Gourmet 101: How To Cook Steak in an Electric Skillet?

You don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant to get your fill of the most delectable steak. You can now do so in the comfort of your own home. If you are wondering how then just sit back and learn. It all starts with learning how to cook steak in an electric skillet!

What’s A Steak?

It’s not every day that you get the chance to eat steak. If you have the opportunity, make sure you enjoy it as much as you can.

A steak is a slice of meat typically cut from the muscle of a cow. If you take a look at a diagram of a cow, you will be able to see the parts where the different kinds of steaks come from. Each steak has its own characteristics and features that appeal to different kinds of eaters. With that said, it’s no wonder that there are some steaks that are more expensive than others.

Why Is It Expensive?

Some people might wonder why some steaks are pricier than others. It has something to do with which parts of the cow these steaks are from. Take the following steaks as examples:

• Porterhouse
• Ribeye
• Striploin
• T-bone
• Tenderloin

These steaks cost more because of their tenderness. They come from muscles that don’t do a lot of work. These muscles are not abundant, accounting for less than 10% of the cuts obtained from beef.

If you can’t get your hands on any of these steaks, you can still try other kinds. They might not be as tender but they do have their own thing going on!

Since we are on the subject of expensive steaks, don’t be surprised if you come across some that cost an arm and a leg. It all depends on the quality of the steak. You have to ask the following questions when talking about the prices of steak:

• What is the degree of marbling?
• How is the thickness?
• Which part of the cow is the steak from?

If you want to try the rarest steak in the world, be ready to shell out over $300. Wagyu beef from Japan is said to be one of the most expensive beef in the world.

What’s An Electric Skillet?

An electric skillet is a must-have piece of kitchen equipment. If you don’t have one at the moment, you’ll find yourself wanting one by the end of this. It’s one of those versatile cooking tools that you should have at home. It can do so many things, including the following:

• Sautéing
• Roasting
• Pan-frying
• Steaming

Apart from these, you can even cook your favorite steaks in an electric skillet! Yes, it’s now possible to do that! Never say never until you have tried it!

What Are Electric Skillets Made Of?

Electric skillets are made of different materials. You can find various kinds in the market today. Given that you have a lot of choices, how would you know which one to get?

Stainless Steel Electric Skillet

Just like the stainless steel skillets you have in your kitchen, the electric skillet version is very durable. It can withstand high temperatures, so high-temperature cooking is not an issue. You also don’t have to worry about scratching or peeling because it is not coated with materials such as Teflon.

One of the downsides of the Stainless Steel Electric Skillet is that you might have to use more oil. It doesn’t have a non-stick surface, so if you don’t put enough oil, food, even steak can stick on its surface. Despite this, it’s still easy to clean. You just need warm water, dishwashing soap, and a scratch-free sponge.

Aluminum Skillet

If you are shopping for an electric skillet, choose something durable. Choose something made from aluminum. It’s a popular material, even in the usual pots and pans that people own.

With your Aluminum skillet, you don’t have to worry about food sticking on its surface. If the skillet has non-stick properties, you can cook a wide variety of dishes in it without fearing food residue. And cleaning it would be such a breeze. You don’t even have to soak it in water or anything like that. You can clean most Aluminum Skillets with just a soft dry cloth.

Ceramic Electric Skillet

If you want something that offers good heat resistance and heat retention properties, then get yourself a Ceramic Electric Skillet. You should get one that has non-stick coating properties.

A Ceramic Electric Skillet is also very versatile. It can also distribute heat well, making it easier for your food to cook. Flaking and peeling is not usually an issue you would be dealing with. As long as you know how to use it, it can last a very long time!

How Do You Cook Steak In An Electric Skillet?

How do you usually cook your steak? Do you use a regular skillet or a cast-iron pan? If you have not tried cooking a steak in an electric skillet, now is a perfect time! Don’t be afraid to experiment and try this for yourself.

Before doing anything with the electric skillet, you must prepare your steak. You have to figure out what type of steak you want. If you just want the basic way of cooking steak, then you don’t need a lot of stuff.

If your steak is in the freezer, take it out and thaw ahead of time. You must bring the steak to room temperature. Once that’s ready, pat the steak dry and season with salt and pepper.

Before you can start cooking the steak, make sure that your Electric Skillet is hot enough. The ideal temperature is  400°F. It’s the perfect temperature for searing. If you want to know if the skillet is at the right temperature, try dropping a few drops of water; if they sizzle and evaporate quickly, the skillet is ready.

If you are ready to cook the steak, place it on the electric skillet. The fat on the steak might cause some splatter. If you want to avoid getting the splatter everywhere, cover the skillet with the lid. Most electric skillets come with glass covers. Don’t close it fully. Perhaps leave a little opening so the skillet has room for air.

If the color of the meat turns darker, it’s time to flip the steak. The doneness of the steak depends on your preference. If you like your steak a certain way, then you need to make sure to know how long it’s supposed to cook and at what temperature.

How Do You Like Your Steak?

Whenever you order steak at a restaurant, the waitstaff would ask you how you like your steak. Do you like your steak rare or well done? Whatever your preference is, you have to be careful with cooking your steak in the Electric Skillet.

Rare

If you are into rare steaks, you should cook them on the Electric Skillet for about five minutes. You should cook the other side for three minutes. The internal temperature should be between 120 to 130°F. You would know the steak is rare if it’s soft and has a warm, red center. There should be some browning on the sides as well.

Medium Rare

Cooking a medium-rare steak takes about five minutes on one side and four minutes on the other. The meat should be pink but with hints of red. There should also be some browning on the sides of the steak.

Medium Steak

This level of doneness is perhaps a crowd favorite. It’s something that a lot of people prefer. The steak should be cooked for six minutes on one side. The other side should be cooked for about four minutes. You would know that you have a medium steak if you see more browned meat than pink.

Medium Well Steak

If you only want to see only a few hints of pink on your steak, this one’s for you! Using the Electric Skillet, give it about seven minutes to cook on one side. The surface of the steak should be a bit harder. However, the center should still have a bit of softness.

Well Done

Cooking a well-done steak on an electric skillet can be a challenge. How do you cook the steak without drying it out? Well, you should be conscious of how long you cook it. Give the steak 10 to 12 minutes to cook.

To prevent your well-done steak from being dry, you might consider adjusting the cooking time. Remember that the thicker the meat, the longer it will take to cook.

Perfecting How To Cook Steak In An Electric Skillet

If you’re new to using an Electric Skillet to cook your steak, don’t be sad if it doesn’t turn out as well as you want. With some practice, you will eventually figure things out and perfect how to cook steak in your Electric Skillet. The more you do it, the better it will get!