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Lately, it seems the cost of going out to dinner at our favorite steakhouse is astronomical. Good thing you can make the perfect medium rare steak recipe at home! It’s quick enough for any night, but on a weekend or when we have company, this is what I make. I always get rave reviews for this juicy, perfectly cooked cast iron steak that will turn your home into the steakhouse you love best!

Medium rare steak temp

Best Medium Rare Steak Recipe

A gorgeous New York strip is best served medium rare so its center is red and juicy while the outside is seared to absolute perfection. Never tough and chewy, always bursting with flavor, you’ll never cook your medium rare steak any other way again!

Medium rare steak ingredients

Steak Dinner Ingredients

  • New York strip steak – This prime cut of beef is the center of attention!
  • Cooking oil – I use vegetable oil though you can use any oil that has a high smoke point
  • Butter – Use the unsalted kind since you’ll be salting the steak.
  • Garlic – You’ll need the whole cloves peeled and quartered. A staple for any garlic butter steak.
  • Salt and black pepper – To season your steak.
  • Fresh herbs – Rosemary, thyme, and sage should all be fresh to add the best steakhouse taste.

Steak temperature

Easy Pan Seared Steak Recipe

Cooking steak in cast iron is easy and delicious. Making a medium rare steak temp dinner takes 30 minutes from start to finish. Even if your steaks have never turned out right before, follow this recipe and you’ll have the kind of steak that fetches at least $30 per plate at a restaurant right at home!

We don’t just meat expectations, we exceed them.
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How do you Cook Pan Seared Steak Medium Rare?

When learning the best way to cook steak and making cast iron skillet steak, you’ll want to pat your steaks dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Then, heat a cast iron skillet with vegetable oil over medium-high on the stove. Let that coat the pan and when the oil is hot, sear the steaks on each side for 3 to 4 minutes or until it develops a brown crust. Using tongs render the fat and sear the edges about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, then drop the heat to medium and add butter, garlic, and herbs. Spoon the sauce over the steaks until they are just under your desired temperature, then let them rest on a cutting board covered loosely with foil for 10 minutes before slicing and serving with that extra butter sauce.

How to cook steak

Expert Tips Perfect Steak Medium Rare Steak Temp Every Time

  • Don’t put the steak in until the pan is HOT. When cooking steak on the stove, the oil should be almost smoking at this point.
  • Season well. It won’t come out too salty or too peppery. Seasoning both sides of your steak very well will ensure it gets that brown crust that you love from the steakhouse.
  • Don’t overcook it. This is so important! Steak needs to come out of the pan before it gets to medium rare temperature. It will keep cooking after you remove it. And no, it won’t get cold if you loosely cover it with foil while you let it rest.
  • Learn how to choose the right cut of meat.

How to cook steak in the oven

See below for the steak cooking chart. Cook your steak according to the times below to reach your desired steak cooking temp whether its the standard medium steak temp or my personal favorite of medium rare. Steak cooking times will vary depending on your method of cooking at your desired temperature.

Steak Cooking Chart

~Perfect Steak Temperature Chart~

Internal Temperature Center Color
Internal Temp
Rare Steak Cool red center 125°F / 51.6°C
Medium Rare Steak Pinkish-red center 135°F / 57.2°C
Medium Steak Pink center 145°F / 63°C
Medium Well Steak Barely pink 150°F / 65.5°C
Well Steak Brown color throughout 160°F / 71.1°C

Looking for instructions for different internal steak temperatures? See below for a list of steak temps:

How do you cook pan seared steak medium rare temp

Is it better to cook steak in the oven or pan?

Cooking steak in a pan is the best way and the fastest too. Plus, you can easily touch the top of the meat to check the temperature and see if it’s coming up on medium rare.

What is the secret to cooking a good steak?

There are a few secrets to cooking a good steak, like properly seasoning it with salt and coarse ground black pepper. You want to get your medium steak to the perfect temperature and then remove it from the pan and letting it rest before slicing.

How do you cook the perfect steak every time?

You’ll never go wrong with another steak again if you follow this recipe. It walks you through every step so you’ll have a steakhouse-perfect steak every time you make it!

How to cook steak in a pan

What is the best method for cooking steak?

This medium-rare recipe shows you the best method for cooking a steak on your stove top. With the butter sauce, it cooks up quickly and every bite will be divine.

How to Cook Steak in a Pan?

