Hey everyone, new to cooking steak and I’m struggling with reverse searing.

Is the goal just to get the cast iron super hot and then drop it in and add butter towards the end? What’s the correct process?

by VitaminDismyPCT

43 Comments

  1. Wym this steak looks excellent. Minimal greyband, medium rare cook and a nice sear on the outside.

  2. beckychao

    Do not drop butter in a hot cast iron, unless the butter is clarified, otherwise you’re just eating singed milkfats.

    Correct process is:

    1. Dry brine, at least 45 minutes.
    2. Sous vide or oven at low heat. Oven internal to about 110-115 for medium rare after sear.
    3. Hot cast iron with high smoke point oil (400-500 F pan, so use appropriate temp oil).
    4. Sear 1-2 minutes per side, flipping every 15 seconds (don’t forget to sear fat cap and edges), searing for as little time as it takes to get the sear.
    5. Optional: lower the heat on the pan to medium low, and make a pan sauce. I use butter, garlic with the skin on, and rosemary to cook gently with the steak fond. You can add white wine, too, but you have to cook off the alcohol. Pour the pan sauce on the steak while it rests (not that you really need to rest regular steaks, according to Chris Young), and it’ll give it the same flavor as if you had basted it. Pour it on after slicing, too.

    That’s it.

  3. leowashisname_789

    Haven’t gotten a steak that looks so good ever at a restaurant

    “Did I break it?”

    🥱

  4. Looks better than 99% of what I see here,vwhat don’t you like about it?

  5. MaximumReport

    Only problem I see is (what appears to be) a styrofoam plate

  6. Silver-Rope-7340

    Not sure about the sear but you’re definitely slicing it wrong

  7. No-Profession422

    Looks great! Most importantly, how was the flavor?

  8. NTufnel11

    This looks good. I’m not convinced you’re struggling with any aspect of the reverse sear – this result is what most of us aspire to.

    But to answer your question, oil is important for the entirety of the searing process, not just the end. It’s to facilitate contact with the entire steak more than it is for flavor, which helps lead to nice even sears. Butter adds good flavor but will burn, so high heat oils like coconut, refined olive oil, or avocado oil will work best for hot sears.

    Without enough oil your sear can end up patchy, uneven and sort of dry/leathery rather than golden/crispy. Especially for leaner or bone-in steaks.

    Your ribeye is a fattier cut, so it doesn’t suffer quite as much from lack of oil since it provides some of its own as its fat renders. Still, the “eye” part definitely benefits from some added oil.

  9. SnooGuavas9750

    Looks like your slicing wrong. Sear looks good

  10. RamonWarhelmet

    Looks plenty right to me… Evenly cooked from surface to surface with a nice maillard crust outside? Enjoy that beautiful piece o’ beef!

  11. ILSmokeItAll

    You’re a complete fuck up.

    Send that shit over here so I can put it where it belongs, and try again. The same exact way. Insanity is the key to making a great steak. Just don’t expect it to be much different.

  12. brorritoo

    Bro your steak is actually perfect what could you be doing wrong 😭😭

  13. Jazzlike_Ad_1805

    Looks great just try slicing it against the grain and it’ll melt in your mouth enjoy

  14. VegetableAd629

    Okay so buddy….what exactly do you think is wrong with this steak? Sear looks absolutely great….

  15. I think that steak looks good.

    For me, ideally 1.5in or thicker cut. 24hr dry brine to help develop crust (make sure you pat steak dry before going on pan).

    Right before cooking Preheat oven to 375. High heat on pan with minimal amount of oil until oil is starting to smoke. Sear three min per side, oven finish with a wired probe and pull from oven at 122. Let rest for about 10 mins, leave probe in as steak will continue to cook. Slice when it receaches desire temp. I like 130F for medium rare.

    Enjoy.

    Protip: make a pan sauce while steak is in oven

    https://preview.redd.it/l4crdh2z5hwe1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0952b9ab2b9272d07bf0786e9c6bf8a679b6c331

  16. SpiritOne

    Look, I don’t know what you’re doing, but if you want to do it in my kitchen with those results, I’ll eat the hell out of that!

  17. Yeah, looks terrible. Give it over here. I’ll take care of it.

  18. Individual_Smell_904

    I disagree I feel you’re searing it perfectly

  19. BetaPositiveSCI

    Posting a perfect steak and saying you did it wrong

  20. inspctrshabangabang

    If this is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

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