Best 5 Seared Cast Iron Steaks Recipes

CAST-IRON STEAK

Steps:

• Remove packaging and pat meat dry with paper towels. Line a plate with paper towels, place meat on top and set aside to dry further and come to cool room temperature (30 to 60 minutes, depending on the weather). Turn occasionally; replace paper towels as needed.
• Place a heavy skillet, preferably cast-iron, on the stove and sprinkle lightly but evenly with about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt. Turn heat to high under pan. Pat both sides of steak dry again.
• When pan is smoking hot, 5 to 8 minutes, pat steak dry again and place in pan. (If using two steaks, cook in two batches.)
• Let steak sizzle for 1 minute, then use tongs to flip it over, moving raw side of steak around in pan so both sides are salted. Press down gently to ensure even contact between steak and pan. Keep cooking over very high heat, flipping steak every 30 seconds. After it's been turned a few times, sprinkle in two pinches salt. If using pepper, add it now.
• When steak has contracted in size and developed a dark-brown crust, about 4 minutes total, check for doneness. To the touch, meat should feel softly springy but not squishy. If using an instant-read thermometer, insert into side of steak. For medium-rare meat, 120 to 125 degrees is ideal: Steak will continue cooking after being removed from heat.
• Remove steak to a cutting board and tent lightly with foil. Let rest 5 minutes.
• Serve in pieces or thickly slice on the diagonal, cutting away from your body and with the top edge of the knife leaning toward your body. If cooking skirt or hanger steak, make sure to slice across the grain of the meat.

PAN-SEARED RIB-EYE

Steps:

• Place a 10-to-12-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees F. Bring the steak to room temperature.
• When the oven reaches temperature, remove the skillet and place on the range over high heat for 5 minutes. Coat the steak lightly with oil and sprinkle both sides with a generous pinch of salt. Grind on black pepper.
• Immediately place the steak in the middle of the hot, dry skillet. Cook 30 seconds without moving. Turn with tongs and cook another 30 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 2 minutes. Flip the steak and cook for another 2 minutes. (This time is for medium-rare steak. If you prefer medium, add a minute to both of the oven turns.)
• Remove the steak from the skillet, cover loosely with foil and rest for 2 minutes. Serve whole or slice thin and fan onto plate.

CAST IRON PAN-SEARED STEAK (OVEN-FINISHED)

Steps:

• Place steaks side by side in large casserole dish. Add orange juice, cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Remove casserole dish from refrigerator. Cover steaks with plastic wrap and let reach room temperature, at least 15 minutes.
• Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat.
• Place steaks on a clean work surface and generously rub with steak seasoning and black pepper.
• Cook steaks in the hot skillet until lightly browned on the bottom, 2 1/2 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side and red in the center, about 2 minutes more. Place skillet, with steaks, into the oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until steaks are firm and reddish-pink to lightly pink in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read from 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) to 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
• Remove steaks from oven; season with salt. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

PAN-SEARED STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. Heat oil in a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet (not a nonstick) over medium-high until it begins to smoke. Pat steak dry with paper towels. Season each side with 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon cracked pepper.
• Cook steak in skillet over medium-high heat until a dark crust has formed, 5 to 7 minutes per side (reduce heat if meat is browning too quickly). Holding steak with tongs, quickly brown all edges, turning as necessary; lay steak flat in skillet.
• Transfer skillet to oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of steak registers desired doneness, 5 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate; spread with 1 tablespoon Steak Butter. Cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest 5 to 10 minutes (temperature will then rise another 5 to 10 degrees). Slice across the grain; serve with remaining Steak Butter. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers, up to 2 days.

SEARED CAST IRON STEAKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Season steaks with garlic, powder, salt, and pepper.
• Turn on your exhaust fan. Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until smoking, 4 to 6 minutes. Sear steaks in the hot oil for about 3 minutes.
• Turn steaks over and immediately transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Cook until steaks are beginning to firm and are hot and slightly pink in the center, about 6 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Remove from the oven and let sit for 1 to 2 minutes before slicing and serving.