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Top Steak Grilling Tips For The Perfect Christmas Lunch

If you are planning to grill some steak this Christmas, it is a good idea to learn some tips that will help to ensure that everyone has a merry Christmas. Contrary to what most people think, grilling a steak is more than simply slapping some supermarket meat on a grill and flipping it over several times. The fact is that preparing a great tasting steak is an art and simple mistakes can leave you with burnt or undercooked pieces of meat that even the dog will reject! Following are some grilling tips that will make your steak Christmas meal go down as your finest work yet.

1.    Choosing the meat

The most important step in your meal preparation is choosing the best cut of meat. It is important to realize that some cuts are better for grilling and the meat you buy will determine the results that you get. Many people prefer grilling strip steaks, while others like a good filet mignon. There are pros and cons to different cuts and knowing them will help you to make the best choice. Apart from the cut, you also need to choose good quality meat. A bad steak will ruin your meal and it is important to shop from a good supplier where you can get premium or choice meats.

2.    Seasoning the meat

It is important to season the meat early. Salting the meat in advance before starting your coals will help to ensure that the salt ends up on the meat and not on the grill. Early seasoning will allow the salt to dissolve over the meat and it can ensure an even flavor. If you throw salt on right before you put it on the grill you end up leaving salt all over the grill, not on your steak. Many chefs favor sea salt and you can up your game by using some of the specialty salts available such as Fleur de Sel or Hawaiian Pink Salt. A little good salt will go a long way in sprucing up your steak.

3.    Room temperature steaks

Take your steaks out of the fridge early enough before you start grilling. Removing steaks straight from the fridge to the grill will mean that your steaks will take much longer to cook. By leaving them out for at least 20 minutes, they will absorb the seasoning better and cook faster. If you decide to grill steaks, you will need to be patient so that you can serve food that everyone will enjoy. Early preparation is very important and you need to enjoy the cooking process just as much as the eating.

4.    Choose charcoal over gas

To get the best taste or flavor, you should always choose a charcoal grill. Nothing beats the smell of steaks cooking over natural hardwood charcoal! You should also avoid using lighter fluid as this defeats the entire purpose of using charcoal. There are also people who swear by using wood chips to add flavor especially when smoking meat but this can take more time than you might want to spare. Set the coals in levels to create zones for cooking. You can have a hot spot to create good flavor and color and a cooler spot for when you flip the steaks.

Let your steaks cook slowly and avoid too much touching! Constant flipping to check if the steak is done can ruin your steak. You should know how long it takes to cook the steak depending on the thickness and flip it once. You can use a grilling chart to find out how long to cook your steaks. Use the grill to create cross marks on your steak.  Remember to prepare your condiments early so that you can focus on the grilling without too many distractions. If this seems too daunting, remember you can always ask for BBQ catering!