Whether rare or well done, oven helps to control the preferred doneness without turning the meat tough, chewy, or dried up. However, without following the proper technique, the steak cooked in the oven can immediately turn into an undesirable meal.
Some prefer to cook steak without pan-searing or with foil to generate a steaming effect, so there are many ways to cook steak in the oven. Regardless of method you choose, oven cooking brings out the juiciness, tender, and meaty flavor.
How do you cook steak in the oven? Start by bringing the meat to room temperature for 30 minutes, and dry off the steak with paper towel before seasoning with salt and pepper. Place the meat on a sheet pan, oven skillet, or aluminum foil lined baking sheet.
Preheat the oven to a temperature between 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit or 190 to 232 degrees Celsius, and bake for 15 to 30 minutes depending on preferred doneness of the steak.
Check the internal temperature to ensure it reaches a doneness that is safe to consume. Once the steak is finished cooking, transfer onto a wire rack or plate to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Because we are dealing with raw meat, it is important to follow food safety guidelines. Proper handling and thoroughly cooking steak to reach safe internal temperatures helps to avoid food-borne illness.
Answered below are frequently asked questions about cooking steak in the oven. There are multiple techniques and preparation methods, so let’s discuss the basics of using an oven to cook steak.
Can you cook steak in the oven?
Yes, you can cook steak in the oven. Whether pan-seared or not, cooking steak in the oven is a popular method because it reduces grease splatter in the kitchen.
Oven cooked steak is tender, moist, and juicy. In addition, it offers consistent heat and good air circulation to easily achieve medium or well done results.
Not only is the oven used after searing, it can alternatively cook steak wrapped in foil for longer and slower pace, or under the broiler to get a grilled effect.
Most kitchen ranges have both stovetop and broiler feature that allows to cook steak in various ways.
Is it better to cook a steak in the oven or stove?
Instead of choosing one cooking method or the other, it is best to cook a steak on the stovetop and then finish in the oven.
Pan-searing the meat on the stove gives a browned caramelized flavor on the surface level. Then, the oven helps to cook the steak through to achieve a more consistent medium or well doneness.
It is probably easier to cool most steaks on the stovetop to rare or medium-rare. However, thick steaks such as filet mignon require extra time to cook enough on the inside.
Be aware that oven roasting can easily lead to overcooking or drying out if you are not attentive to timing in relation to temperature.
Can you put steak straight in the oven?
No, it is not recommended to put a steak straight in the oven. A cold steak straight out of refrigerator or frozen will steam and not achieve a crusty or caramelized surface.
When cold meat meets a blazing hot oven, steam forms and ending up with a watery taste and gray color steak.
Therefore, it is best to thaw steak completely when frozen, or let it come to room temperature rest on the counter for 30 to 45 minutes for better results.
Can you cook a steak in the oven without frying it first?
Yes, you can cook a steak in the oven without frying it first. When it comes to thin cuts of steaks like skirt or flank, the broiler is a better method to develop crusty texture and caramelized flavor on both sides.
Frying or searing the steak is an effective method to increase flavor and keep the meat tender. But it works best with ribeye, strip, and t-bone steaks which are thin cuts.
When cooking steak that is coated with marinated with a mixture of herbs, spices, and oil, it is best not to fry. Instead, simply bake in the oven until done and quickly broil at the end to enhance the flavor.
Can you cook steak in oven only?
Yes, you can cook steak in the oven only. When not using an oven-safe skillet, baking on a baking sheet is great substitute to consider.
Cast iron skillet is the best way of cooking steak, but you can also use a wire rack inside a baking sheet.
The rack helps to cook steak evenly with air circulation and prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. In addition, this cooking tool produces more flavor by circulating air all around and avoiding direct steam.
What is the best oven temperature to cook a steak?
The best range of oven temperature to cook a steak is 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit or 190 to 232 degrees Celsius. However, this will depend on the recipe, cut of steak, thickness of the meat and desired doneness.
Use the range of temperature for your reference, but there are multiple factors that affect the selection. If the oven has an inaccurate temperature, place an oven thermometer inside to get accurate results to prevent from over or undercooking the steak.
The cooking steak temperature and the level of doneness is not the same as the internal temperature. Remove the steak from the oven about 5 degrees Fahrenheit below your desired temperature, due to carryover cooking the steak will continue to cook after removed from the heat.
Most importantly, the internal temperature is an important factor for food safety. Keep in mind that the doneness temperature is measured in the thickest part of the steak.
- Rare: 125 degree Fahrenheit or 52 degree Celsius
- Medium rare: 135 degree Fahrenheit or 57 degree Celsius
- Medium: 145 degree Fahrenheit or 63 degree Celsius
- Medium-well: 150 degree Fahrenheit or 66 degree Celsius
- Well done: 160 degree Fahrenheit or 71 degree Celsius
How long does it take to cook steak in oven?
Cooking steak in the oven is straightforward and easy. Adjusting temperature and cooking time helps to achieve your preferred doneness.
Here are cooking times based on the doneness of the steak:
- Rare: 4 to 6 minutes
- Medium-rare: 6 to 8 minutes
- Medium: 8 to 10 minutes
- Medium-well: 10 to 12 minutes
- Well-done: 12 to 14 minutes
Be aware that cooking time may vary depending on your oven temperature, convection fan setting, cut of steak and thickness, so always check the steak halfway of cooking to prevent overcooking.
Furthermore, remove the meat 5 degrees Fahrenheit before it reaches the desired internal temperature because the steak will continue to cook while resting off the heat.
Tips to cook steak in the oven
Making juicy, tender, and perfectly browned steak is not an easy task. When grill is not available, oven is an excellent appliance to cook with.
However, without proper technique and method, oven cooked steak can turn tough, chewy, and overcooked.
Here are essential tips to follow for cooking steak in the oven:
- Bring the steak to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. Cold steak forms steam that prevents browning the crust, and makes it hard to cook the inside without overcooking the outer edges.
- Pat the steaks with paper towel before seasoning. This will help any seasoning permeate the meat while drawing out some of the moisture on the surface.
- When using skillet, get it hot in the oven first. It will create a seared and caramelized crust instead of using a cold pan to avoid unappetizing results.
- Furthermore, place the skillet directly on the bottom of the oven instead of cooking on a rack. If the heat source is underneath the oven bottom, then it will act like a stovetop burner while remaining inside appliance.
- Use sturdy sheet pan and aluminum foil to line with or cover to cook steak in the oven.
- Check the doneness with meat thermometer to reach an internal temperature that is safe to consume.
- Instead of pan-searing, consider broiler to sear the steak on both sides to achieve the same results as grilling.
Baking Steak in Oven: Conclusion
Using an oven to prep meal is straightforward and easy, especially for cooking steaks. It helps to make any type of steaks golden brown, juicy, and tender when cooked right.
In addition, oven cooking offers various ways to cook the meat from searing to broiling or covering with foil. As a result, the level of doneness is easily achievable with oven by controlling the cooking technique, temperature and timing.
But it is important to never throw cold or frozen steaks straight to the oven because it is extremely challenging to cook the inside of the meat. Always defrost and let sit outside for 30 minutes to gradually bring up to room temperature.
Each recipe offers slightly different cooking temperature and timing based on desired doneness, cut of meat and steak thickness. But these are just a guideline that also depends on the seasoning, marinades, and exact cooking method.
Choosing your type of steak and preferred doneness ranging from rare to well-done will impact the cooking method used in the oven. There are many different ways to cook steak in the oven, so select the technique that best applies for your situation.