Expert: John Langenfelder - 8/2/2010

Question
I was raised to make my steak in a well seasoned cast iron frying pan. My Grandmother always trimmed the fat and put it in the frying pan first, and disconnect the fire alarm because it would always go off, sear each side for 2min then cook for an additional 2-3min per side for a good rare-medium steak, no seasoning just salt n pepper to taste, after done cooking we would add a bit of butter to the steak juices in the pan along with a touch of water, and pour the juice over toast! It was the best!
She has passed and it is to hot during heat waves to fire up the stove so I am trying and failing at using the BBQ to make a similar out come, either its to well done or way under? I pre-heat the BBQ for 10min  then through on the steak do a 1/4 turn to get the diamond grill marks they steak looks great but my wife likes hers cooked through say medium no blue but juicy, I don't mind a blue, but prefer pink and very juicy! I never know weather to close the lid, when to put mine on always paranoid of it being well done and tough, we both like melt in your mouth, with some salt maybe a bit of garlic powder, and appreciate the flavor of the meat rather than drowning it in BBQ sauce!
If she wants hers done medium and mine rare when do I put hers on then mine? Lid up or down? I read 700 is best but when you lift the lid you loose all your heat?

Answer
cook,

Generally, I cook my steaks on a medium heat (350 f) with the lid closed.  the cook time depends on the thickness of the steak.  A one inch steak will take about 10 minutes each side for medium rare.   If you want to sear the steaks, do it on high heat, a minute or two on each side, turning the meat a qtr turn after flipping it one to get those diamond grill marks.  If your bbq has two (or more) gas burners have one side on high, the other on medium.  Sear your wife's first on high, then move it to the medium side, then start yours. Don't forget to flip your wife's steak.  When you get done searing yours, move it to medium and cook for about 4-5 minutes each side and you should have it. Your wife's will be medium and your's medium rare.  The way to check a steak is to take your forefinger and press on the fleshy part of your palm below the thumb.   This is the way a medium rare steak should feel.  Your middle finger to the fleshy part is medium.

Cooking steaks is an art not a science.  Every piece of meat will be a little different.

You could also try your grandmothers way of putting the pan on the grill on high heat and cooking her way, just out on the grill.