Greetings Carnivores,
A few weeks ago my wife and I were blessed with the company of our very dear and old friend Dave. It had been awhile since he’d been here so, we invited him over to break bread with us.
I planned a grand feast for him with the centre piece being a big, fat, juicy Strip Loin, slow cooked in a tepid oven and flash seared to finish on a blistering hot cast iron grill pan.
Sounds weird I know but let me explain and, … you ‘might’ want to try this ‘happy accident’ I stumbled onto a few years ago for yourselves.
Here’s what happened (or so I heard):
A butcher showed up at a friend’s place with a HUGE, 2 1/2 inch thick, full cut Sirloin Steak and planned to use his buddy’s gas BBQ to grill up this behemoth. The grill was fired, the drinking commenced and the monster steak was tucked onto the grill.
More drinking ensued, followed by more drinking (you KNOW how these things can go).
After a while, the chef (guest butcher) noticed that he wasn’t getting any more than about 225 degrees surface temp from the borrowed grill. Enough drinking had taken place that the urgency to eat this tepid looking, massive steak had been replaced by the need to carry on with the party.
As the story goes, … at some point, a digital read thermometer was produced and he was VERY surprised to see the internal temp was a very respectable medium rare, even though the outside was unappealing and rubbery looking.
After searing both sides on the stove in a cracking hot, cast iron grill pan and sliced thinly, the party goers were treated to undoubtedly the best steak they’d ever eaten.
I’ve tried this myself a great number of times and have never ceased to be amazed by how well this method works. It’s almost like reverse engineering or, deconstructing a BBQ method since first, you gently bring your meat to the desired internal temperature … then you add the outside ‘char’ using a cast iron grill pan. Not unlike a (click here:) Sous-Vide method only you’re not ‘holding’ the meat at the desired temperature for a long period of time.
Place it on a grill rack and shove it into a 225 degree F. oven and let it go for ten minutes.
After the initial ten minutes, use your thermometer to check your progress. You “should” be around 90 to 100 degrees.
From this point forward, check the temperature OFTEN … one or two minutes will mean the difference between medium and medium well.
Remove from the pan and let it rest (VERY IMPORTANT !!!)
Voila … a reverse engineered steak … done to perfection.
The total cook time is around 15 to 20 minutes (results will vary), just remember to check the temp with a GOOD thermometer OFTEN.
The same method can be used on the BBQ as well … just make sure your heat is indirect and monitored OFTEN.
To say that our friend Dave was impressed is an understatement … makes the heart swell up with pride.
I hope you’ll try this and let me know how you made out … I LOVE getting comments and questions so, keep ’em coming. 🙂
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Until next time Carnivores, stay hungry and as usual, please follow my posts on Twitter @DougieDee and like and share them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/carnivoreconfidential
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