The saying goes “rubbish in equals rubbish out”. This applies to grilling a great steak. If it’s not great to start with then you will have an almost impossible task trying to make it better during the grilling process.
The quality of the meat will decide the taste of the steak. What meat is best for grilling and what should the quality be like? There are so many varieties available in your stores, and price does not necessarily mean best for grilling.
If you are lucky enough to have a butcher in your area, then I would always suggest getting your steaks there, especially if you like medium or rare. It tends to be fresher and the butcher can give you some great advice. Or even in your supermarket they often have a fresh butcher section. Try there for your steak. Here are some tips on getting through the jargon.
What’s in A Cut?
There are lots of different cuts available. The best cuts for grilling are the Rib Eye, T-bone, Porterhouse, Strip Steak and Sirloin. There are of course the Tenderloin cuts that give you your fillet and Chateaubriand. These cuts are very tender but contain very little fat and are not very flavorful, so not good for grilling. The rib eye probably contains the most fat out of the bunch, and is definitely one of the more flavorful cuts.
What Is Marbling?
Marbling is the visible lines of fat that you see going through the meat. The fat is what gives your steak its great flavor. Now of course the more fat you have on your beef, the less healthy it will be. But as long as you don’t over do it, I’m sure its fine. The marbling should be thin lines of fat and should be evenly distributed throughout your steak. Just try to avoid thick marbling, as this will produce a tougher steak.
What Grade Should You Use For Grilling??
The grade is easier. There are three different grades. They are Prime, Choice and Select, in order of quality. You probably won’t get much prime in your supermarket, these are the top end expensive cuts and are more often found in restaurants. So you will be looking at choice or select. So try both and see what you think. I have found great select cuts at good prices for use on my grill.
So experiment with T-bone, Porterhouse and Strip, in the choice and select range, and you will be well on your way to finding the steak that is best for you and your grill.