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Cooking Steak Indoors? You Need A Cast-Iron Skillet.

steak with a delicious crust after being finished in a cast iron skillet
wideonet/Shutterstock

For the perfect T-bone, rib-eye, or filet, you don’t necessarily need a grill. But, if you’re moving the meat indoors, you should reach for the cast iron. Learn why and how a simple cast-iron skillet can deliver protein perfection.

Cast iron skillets are superior when it comes to cooking steak. It’s fantastic because iron, once heated through, stays heated through. And, it’s dense nature means it won’t just stay hot, it will also heat evenly. Both heat retention and even heating are vital to searing a sublime steak.

How To Use a Cast Iron Skillet For Steak Indoors

Start by turning your oven on to 450F. Then, add your empty cast-iron skillet. Allow the skillet to pre-heat with the oven. If you have time, leave the skillet in the hot oven for an additional fifteen minutes after that.

While the skillet pre-heats season your steaks as desired.  When ready,  pull the cast-iron skillet from the oven and place it over your stove’s burner. Turn the burner’s heat up to high. Add a smidge of oil or your preferred cooking fat, and give it a minute to heat-up. Then, add the steaks.

There should be a symphony of sizzling the second the steak hits the skillet. That said, you may want a splatter guard on hand to avoid an oil slick across your kitchen floor.

Turn the steaks after about 3-5 minutes per side, depending on the size of the steak. Once you’ve seared it on both sides, place the skillet, with the steaks, back in the preheated oven and allow them to finish cooking there. This will take anywhere from five to upwards of twenty minutes, depending on the steak’s thickness and your preferred level of donees.

Once done, be sure to let the steaks rest for at least ten minutes before you cut into them. Otherwise, you can kiss all the juices in your would-have-been-juicy steak goodbye!

So, if you’re looking to cook a steak indoors, a cast-iron skillet is the way to go. The heat retention that iron provides is phenomenal and necessary if you want that gorgeous deep-brown crust.  Whether you’re craving a T-bone or eyeing a sexy filet, don’t be afraid to cook it indoors. Just be sure you use cast-iron when you do.

Need more detailed instructions? We’ve got everything you need to know about cooking steak like a pro!

Lauren Sakiyama Lauren Sakiyama
Lauren Sakiyama is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. She has managed restaurants, country clubs, and large-scale event operations, but her passion has always been about the food. Read Full Bio »
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