I kept them salted in the fridge for about 24 hours before cooking. Cooked right over red hot coals. Still came out super pale. What am I missing?

by Marklariusz

36 Comments

  1. Ok-Lingonberry-8261

    Did you pat them dry with paper towels immediately before cooking?

  2. PsyKhiqZero

    While in the fridge were they covered or uncovered? Where they one a plate or wire rack.

  3. RumIsTheMindKiller

    Are you covering them in the fridge? Likely they may still be wet and the grey area steams and doesn’t grill. Really make sure they are dry before grilling

  4. SpacklingCumFart

    Its odd they still look that wet after dry brining that long in the fridge.

  5. Too far away from the heat. Used to have this problem on my old gas grill. Use a charcoal basket or a vortex to contain the coals and get them really close to the grate.

  6. WaterChicken007

    Wet surface, not enough heat, overcrowded grill are the usual suspects.

    Try cooking them with at least 2” of separation between them. Lid on, vents wide open. Maybe a larger grill that will allow for more charcoal and air circulation within it. Also use normal charcoal, not lump.

  7. Coals may be super hot but I doubt the grill and grass are hot

  8. Minimum-Barracuda911

    yea this looks like a grill grate temp issue to me, especially with the thickness of those grates, that’s a lot of round metal to get heated up, could take a little while.

  9. downshift_rocket

    Lots of helpful advice here…

    You want to make sure – all sides of the meat have good airflow while they are salted in the fridge. They should go on the grill bone dry.

    Let your grill come up to temp. You want the grates red hot.

  10. WaldoDeefendorf

    i would like to see a temp gauge at grate where the steaks are going. Not hot enough is my guess. A bigger pile of coals also. The hottest spot looks kind of small. I’ll forget to dry brine or pat them and just throw them on and the get a nice malliard action so I seriously doubt that is the problem.

  11. stugotz07

    It’s one simple issue. Get the grill hotter and give them more time on each side of you want more color.

  12. Steam.

    You have moisture somewhere which is evaporating and steaming the outside instead of charring it.

    As others have said:

    1. Pat dry
    2. Dry brine overnight in fridge uncovered on a wire rack
    3. Get grill hotter before you put them on
    4. Bring them to room temp before putting on so you get a more even cook

  13. AMDeez_nutz

    I wouldn’t even know how to get it like this, even if I tried.

  14. Bubbly_Pear_8044

    Overcrowding the grill, improper dry brining, not hot enough. Did you cook with the lid on or off?

  15. mainbrac93

    That natural charcoal doesn’t seem to burn as hot or as long as traditional briquettes IMO

  16. RASCALSSS

    How often are you flipping them? Should only flip once after about 6 minutes then give them another 6. Don’t overcrowd.

  17. xxMalVeauXxx

    Water. They’re being steamed. They were wet when you put them on the grill. Dry them well (papertowel, etc). Season. Throw on hot. If you let them sit and they’re wet and let seasoning sit and draw out moisture, they’re wet, and then throw them on any heat, they steam and you get steamed meat.

  18. VikingWarrior793

    Lack of heat, flipped too early, lack of seasoning and a binder.

  19. ColonelBungle

    Triple the amount of coals or, if you can, lower the grate.

  20. Old_Manner4779

    Let the meat get to room temperature. Grill has to be way hotter. You need flame.

  21. Hold your hand over the grill at steak level. A red hot grill means you would have to pull away within a second, less than 2

  22. SledgeH4mmer

    In addition to what others said, try brushing them with oil right before searing. It’ll cause some flare ups. But you can’t not get a good char that way.

  23. BarkimusPrime

    If you want the big secret method I use these days: I get my torch and I torch the fat and let it drip into the coals under the steak. Ill do it with it stood up, fat side down. Itll throw flames well above the grill and steak and get you wonderful sear.

    Takes a few seconds to get the drips and flames up over the grate. Works every time.

  24. Many_Act_2990

    Unpopular opinion but I get much better sear when I salt after cooking.

  25. beltedgalaxy

    Those steaks look pretty wet. You should always cook with meat as dry as possible to encourage the Maillard reaction. Use stacks of paper towels to ensure the entire exterior is as dry as possible. You also need pretty high heat, although those colas do look hot. Also ensure you don’t have any moisture being trapped in the grill.

  26. CrownedHeads

    You gotta click your tongs in the secret pattern. This is the art of the steak

  27. MajorAd3363

    Not enough heat. Maybe a little oil on each side.

    What kind of grill?