutes on each side for rare. 'Some people won’t season the steak, but I season it with salt and pepper,' she noted.
After cooking, Hartnett recommends resting the steak before serving. She also suggests using a meat thermometer for precision. 'If you really want to, use a thermometer,' she said, adding that Simon Pegg's cooking method received her seal of approval.
