Top UK chef Angela Hartnett has shared her go-to steps for cooking the best steak at home, with the key being to let the steak come to room temperature before it hits the pan.
Advice on Dish from Waitrose podcast
In a recent episode of the Dish from Waitrose podcast, actor Simon Pegg asked for Hartnett's advice on cooking steak at home. He said: "I wanted to pick your brains about… the perfect way to cook a steak." Simon's steak of choice is rump, which he usually cooks rare.
Angela's key steps
Angela's first tip is to always make sure that the pan is hot before the steak goes in. She always seasons the steak with salt and pepper. However, the crucial step is to ensure the steak is at room temperature before 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." Cooking a steak at room temperature promotes even cooking, reduces the grey colour on the outside, and helps the pan maintain heat for a better crust.
To add flavour, Angela heats a knob of butter in the pan until it foams. For rare steak, she recommends cooking for three minutes on each side. After cooking, she never skips allowing the steak to rest before serving. Lastly, she suggests 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 advice, Angela gave Simon the seal of approval for his steak-cooking method.
