A chef has shared what he says is the best method for cooking steak to achieve a golden crust and a juicy centre, and it does not require a grill.
Air fryer recommended over grill
Chef Charles Kim, known as Chef Fatty on TikTok, challenged the common belief that extremely high heat is needed for a satisfying golden-brown crust. He said the finest method and piece of equipment for cooking steak is neither a frying pan nor a grill.
He cautioned against intense heat, explaining: "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℃)."
Why high heat ruins the crust
According to the chef, going above 350℉ leads to pyrolysis, which chars and burns the steak and makes it taste bitter. He dismissed the appeal of perfect grill marks, calling them "a scam" because they are just small bits of pyrolysis without a real Maillard reaction.
The Maillard reaction is a chemical process involving amino acids and reducing sugars, triggered by heat, which produces browning and generates hundreds of flavour and aroma compounds.
How to cook steak perfectly
Chef Fatty advised using an air fryer or oven to bring the meat up to your preferred internal temperature. For a medium rare steak, the target core temperature is 130℉ (approximately 54℃).
Once that temperature is reached, the steak should be finished in a pan at 400℉ (approximately 204℃) with your fat of choice. This final searing step encourages a golden-brown crust while keeping the inside succulent and tender.
