Keep steak warm while resting in 5 easy steps

Why it’s important to keep steak warm while resting? 

To understand this, we’ll need to learn what actually resting means. Resting steak before cooking could have 2 meanings:

• The practice of letting the steak sit at room temperature for some time after it has been taken out of the refrigerator. This allows the steak to come to room temperature, which can result in a more evenly cooked steak with a better texture. 
• Allowing the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more flavorful steak. It’s typically recommended to rest the steak for at least 10-15 minutes before cooking.

When cooking a steak, it’s important to let it rest for a few minutes after it’s taken off the heat. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and tender cut. 

However, the steak can begin to cool down during this resting period and lose its warm, juicy texture. 

Keep steak warm while resting in 5 easy steps

Here are a few methods to help keep your steak warm while it’s resting:

1. Cover the steak with foil: After removing the steak from the heat, immediately place it on a plate and cover it with foil. This will trap the heat and help to keep the steak warm.
2. Use a warming tray or heat lamp: If you’re cooking multiple steaks and need to keep them warm while they rest, a warming tray or heat lamp can be very helpful. Simply place the steaks on the tray or under the heat lamp to keep steak warm while resting.
3. Place the steak in a warm oven: If you have a warming drawer or an oven set to a low temperature, you can place the steak in there for a few minutes to keep it warm. This method is best for thicker cuts of meat that take longer to rest.
4. Add a pat of butter: A pat of butter on top of the steak before you cover it with foil can help to add extra flavor and keep the steak warm.
5. Use a meat thermometer: This can help you ensure that the steak has reached the desired internal temperature before you remove it from the heat.

These methods will surely help you t keep steak warm while resting. Resting the steak is a very important step in the cooking process, so it’s important to make sure that it doesn’t cool down too much while it’s resting.

4 different methods to rest steak while preserving its nutritional properties

1. Room Temperature Resting: This is the most common method for resting steak before cooking. It involves letting the steak sit at room temperature for some time, usually 10-15 minutes, after it has been taken out of the refrigerator. This allows the steak to come to room temperature, which can result in a more evenly cooked steak with a better texture. 
2. Paper Towel Method: This method involves wrapping the steak in paper towels and letting it sit for a while before cooking. The paper towels help to absorb any excess moisture, which can help prevent the steak from becoming too soggy. Additionally, the paper towels also help to retain the steak’s heat, which can result in a more evenly cooked steak. That’s how you keep steak warm while resting.
3. Wooden Board Method: Place the steak on a wooden board and let it sit for a period of time before cooking. The wooden board helps to absorb any excess moisture, which can help prevent the steak from becoming too soggy. 
4. Salt Method: You can keep steak warm while resting by seasoning it with a generous amount of salt and letting it sit for some time before cooking. The salt helps to dry the steak’s surface, which can help to develop a nice crust (during searing) and a more evenly cooked steak. It acts as a retainer for your steak’s juices, resulting in a more flavorful delight.

It’s worth noting that all these methods aim to rest the steak without losing its nutritional properties. Still, it’s always recommended to cook the steak at the right temperature, not to overcook it, and to slice it against the grain to ensure a tender texture.

The oven-method

We all love using gadgets at home to experiment with new recipes. 

There are a few ways to keep steak warm in our favorite gadget: the oven. 

Here’s the oven usage guide to keep steak warm while resting :

• Low-Temperature Setting: One way to keep steak warm in an oven is to set the oven to a low temperature, such as 150-175 degrees Fahrenheit (65-80 degrees Celsius), and place the steak in the oven on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. This will keep the steak warm while preventing it from overcooking.
• Foil Wrapping: Another way to keep steak warm in an oven is to wrap it in aluminum foil. This helps to retain the steak’s heat and moisture, which can help to keep it warm and prevent it from drying out.
• Steam Table: You can use a commercial steam table, a heated surface that will keep your steak warm and moist.
• Warm Plate: If you have a warming plate, you can place the steak on it and cover it with foil to keep it warm.
• Slow Cooker: You can also use a slow cooker to keep steak warm. Place the steak in the slow cooker and set it to the “Warm” setting. This will keep the steak warm and prevent it from drying out.

When keeping steak warm in an oven, the meat should not be left in the oven for more than an hour, as this can cause the steak to dry out and lose its flavor.

Outcomes of cooking steak ahead of time without resting 

Cooking steak ahead of time without resting can cause a few issues:

Toughness: 

When the steak is cooked without resting, the juices that are released during the cooking process can become trapped inside the meat. This can cause the steak to become tough and dry, as the juices are not allowed to redistribute throughout the meat.

