Craving a sizzling, succulent, t bone steak, right in your own home? Learning how to cook a t bone steak is more a matter of selecting a preparation method, as the quality and composition of the t bone steak require only the simplest of enhancements. Basically, how to cook a t bone steak can be broken down into three steps: prepare, cook and rest.
To start, prepare the t bone steaks. Best results are obtained with a t bone steak that is at least 1 ½ inches thick. To remove the chill, set out at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to cooking.
Next, there are dry and wet methods of seasoning a t bone steak. The dry method can be as simple as topping the t bone steak with salt and fresh ground pepper. A dry rub is a combination of spices and herbs, either purchased prepared or by combining favorite flavors of your own. The mixture is rubbed into the t bone steak 15 minutes prior to cooking. The rub then develops a flavorful crust on the surface of the meat during cooking. A popular spice combination for t bone steaks includes a mix of ground garlic, paprika and cumin.
A marinade is a combination of wet ingredients, usually including an acid such as lemon or lime juice or vinegar, and a fat such as olive oil. A t bone steak can be steeped in marinade from 2 hours to 30 minutes prior to cooking and should be dried when removed from the liquid. A bottle of Italian salad dressing can make a simple, tasty marinade for t bone steaks.
Now that the t bone steak has been seasoned, the next step is to cook. Three methods to cook a t bone steak are grilling, broiling and searing. Grilling is a fast, favorite way to cook a t bone steak. Lightly oil the grates and set the grill to medium-high heat. Place the t bone steak directly over the heat source for 1 to 2 minutes per side for definitive grill marks. Next, move the t bone steak to indirect heat, away from the heat source until the internal temperature reaches 125 degrees, 8 minutes for rare, and 10 minutes for medium.
Broiling is an easy method to cook a t bone steak in the oven. Set the broiler to high and the rack 3 inches from the heat source. Place the t bone steak on an oiled broiling pan 5 minutes per side for rare, 7 minutes per side for medium.
Pan searing is a stove top method to cook a t bone steak. A cast iron or other heavy pan that is not non-stick is best. Set pan over high heat and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to coat bottom of pan when heated. Place the t bone steak in the hot pan without moving for up to 5 minutes per side for rare, 7 minutes for medium.
A finished t bone steak must rest 5 minutes before slicing to retain the juices in the meat. A last minute addition of an herb butter, horseradish sauce or crumbled blue cheese topping-off the t bone steak just prior to serving makes a lovely presentation and added layer of flavor.
