1.

Start with the right meat

“The most common mistake people make when cooking steak takes place
before the steak actually cooks,” says chef Adam Perry Lang of the APL
Restaurant in Hollywood. “Picking out the right steak based on its quality is far
more important than applying the more advanced techniques.” Lang
recommends choosing a cut with well dispersed and abundant intramuscular
fat, like ribeye, for those who aren’t concerned about fat intake.

2. Choose underrated cuts

“Some of my favorite cuts of steak are some of the most underrated cuts. We
call them ‘butchers cuts’ in the restaurant world,” says Dunsmoor. “They pack
the most flavor and are less expensive than the premium cuts.” Dunsmoor
suggests trying deckle (ribeye cap), hanger, inside skirt, Korean cut short rib,
and top sirloin (when marinated).

3. Keep your tools simple

“The beautiful thing about cooking steak is that you need so little to do it,” says
Dunsmoor. “All you need is a grill (preferably wood or charcoal burning) or cast
iron skillet, tongs, spoon (if cooking in a skillet) and and sharp knife.” A thick pan
like a cast-iron skillet will ensure even heat distribution while you cook. You’ll also
need a thermometer nearby throughout the process. “Keep a thermometer on
hand,” says Shim. “It is a great practice to use them to check for temperature of
the steak.”

4. Watch temperature—even before you cook

“Understanding that the temperature of the steak at the onset has an impact
on the cooking,” says Lang. “If you’re taking the steak right out of the fridge, it’s
stone cold in the center and will need to be handled appropriately. For thick
cold cuts of steak, I use the temper method, constantly flipping until the end to
allow for the heat to evenly penetrate toward the center.”
5. Cook your steak’s sides differently

“Whether on the grill or in the skillet, always cook the steak on the fist side for two
thirds of the time and then flip it and cook it for the last third of the time,”
Dunsmoor says. “You really want to get a nice crust on initial contact without
over cooking the steak.”

6. Steak size matters

“The important thing to take into consideration is to understand that thickness

has an impact: the thinner the cut, the more aggressive the carryover, so
leaning when to pull off is important,” says Lang.

7. Avoid high heat

“Many people think or believe that searing the meat super high and cooking it
at high temperature throughout is the way to cook,” Shim says. “It does create a
great maillard reaction, but I believe that it is not all about the maillard reaction.
It is about evenly cooking the steak with the least amount of gray ring and nice
red or pink color in the middle of the meat depending on the temperature you
are looking for (and with the technology, the reverse sear method started to be
popular).”

8. Watch the post-fire cooking

“Always remember that the steak will continue cooking a little bit after you pull it
off the fire,” Dunsmoor says. “If you want a nice medium rare, pull the steak at
around 110 degrees to 115 so it carries over to a nice 125-135 while resting.” Get
the meat off of your pan or grill before it hits your preferred temperature.

9. Not all meat will cook the same

"I really believe that to cook a great steak you need to understand the ‘heat’
element and how it impacts the meat and the type of meat you are cooking, as
dry aged beef will cook and react differently to a very well marbled wagyu
beef,” Shim says.
10. Baste steak the French way

"While cooking in a skillet I like to baste the meat with fat in the pan like the
French do,” Dunsmoor says. “Cook the steak in oil for the first 2/3 of cooking
time, flip it, add some butter (herbs and garlic too if you want...) and baste the
meat for the remaining 1/3 of the cooking time.” Lang agrees that basting helps
develop the meat’s intense flavor by building layers by constantly lacquering
and reducing flavors on the crust. "An intense crust really makes an impact,” he
says.

11. Note your grill’s hot spots, and adjust for a stovetop

“Know your hot spots and warm spots, if grilling. You want to keep in mind of the
different temperature to sear, to cook, and to hold the meat,” Shim says. “If not
using a grill, use a thick pan to cook and do control the heat from high to
medium as you cook.”

12. Rest your steak before serving

“Once pulled off the heat you will need to rest the meat to insure that it is juicy
and delicious when you slice it,” Dunsmoor says. “I like to rest a small- to
medium-sized steak (6-15 oz) for 10 to 15 minutes and large steaks (16-32 oz) for
15- 25 minutes. This lets the juices that are bubbling around inside the meat to
settle down and not run out all over the cutting board after you slice it.”

13. Don’t go with the grain

“Slice against the grain,” Dunsmoor says. "If you cut the meat with the grain it
will eat tough!.If you slice it with the grain, it will be much more tender and
giving while you chew it.”

14. Season post-slice

“Season the meat after you slice it with nice flaky sea salt,” Dunsmoor says.
“Even better—put a bowl of sea salt on the table so everyone can season each
bite as the like it. Everyone has different palates and need different amount of
salt to properly enjoy their food. Salt is a personal preference. Don’t ever let a
chef tell you otherwise! You do you.”
HOW TO MAKE GARLIC BUTTER SHRIMP

Lucky for you, lemony garlic butter shrimp is easy to make! It cooks quickly
and is extremely versatile when it comes to making different dishes. Here’s
how to make it:

1. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium high heat and then stir in the
garlic. Cook this for about 30 seconds.
2. Add the shrimp and season them with salt and pepper. Cook for about
2-3 minutes each side, until the shrimp becomes pink and opaque.
3. Stir in the lemon juice and any remaining butter. Take off heat and taste
test to see if you need any more salt and pepper.
4. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and you are ready to serve!