Introduction to Pork Steaks
Pork steaks are an American BBQ staple, especially in the warmer months of the year. That being said, these versatile cuts of meat can be enjoyed year around. These delicious and tender cuts of meat are popular, buy many of us wonder, what is the best way to actually cook them? While there is no one way to prepare a pork steak, cooks do seem to agree that grilling, searing, and baking are the best ways.
Well, one common way to cook pork steaks is to grill them. This cooks them evenly while producing a nice and crispy char on the outside. Not to mention, most American homes have a grill that is just waiting to be fired up at a moment’s notice.
Other chefs and home cooks prefer to make their pork steaks in the oven. This method is a good choice when the weather is cold or a grill is not readily available. There are many pork shoulder steak recipes oven, but not all are created equally.
Another sound method for cooking the succulent pork steak is on the stove top in a frying pan. This is quick and easy and gives the meat a nice sear on either side of the steak.
Of course with any method, the meat must be either seasoned or marinated ahead of time. Pork steak seasoning comes in many varieties and flavors so there is something out there sure to please every culinary palette.
No matter what cooking method you choose, you and your family will be delighted with the delectable pork steak you make, no matter if it was seared, grilled, or baked. All methods are simple enough for the home cook to quickly master; however, one of these methods is the easiest for beginners and that is the all American grill.
Grilling Pork Steaks
There are many ways to grill a delightful pork steak, but we want to stick to the tried and true basics in order to get a quality steak on the first try. It is so simple to grill pork steaks that it is practically foolproof.
It is important to follow simple guidelines when grilling steak such as making a marinade ahead of time, pre-heating the grill, and using either a meat thermometer or a pork chop grill time chart to ensure the proper cook for the pork steaks. Since it is a fairly simple process, no special tools or equipment is required beyond the grill, a pair of tongs, and a serving platter for after the meat has been cooked.
One important piece of advice when grilling pork steaks is to be sure to trim off the fat before getting started. Because this cut of pork is more fatty than others, this can cause it to drip when it is being cooked on the grill. To avoid a potential disaster, it is a good idea to take a look at the steaks when preparing them and carefully remove extra fat.
A choice that must be made when grilling pork steaks is whether to marinade them ahead of time or to baste them with a sauce after they have cooked on the grill. While many pros like to baste their steaks with BBQ sauce, it is suggested that beginners use a marinade due to its ease and guaranteed good flavor outcome. Sauces can be tricky to balance flavor wise and messy to apply as well.
Basic Pork Steak Recipes
With the basic pork steak recipe for the grill one good aspect is that the flavors can be customized and either ramped up or toned down depending on the tastes of you and your family or other guests. Another plus is that pork steaks are not only cost effective, but they are just as flavorful and juicy as a pork roast, but they cook in a fraction of the time.
Since this is a simple recipe for beginners, we want to keep things easy and worry free. This formula serves as a basis for almost any pork steak marinade: oil + acid + herbs + seasonings= a perfect steak. This rich and tasty combination ensures that there is enough well balanced flavor to properly season and cook the pork steak.
For those new to grilling the recommended ingredients are as follows:
- 2 Tbs. canola oil
- ½ C. citrus juice (a blend of orange, lemon and lime works well together.)
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 Tbs. minced rosemary
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
Of course this blend of ingredients can be adjusted or added based on personal tastes and preferences. This is a starting point for those who want a simple, yet delicious pork steak. These tried and true ingredients are a great starting off point, and of course you can expand upon them later when you have more experience under your grilling belt.
Instructions:
Begin by making the marinade. Whisk together the canola oil, citrus juice, garlic, fresh herbs, salt and pepper in a medium to large sized bowl to combine together. Then, place the pork steaks gently into the marinade, turning them over to evenly coat them with the mixture.
Next you will want to cover the bowl with either a lid or tin foil and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes. This is a step that cannot be rushed, so you always want to ensure you have plenty of time set aside for the process.
After that, you should preheat the grill on high heat (about 450 degrees F) ten minutes prior to use. This step can be done while the meat is covered in the fridge.
Next, take the steaks out of the marinade and discard the marinade, it is no longer needed for the recipe. Grill the steaks on one side over the high heat for about 3 minutes. Then, turn the steaks over to the other side and grill for an additional 3 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 145 degrees F.
This step is where a digital thermometer comes in handy. Charts can be used as well, but for beginner grillers, it is best to be certain to make sure the steaks are safe to consume. Simply insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the steak without touching any of the bone.
The last part is easy; transfer the pork steaks to a clean platter or serving dish and allow to rest for four to five minutes prior to serving. It is that simple! These delicious pork steaks are now ready to eat with your favorite side dishes.
Recommended side dishes for pork steaks include Brussel sprouts, scalloped potatoes, butterbeans, creamed corn, or potato salad. Others like to keep it very traditional with side choices like mashed potatoes, green beans, or mixed vegetables. Of course the options are limitless and you can figure out what you think goes best with your grilled steaks.
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Grilled Pork Steaks Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tbs. canola oil
- ½ C. citrus juice (a blend of orange, lemon and lime works well together.)
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 Tbs. minced rosemary
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Begin by making the marinade.
- Whisk together the canola oil, citrus juice, garlic, fresh herbs, salt and pepper in a medium to large sized bowl to combine together.
- Then, place the pork steaks gently into the marinade, turning them over to evenly coat them with the mixture.
- Next you will want to cover the bowl with either a lid or tin foil and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes.
- This is a step that cannot be rushed, so you always want to ensure you have plenty of time set aside for the process.
- After that, you should preheat the grill on high heat (about 450 degrees F) ten minutes prior to use.
- This step can be done while the meat is covered in the fridge.
- Next, take the steaks out of the marinade and discard the marinade, it is no longer needed for the recipe.
- Grill the steaks on one side over the high heat for about 3 minutes.
- Then, turn the steaks over to the other side and grill for an additional 3 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 145 degrees F.
- This step is where a digital thermometer comes in handy.
- Charts can be used as well, but for beginner grillers, it is best to be certain to make sure the steaks are safe to consume.
- Simply insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the steak without touching any of the bone.
- The last part is easy; transfer the pork steaks to a clean platter or serving dish and allow to rest for four to five minutes prior to serving.
- It is that simple! These delicious pork steaks are now ready to eat with your favorite side dishes.
- Recommended side dishes for pork steaks include Brussel sprouts, scalloped potatoes, butterbeans, creamed corn, or potato salad.
- Others like to keep it very traditional with side choices like mashed potatoes, green beans, or mixed vegetables.
- Of course the options are limitless and you can figure out what you think goes best with your grilled steaks.
Nutrition
Conclusion
Pork steaks are a Midwest American staple that can be enjoyed year around. While there are many ways to cook them, grilling is the preferred method for beginners, but also many experts as well. The cook time is considerably less that many other cuts of meat and the seasoning options are endless. Pork steaks can easily be incorporated into your culinary repertoire with a little practice and some flavorful experimentation.
