How to Cook Steak in the Oven
Before we start cooking, you’ll need to choose the cut of steak to suit your recipe. Seek out these cuts when broiling steak in the oven:
FlankStripTop sirloinTri-tip (bottom sirloin)TenderloinPorterhouseT-boneRibeye
Test Kitchen Tip: For melt-in-your-mouth texture, look for steaks with a fresh pink/red color with abundant marbling (stripes of fat in the meat). Some fat around the exterior of beef cuts is good, but trim any large pieces surrounding the meat.
Step 1: Prepare Steaks for the Oven
For even cooking, let steaks stand at room temperature 30 minutes before broiling. Use a paper towel to pat dry each steak. (Surface wetness delays a good sear, removing excess moisture allows the steak to brown evenly.) Season with sea salt and black pepper or desired seasonings. See below for some delicious seasoning suggestions.
Measure Thickness of Steaks
One-inch-thick steaks are ideal for broiling. If your steaks are slightly thicker or thinner, you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly (longer for thicker steaks, shorter for thinner steaks).
Steak Seasoning
Add extra flavor to your steaks with a homemade rub. Sprinkle your spices and/or herbs on both sides, then rub to distribute evenly. Here are some easy spice formulas for cooking steak in the oven:
Chicago Steakhouse: 1 Tbsp. dry mustard + 2 tsp. granulated garlic + 2 tsp. black pepper + 1 tsp. sweet smoked Spanish paprika + ½ tsp. dried thyme + ½ tsp. cayenne pepperSpicy Espresso: 2 tsp. chili powder + 1 tsp. salt + 1 tsp. instant espresso coffee powder + ½ tsp. garlic powder + ½ tsp. dried oregano + ½ tsp. black pepperChili: 1 Tbsp. chili powder + 1 Tbsp. olive oil + 1½ tsp. dried oregano + ½ tsp. salt + ½ tsp. ground cuminMediterranean: 2 tsp. dried rosemary + 2 tsp. dried thyme + 2 tsp. dried minced onion + 2 tsp. dried minced garlic + 1 tsp. salt + ¾ tsp. black pepperAsian-inspired: 1 Tbsp. dried orange peel + 2 tsp. garlic powder + 1 tsp. salt + 1 tsp. toasted sesame seeds + 1 tsp. black sesame seeds + 1 tsp. black pepper + ½ tsp. crushed red pepper
Step 2: Broil the Steaks in the Oven
Place the steaks on the unheated rack of a broiler pan. Preheat the broiler for 5 to 10 minutes. For 1-inch-thick steaks cooked to medium doneness, steaks will take about 15 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking time. Allow less time for rare steaks and more time for well-done steaks.
How Long to Cook Steak in the Oven
If your recipe doesn’t specify how long to broil steaks, follow these guidelines.
Boneless steak (top loin [strip], ribeye, shoulder top blade [flat iron], shoulder center [ranch], chuck eye, tenderloin): 1 inch: broil 12 to 14 minutes for medium rare (145°F), 15 to 18 minutes for medium (160°F) 1½ inches: broil 18 to 21 minutes for medium rare, 22 to 27 minutes for medium Boneless top sirloin steak 1 inch: 15 to 17 minutes for medium rare, 20 to 22 minutes for medium 1½ inch: 25 to 27 minutes for medium rare, 30 to 32 minutes for medium Boneless tri-tip steak (bottom sirloin) ¾ inch: 6 to 7 minutes for medium rare, 8 to 9 minutes for medium 1 inch: 9 to 10 minutes for medium rare, 11 to 12 minutes for medium Flank steak: Cook 1- to 1¼-inch steaks 13 to 16 minutes for medium doneness. Steak with bone (porterhouse, T-bone) 1 inch: 12 to 15 minutes for medium rare, 15 to 20 minutes for medium 1½ inch: 20 to 25 minutes for medium rare, 25 to 30 minutes for medium
Test Kitchen Tip: Ensure your steak is cooked to a safe internal temperature using an instant-read meat thermometer ($15, Target).
Step 4: Let the Steaks Rest
Let the meat rest for 5 minutes after cooking, tented with foil to keep the meat warm. This allows the juices to redistribute from the interior of the steak and keeps the juices from escaping once the meat is cut. Test Kitchen Tip: If you are slicing the steaks before serving, cut slices perpendicular to the meat’s grain for the most tender slices. Now that you know how to cook steak in the oven, give this strategy a try with some deliciously easy steak recipes. Try these quick herbed steaks with horseradish or get a bit fancier with a restaurant-worthy Steak au Poivre. Whip up a quick side dish of broccoli, a leafy salad, or mashed potatoes and you’ll be set.
