Steak: Myth or Fact

Steak, when cooked right, is delicious. Cooking a great steak doesn’t have to be hard. The problem is it’s difficult to find the truth about cooking steak because there are countless commercials, ads, and articles packed with misinformation. Before cooking your next steak, read through Ruth’s Chris’ list of myths and facts about how to make the perfect steak every time.

6 Myths or Facts About Steak

If there’s one thing we know, it’s steak. We’re here to set the record straight about steak. Here are some of the most common myths and facts that we have found on the internet to help you prepare a deliciously juicy steak every time.

  1. Only flip your steak once.
    FACT. Now this is something that has been fought over for years, and is still being discussed. We believe this to be a fact. Flipping your steak once, allows for each side to sear and develop a “crust.” This crust essentially works to lock in the juices and keep your steak juicy and flavorful.
  2. Allow your steak to come to room temperature before cooking.
    MYTH. The theory here is to bring your steak up to room temperature which will bring it closer to your final serving temperature along with creating a browner steak. Now there are two problems here; one is that 20-30 minutes is not enough time to make a significant change in the internal temperature of your steak; and two, steak can’t brown until most of the moisture has evaporated from the layers of meat closest to the surface.
  3. Fully preheat your grill.
    FACT. This is a definite fact. Heating your grill to your desired cooking temperature is crucial when cooking the perfect steak. In order to cook your steak evenly throughout, fully pre-heat your grill and cook on each side for the same amount of time, only flipping it once.
  4. Let your steak rest after cooking.
    FACT. Letting your steak rest after cooking helps absorb the juices. If you give your steak about 5-10 minutes (depending on thickness, but at least 5 minutes) to rest the meat will lose less juice when you cut it and when you go to eat it, the steak will be juicier and tastier.
  5. Beef is unhealthy.
    MYTH. This is a myth that we don’t understand. Steak offers an endless number of vitamins and nutrients, with high iron, protein and vitamin B-12 levels that are found in each cut of meat. Iron plays a vital role in body circulation, vitamin B-12 is essential for overall bodily function, and protein is necessary for maintaining healthy muscles. How steak has earned a bad rap, we will never understand.
  6. Salt your steak right before you cook it.
    FACT. Salting your steak right before you cook it helps to suck out any moisture on the surface allowing for the perfect brown. Be careful not to salt your steak too early or else it could eliminate too much moisture in the meat and you could end up with a dry steak.

Visit Ruth’s Chris for the Perfect Steak Every Time

If you’d rather leave the cooking to the experts, we have you covered. Join us at Ruth’s Chris for a perfectly prepared steak anytime. To learn more about our locations, menu items, and seasonal promotions or to make a reservation you can visit our website or give us a call.