The Correct Way to Reverse Sear a Steak

Step 1

Season steaks generously with either coarse salt and pepper or your favorite steak rub. You can do this step several hours or even a day in advance.

Step 2

Preheat an oven or smoker to between 225 and 275 degrees. A lower heat setting will yield a juicier steak because the heat is gentle, but it takes much longer to reach the desired internal temperature.

Step 3

Drizzle the steaks with a thin layer of oil and place them on a metal rack set inside a cookie sheet to catch drippings. If you’re using a smoker, you can set the steaks directly on the grilling rack. This allows airflow and keeps the exterior dry. You’ll need that to achieve a good crust when you go to sear it at the end.

Step 4

Insert an oven-safe thermometer in the meat at the thickest point and place the meat in the oven or smoker. You’ll need to know where the internal temp stands throughout the process to avoid having to constantly open the door and prick the meat with a probe. Pull the steaks when they reach about 15 degrees below your target temperature.

Step 5

For a final target temp of 125 degrees (rare), pull from oven at 110 degrees. For a final target temp of 130 degrees (medium-rare), pull from oven at 115 degrees. For a final target temp of 135 degrees (medium), pull from oven at 120 degrees.

Step 6

Let the steaks rest on the counter while you pre-heat a frying pan over high heat. Add a drizzle of oil and swirl to coat the bottom. When the pan is smoking hot, lay the steaks down and sear for about 30 seconds on each side. At this point you can add herbs and butter and baste the steaks for more flavor.

Step 7

You don’t need to let the steaks rest because they were cooked so gently in the oven. Don’t feel guilty about digging right in!

Step 8

*If cooking bear or hog loin, you’ll want to make adjustments so that the final target temp is 165 degrees, which means you’ll take it out of the oven at 150 degrees. For a thick turkey breast, you want to aim for a final temp of 155 to 160 degrees and remove it at 140 to 145 degrees.