Love a good steak? Me too! Hubs just came home with a hankering for steak after reading this article on how to get fabulously tender steak, no matter what the cut, choice, prime, whatever. We thought we’d give it a try. It. Was. Awesome.
You can absolutely take ANY cut and this will work. We’ve used expensive cuts like porterhouse and rib eye (because who wants to screw up an expensive cut!?) and we’ve used cheaper cuts like chuck, flank and sirloin (because who wants cheap but chewy…?)
Whichever cut you choose, liberally sprinkle them with kosher salt.
Let the salt sit an hour for every inch of thickness.
Can you see how the salt draws water out of the steak…? It then sends it back into the steak and the salt tenderizes the protein… there’s some science-y process going on. Please refer to the original article for the scientific facts on how this works. All I can tell you is that it’s magically delicious.
It’s the same concept as brining a chicken or a turkey. (Click here for my fool proof brined chicken recipe.)
Make sure you rinse off all of the salt and pat the steaks very, very, very dry with paper towels before cooking your steak. (HH forgot to do this step the first time. The steak melted in our mouths, yes, but it was so salty it was almost inedible…)
We use a cast iron pan to ensure that our cooking surface is very, very hot. You need a nice sear on steak, and we can’t seem to really get a good one on our grill.
Cook it up, serve with some Baked Smashed Potatoes, a nice salad, and a nice Cabernet and you have a great meal!
Unknown says
January 8, 2013 at 6:59 PMI can’t get to the “melt-in-your-mouth steaks” post. Has it been removed? It popped up on my FB page and I still can’t get to it!
unknown says
February 22, 2016 at 1:43 AMI also cannot get to themelt in your mouth steakspost
Xazmin says
January 8, 2013 at 7:03 PMWell, now I want steak.
It looks divine, and I am definitely going to have to try this out!
I hope your new year is going fabulously well!
Kim says
January 8, 2013 at 8:14 PMThanks so much for this post. I’m definitely going to give this a try.
We started leaning toward a more Paelo type way of eating this year so grilled steak has been a big part of our diet. Since winter has set in and standing in 2 ft of snow trying to grill is not something I enjoy doing, I’ve been desperate for a way to cook steak inside and have it actually taste good.
Thanks again 🙂
Kelli says
January 8, 2013 at 8:19 PMNow I want a steak! I am going to have to try this 🙂
Mary Beth says
January 8, 2013 at 9:02 PMThis looks fabulous… I think I will make a special trip to the grocery store just to make this….oy!
PJ @ Planned in Pencil says
January 8, 2013 at 9:17 PMI’ve been cooking my steaks like this for about 6 months since I read the same article, found it on pinterest…. it’s so good! Even my husband agrees that it’s the best steak he’s ever had.
MiMi says
January 9, 2013 at 1:22 AMI’m not a real meat eater…as in steak and potatoes type things but it sounds good!
SueAnn Lommler says
January 9, 2013 at 10:40 AMLooks and sounds delish…I will have to give this a try. Thanks
Hugs
SueAnn
Katie says
January 9, 2013 at 4:25 PMI had no idea about this steak secret and yet I cook all the time. I will definitely have to give this a try the next time we are cooking steak!
Katie says
January 9, 2013 at 4:25 PMI had no idea about this steak secret and yet I cook all the time. I will definitely have to give this a try the next time we are cooking steak!
Sheila DelCharco says
January 9, 2013 at 7:18 PMI never make steak because I don’t know how to make it well. I may just have to try now! Thanks for sharing!
Sandra says
January 9, 2013 at 7:28 PMHAHAHA Cheap O steak!(any ole’ cut (we used ribeye and porterhouse)!
Kim says
February 1, 2016 at 3:48 AMI had to chuckle too! Ribeye and porterhouse are not my idea of cheap!
Justin says
January 29, 2017 at 11:09 AMYou both read it completely wrong.
Laura / The Shed, Pet Scribbles, Socks for Sandy says
January 12, 2013 at 2:25 PMI love steak, and your tip for making any cut of beef taste fantastic is so handy! Definitely sharing w/ my husband…as he’s the cook in our home! 🙂
Linda Dice says
January 9, 2015 at 11:03 AMAfter doing this step, do you marinate it afterwards or just use dry seasoning?
Vivienne says
January 23, 2015 at 2:56 PMWe did not marinate the steaks after doing this.
Dwight Norman says
July 25, 2015 at 9:47 AMDo you salt both sides of the meat???????
Simone says
September 4, 2015 at 12:05 AMI had the same question, and Yes, the original article said to salt both sides of the steak.
mari says
August 28, 2015 at 8:43 AMNews flash: RibEye and Porterhouse are not inexpensive cuts!
Cindy Cowles says
December 25, 2015 at 12:11 PMThey are if you buy them from Walmart or kroger! Freaking shoe leather.
Olivia says
March 24, 2018 at 5:34 PM…Nobody said they were?..
Ann depinto says
October 10, 2015 at 6:01 PMDo you just give the steak a quick rinse or do you soak the salT ogg?
Vivienne says
October 14, 2015 at 12:17 PMQuick rinse and pat dry.
Cindy Cowles says
December 25, 2015 at 12:15 PMi’m trying this trick for christmas steak dinner today. wish me luck. they’re from kroger and were tough as leather, cooked right out of the package, last time. a major disappointment. Fingers crossed.
Claire says
December 31, 2015 at 3:15 PMWell Cindy how did the steaks turn out
Lashonte says
November 7, 2016 at 3:02 PMYes How did it go?
roxanne says
May 31, 2016 at 10:08 AMTried this on some kroger sirloin steaks. I only salted one side (heavily). Let it sit about 2 hrs & 15 min. Rinsed per the instructions, then on to the grill. They came off the grill looking wonderful. But they were as tough as shoe leather. you know the kind, the ones that as you chew, the wad of meat in your mouth seems to get bigger & bigger. i saw another pinterest article to tenderize using baking soda. That was even worse. Even after rinsing, i can still taste the baking soda. Yuck!
i wish it would’ve worked.
DEBBIE says
June 30, 2016 at 12:50 PMI tried the baking soda too, almost puked lol, all went into the garbage. Now afraid to try the salt. Ugh
Jenny says
March 23, 2017 at 1:30 PMDoes it work with sea salt or does it have to be kosher salt?
Vivienne says
March 28, 2017 at 5:36 PMI think sea salt would be too salty…
Yolonda says
October 14, 2017 at 4:09 PMII’m not a good cook to put it bluntLy, but i Followed the instructions and my family was blown away!
Vivienne says
November 2, 2017 at 3:11 PMThat is awesome!!!
Jo says
January 3, 2018 at 6:49 PMWhat kind of steak is in the skillet in your photo aNd how long do you cook it on each side?
jane smith says
March 25, 2018 at 7:14 AMWOW! I am anxious to try this! Thank you so much!
Mark says
April 23, 2018 at 11:08 AMNot sure i will try it again. Followed the directi to a t and it was so salty, you could hardl eat the steaks.
Vivienne says
April 23, 2018 at 11:49 AMI’m sorry to hear this this did not work for you, as it is generally a pretty fool-proof method. You used Kosher salt and rinsed them well?
Mary hevelow says
May 19, 2019 at 12:31 PMI have not cooked steaks for the past 35 years since they always turned out tough! But i decided to try your recipe and you were right! As long as you use the kosher salt and rinse well, it turned out great. I could eat the steak and I don’t have any teeth. Thanks so much for this recipe.