The perfect pan-seared steak

Three rules for a winning steak: room-temperature meat, a screaming-hot pan, and always rest before slicing.

Prep
10 minutes
Cook
10 minutes
Serves
2
Difficulty
Medium
Read time
3 min read
Views
4.2K

Ingredients

  • Entrecôte or ribeye
  • Coarse salt
  • Black pepper
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Thyme

Method

  1. Take the steak out of the fridge 30–40 minutes before cooking.
  2. Pat the surface completely dry and season generously with coarse salt and pepper.
  3. Heat a cast-iron or grill pan over high heat until just smoking.
  4. Add a high smoke-point oil and sear 2–3 minutes per side for medium-rare.
  5. In the last minute, add butter, garlic, and thyme — baste continuously.
  6. Rest on a board for five minutes before slicing against the grain.

Pro tips

  • Use a cast-iron pan — it retains even heat better than any other material.
  • Never press down on the steak while cooking — this forces out the juices.
  • Internal temperature: 54–57 °C for medium-rare, 60–63 °C for medium.