A Guide to Grilling the Perfect Steak

There's nothing quite like a cookout. When it's warm out, it's always a blast to have friends over, drink a couple beers, and throw some steak on the grill. But we've all had bad grilled steak before - overcooked and bland. You definitely don't want to do that, and with this guide to grilling the perfect steak, you won't have to anymore.

Which Cuts to Choose

The best choices for grilling steak are the following:

• New York strip
• Porterhouse
• T-bone
• Ribeye
• Tenderloin

Adding Flavor

Steak is excellent all on it's own, but if you want to add in some more flavor, you want to do it in a subtle way so you don't overpower the taste of the steak. You want people to realize it's delicious, but be unable to put their finger on exactly what makes it stick out.

The first thing you can do is marinate the meat overnight. In a plastic bag or container, add some olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and any other herbs (such as parsley) you may want. Letting it sit in this mixture for several hours will impart a great flavor.

Another thing you can do is make a compound butter to top the meat off with once it's cooked. You do this by softening up some butter, then mashing it with a fork with chopped parsley and garlic. Just a little bit of this on a grilled steak is sure to impress.

Grilling to Perfection

Okay, here's the biggie: how do you grill a steak to perfection?

The first key is to get the grill blazing hot, so that you can char the outside while still leaving the inside nice and juicy. Use plenty of coal or turn the gas on high. You should only be able to hold your hand over the grate for 2-3 seconds if it is ready to go.

The next thing is to know when to flip the steaks and take them off. To do this, use the "thumb test method." You know that fleshy mound at the base of your thumb? Well, it gets tighter when you make a ring with different fingers in your hand. The elasticity of this area can be compared with the steak to give you an idea of when the steak is done without needing to cut into it. Here's the key:

• Open palm: rare
• Index finger: medium rare
• Middle finger: medium
• Ring finger: medium well
• Pinkie: well

This guide to grilling the perfect steak will ensure you always throw legendary cookouts.

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