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Everybody knows that, to cook a perfect grilled steak that will make people's mouths water and earn you a reputation as the local Grillmeister, you have to season and cook the steak right. Duh. What not everybody knows is that, no matter how great your cooking and seasoning is, you have to start with the right steak. And what even fewer people know is which steaks are best for the grill. It's really not hard to learn how to choose steaks, but it's a big part of what separates the men from the boys at the backyard grill, and there are a lot of very common mistakes that can be eliminated with this 5 minutes' worth of information. (So read on!)
Which cuts are the best for grilling?
There are basically two qualities that make a steak great for grilling: taste and tenderness. The best steaks to grill are the ones that have the best average of both qualities. Ribeye, chuck, and sirloin are my top three choices because they are tender and they have lots of flavor.
- Ribeye is probably the best of the three, but it is also a lot more expensive than chuck or sirloin.
- Chuck has a little more flavor than sirloin,
- but sirloin is as little more tender than chuck.
- Sirloin more expensive than chuck, but still a lot cheaper than ribeye.
- Filet mignon is not all it's cracked up to be. It is super tender, and super expensive, but it has very little flavor. Experienced, professional chefs prepare filet mignon with a glaze or a sauce to make up for its lack of flavor.
- If you have the bankroll for filet mignon, buy lamb chops instead. They cost about as much as filet mignon, they are just as tender as filet mignon, and they have more flavor than any cut of beef.
Marbling
When you go to the meat counter to pick out your steaks, compare the different cuts described above that are available at your store. Other than the obvious freshness, you should look for marbling. Marbling is all the little white, squiggly lines that go through meat. The more marbling, the more tender and juicy the steak.
Prime marbling is pretty rare to come across in my shopping circles, so don't go out expecting to find it. Choice is not too hard to find, though, and anything less than Select is stew meat and shouldn't be considered for the grill.
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