When learning how to cook steak in a pan, you’ll want to get the pan super-hot first and then sear the steak on both sides paying close attention to how much time the med steak spends on each side while remembering to baste it constantly with the butter sauce.

How Long to Cook Steak for Medium Rare?

In the skillet, it will be about 3 to 4 minutes on each side to get it to medium rare temperature. Use a meat thermometer to reach the perfect medium rare steak temperature of 135°F / 57.2°C.

Medium steak temp

How to Cook Steak in the Oven?

Learning how to cook steak in the oven is good to know but it is better to pan sear the steak first then finish it in the oven to your desired temperature. When cooking steak in the oven, want that cast iron skillet on the stove first to sear the steak so it seals in the juices. You’ll cook them as described in this recipe though only browning 2 to 3 minutes per side before putting that skillet in your oven at 400F. It should take about 10 to 15 minutes in the oven and then let the steaks rest.

How long do you cook a steak in the oven at 350?

If you want your steaks medium rare, cooking in the oven at 350F will require 7 to 10 minutes per side.

How long do you cook a steak in the oven at 400?

After searing, you’ll need to cook your steak to medium rare at 400F in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes per side.

How long to cook steak for medium rare

How is sirloin best cooked?

Sirloin is best seared in a heavy-bottomed pan like a cast iron skillet on your stove-top. This way, you can constantly bathe it in the butter sauce to keep it tender, juicy, and full of flavor.

How do you cook a sirloin steak in a medium frying pan?

Make sure you use vegetable oil or another oil with a high smoke point. Heat your frying pan hot before adding the meat and then without crowding the pan, add your steak and cook equal times on both sides until you reach your desired temp.

Is it better to cook steak in the oven or pan

What goes well with Steak?

We love all the steakhouse classics with our steaks. That means a Caesar salad, baked potatoes or sweet potatoes, creamed spinach, sauteed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, and garlic bread. A lovely potato leek soup or shrimp cocktail would be a nice starter if you’re expecting company.

How to Store Steak?

Steak should be put away in the fridge no more than 2 hours after serving it.

How Long Does Steak Last?

You should eat your leftover steak within 3 to 4 days when you keep it in the fridge.

Medium rare steak temperature

Can You Freeze Steak?

Yes! If you made more than you can eat within a few days, wrap it with heavy-duty foil and put it in the freezer. It’s best to eat it within 2 to 3 months.

How to Reheat Steak?

The best way is in the oven. Preheat it to 250F and put a wire rack in your sheet pan with the steaks on the rack. Let it cook for 20 to 30 minutes, checking until it reaches your level of doneness. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness so something thinner will need a shorter time while thicker cuts will be closer to 30 minutes.


Watch How To Cook Steak Medium Rare (Video)

The Perfect Medium Rare Steak Recipe

5 from 209 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 1113
Learn how to cook the PERFECT medium rare steak with this easy recipe tutorial! It can be a challenge to cook your steak just right so we made this cast iron skillet steak recipe that will teach you exactly how long to cook steak to your desired temperature in cast iron.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs New York strip steak
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil (or any oil with a high smoke point)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic (peeled and quartered)
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig fresh sage

Instructions 

  • Pat each steak dry with paper towels and liberally season each side of the steak with salt and pepper, or to taste.
  • In a cast iron skillet, heat ½ to 1tbsp of vegetable oil on medium high heat, ensuring it coats the entire pan. Once the oil is hot, transfer your steaks to the skillet .Sear the steaks on each side for about 3-4 minutes each, or until a brown crust has formed. Use tongs to render the white fat along the sides of the steak and sear the edges, for about 1-2 minutes per side. Reduce the heat from medium-high to medium and add in the butter, garlic, and herbs. Continuously spoon the butter sauce over the steaks. Continue to baste the steaks until they are about 10 degrees away from your desired temperature (they will continue to cook while they rest).
  • Once the steaks have reached their desired temperature, transfer them to a cutting board and loosely cover with aluminum foil. Allow the steak to rest 10 minutes before slicing. Slice the steak into ½ to 1 inch thick strips to serve. Serve with extra butter sauce.
Calories: 1113kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 1113kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 92g | Fat: 81g | Saturated Fat: 39g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 35g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 322mg | Sodium: 2566mg | Potassium: 1285mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 652IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 8mg

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I’m a mom of two, food and wine lover, and recipe creation enthusiast. Good food brings families together. Which is why I’m devoted to sharing my best recipes that are simple enough for even the beginner cook that your family will love!

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