Uneven Cooking: 

If a steak is cooked immediately after being taken out of the refrigerator, the inside of the steak may not have had a chance to come to room temperature. This can result in uneven cooking, with the outside of the steak being overcooked while the inside is still undercooked.

Lack of Flavor: 

When the steak is cooked without resting, the juices are not given a chance to redistribute throughout the meat. This can result in a lack of flavor, as the juices that give the steak its flavor are not evenly distributed.

Cold center:

If the steak is not rested before cooking, it may still have a cold center which can cause uneven cooking and not reach the desired temperature.

It’s always recommended to rest the steak for at least 10-15 minutes before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature, resulting in a more evenly cooked steak with a better texture. 

How long to rest the steak before cooking?

It’s generally recommended to let the steak sit at room temperature for not more than 10-15 minutes before cooking. This allows the steak to come to room temperature, which can result in a more evenly cooked steak with a better texture.

However, resting the steak for a bit longer duration (exceeding an hour) can make it soggy or less tempting.

It’s important to note that the steak should not be left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours as it can become a safety hazard. According to the USDA, raw meat should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If the steak has been sitting at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, it should be cooked immediately or discarded.

Also, it’s important to maintain the steak at a safe temperature of 145°F for a rest time of 3 minutes or higher to corresponding temperature ranges, per the food safety guidelines, to avoid the growth of bacteria.

Serving suggestions with steak

There are many ways to serve steak. Here are a few popular serving suggestions:

1. Classic steak with fries or roasted potatoes: This is a traditional and popular way to serve steak. The steak can be seasoned with salt and pepper, grilled or pan-seared, and served with crispy fries or roasted potatoes.
2. Steak with a sauce: Many steak dishes are served with a sauce on top or on the side. Popular sauces for steak include béarnaise, hollandaise, red wine sauce, mushroom sauce, and chimichurri.
3. Steak with a salad: A salad can be a great way to add freshness and balance to a steak dish. A simple green salad with lettuce and tomatoes can be served on the side, or a more complex salad like arugula, blue cheese, and walnuts.
4. Steak with vegetables: You can serve steak with a variety of cooked vegetables, such as grilled or roasted asparagus, broccoli, or cauliflower.
5. Steak with a side of grains: Steak can also be served with a side of grains such as quinoa, barley, or couscous, which can add some extra texture and flavor to the dish.
6. Steak with a side of mashed potatoes or polenta: These can be a great way to soak up the steak juices and add some extra creaminess to the dish.
7. Steak with a side of bread: A side of bread can be great to soak up any remaining juices, and you can use it to make a sandwich with the steak leftovers.

Remember that the steak should be the dish’s star, and the side should complement it and not overpower it. You can experiment with different seasonings, sauces, and sides to find your perfect combination.

how to keep steak warm after grilling

There are several ways to keep grilled steak warm after cooking:

1. Foil Wrapping: One way to keep grilled steak warm is to wrap it in aluminum foil. This helps to retain the steak’s heat and moisture, which can help to keep it warm and prevent it from drying out.
2. Slow Cooker: You can also use a slow cooker to keep grilled steak warm. Place the steak in the slow cooker and set it to the “Warm” setting. This will keep the steak warm and prevent it from drying out.
3. Insulated Food Container: You can also use an insulated food container to warm grilled steak. It helps to retain the heat and moisture of the steak.
4. Steamer: If you have a steamer, you can keep grilled steak warm. The steamer will keep the steak warm and moist, but you’ll lose the crust you get from grilling.

It’s important to note that when keeping grilled steak warm, the meat should not be left in the heat source for more than an hour, as this can cause the steak to dry out and lose its flavor.

Also, it’s important to keep the steak at a safe temperature of 140°F or higher, per the food safety guidelines, to avoid the growth of bacteria.

The bottom line

If you keep steak warm while resting, you get flavorsome outcomes. Resting steak before cooking is a practice that allows the steak to come to room temperature, which can result in a more evenly cooked steak with a better texture. 

It’s typically recommended to rest the steak for at least 10-15 minutes before cooking.

There are a few options when it comes to keeping the steak warm after grilling or cooking. You can wrap the steak in aluminum foil or use a slow cooker, warming tray, insulated food container, or steamer. 

All these methods help to retain the steak’s heat and moisture, which can help to keep it warm and prevent it from drying out.

However, it’s important to remember that the steak shouldn’t be left in the heat for more than an hour. The heat source can cause the steak to dry out and lose its flavor.