So you’ve taken the plunge, bought yourself an outdoor grill, and are ready to make some steaks. But how long does steak take to grill?
There is no single answer to this question because there are too many factors involved!
However, in a nutshell, it’s typically about 5 minutes a side for a ‘rare’ steak, and about 7-8 minutes a side for a ‘medium’ steak.
Unfortunately, we can’t be more specific than this because if you like your steak rare (very red on the inside), or you like it medium (a little less red), then the cooking time will vary accordingly.
More often than not, you will probably end up cooking your steaks for around 7-8 minutes a side (depending on how thick they are) and then checking them with your tongs.
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The Time It Takes To Grill A Steak
The time it takes to grill steak is going to depend on a lot of different factors, but there are two main ones.
Firstly, the thickness of your steak will determine how long you’re going to cook it, and secondly, the type of outdoor grill that you have available will also play a role in determining the time it takes to grill steak.
Not only that, but the thickness of the steak also plays a role.
Sometimes though, you might find yourself cooking your steaks for longer than you might have expected.
This often happens if your steak has been in the freezer for a while, and therefore defrosting slowly.
If this is the case and you notice that your steaks are taking longer than usual to cook, we recommend you give them a few minutes less next time around.
Alternatively, if you’ve bought steak that is already thawed, you may find that your steaks are cooked in less time.
If You Like Your Steak Rare…
So you like to eat steak, but only when it’s cooked rare.
In this case, it might take around 5 minutes a side for the cooking process to be complete.
It really is as simple as that.
Cooking Medium Steak
On the other hand, if you want to cook a steak that is going to be in between rare and medium, you should allow your steaks to cook for around 7-8 minutes on each side.
We say this because cooking steaks for 5 minutes on each side will give you a pretty rare steak, but cooking them for 10 minutes on each side will give you a well-done steak.
If You Like Your Steaks Well Done…
So, if you like your steaks well done, then the time it takes to grill steak is going to be slightly longer.
Again, however, cooking time will depend on how thick your steaks are.
A well-done steak will typically take between 9 and 10 minutes a side to cook properly.
Of course, this is going to vary depending on the thickness of your steaks, but as a general rule of thumb, you can assume it will take 9-10 minutes a side for a well-done steak.
Remember that these are just averages, and the grill you use, the temperature, and many other factors play a role in the time it’s going to take to grill a steak.
Keep this in mind and you will be able to make your next steak tasting experience even better.
What Temperature To Cook Steak On A Grill?
If you want to cook a good steak, then it is important that you get the temperature of your grill right.
Many people do not realize this though, and they end up cooking their steaks at far too high a temperature.
If you do this, then you are going to end up overcooking your steak.
We say this because the outside of your steak is likely to cook far more quickly than the inside!
What does this mean?
Well, it could mean that if you like your steaks rare (very red on the inside), then you will end up with a steak that is burnt on the outside and raw in the middle.
Similarly, if you like your steaks medium (a little less red), then it probably means that the inside of your steak is overcooked and therefore very dry.
You don’t want to do this! You need to make sure that you get the temperature of your grill right so that your steaks are cooked to perfection.
So how do you do it?
Well, there are a couple of ways to go about this. Firstly, you could use an internal thermometer that tells you what temperature your steak is at. These can be found online or in some stores.
The other option is to be able to tell the color of your steak.
You should normally be able to tell if a steak is rare, medium, or well done by looking at the outside and checking the color of each side.
If you can do this, then you should know exactly what temperature your grill needs to be at so that your steaks are cooked to perfection.
There is no one perfect temperature for cooking steak on the grill.
You need to choose a heat level based on how well you want your steak done, and this will vary depending on personal preference.
However, there is one recommended temperature that many people agree upon:
Medium rare – around 550 degrees.
This gives you a steak that is cooked well, but still has some moisture in it.
However, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t stray too far away from this temperature.
As we mentioned above, if you like your steaks rare (very red on the inside), then it’s best to keep the temperature of your grill around 450 degrees.
If you like your steaks medium (a little less red), then it’s best to keep the temperature at 550 degrees.
How Long Do You Grill A Steak Per Inch?
The thickness of your steak will also affect the time it takes to grill a steak.
As we mentioned above, thin steaks will need less time than thick steaks.
But how much less?
Well, thin steaks (around 1 inch) should take around 7 minutes on each side on your char-grill, but thicker steaks (2 inches or more) should be cooked for around 10 minutes on each side.
Of course, this is just a rough estimate because it will depend on the temperature that you are using. It’s best to check how well done your steaks are in order to determine when they’ve been properly grilled.
By knowing what temperature you need to use, and how long it takes to grill a steak per inch, you should be able to make your next steak even better.
And knowing these two pieces of information will definitely help you make a delicious meal.
These are just the basic things that you need to know about steaks and how long it will take to grill them.
Other Considerations
It’s important to keep in mind that there are other factors that will affect how long it takes to grill a steak. These include:
- The type of steak that you use. Different kinds of steaks have different kinds of textures and they all require a different kind of grilling time.
- Seasoning your steak with salt, pepper, or any other herbs or spices. This will affect how long it takes to grill a steak because the additional flavors in the seasoning will need time to develop.
- The type of heat source. Gas grills tend to be hotter than charcoal grills, so they’ll also take less time when compared with charcoal-grilled steaks.
- The thickness or thinness of your steak. Thin steaks take less time than thick ones to grill.
- The starting temperature of your grill. This will affect how long it takes to grill a steak because the additional heat needs time to spread throughout the device and reach whatever temperature you have chosen.
All in all, grilling a steak can be a difficult task to get exactly right.
There are so many factors to consider, and this means that you could be running the risk of ruining something which would have been perfectly good otherwise.
However, if you follow the guidance above, you will be on the right track to grilling a fantastic steak.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the time it takes to grill a steak depends.
But it’s somewhere in between 5 – 15 minutes per side depending on how well done you prefer your steaks.
If you keep in mind all of the different factors such as the thickness of the steak, the cut, and the grill you use, you’ll be able to grill a perfect steak.
Don’t forget to use a meat thermometer to ensure that the temperate is correct.
Thank you for reading this article, hopefully, you now know how long it takes to grill a steak.
Good luck!
