Skillet Garlic Butter Steak (2024)

FAQs

Should you put butter in pan before steak? ›

Instead, start cooking your steak in the bare pan until it's about 20-30 degrees from your desired doneness, THEN add the butter. It will sizzle right away and you'll create the ideal basting situation.

WHICH IS BEST FOR COOKING STEAK: BUTTER OR OIL? Unlike butter, many oils have higher smoke points, making them the better option for cooking steak. Furthermore, there are some oils e.g. olive oil or grape seed oil that are healthier alternatives to butter. However, don't expect oil to taste better than butter.

Place the steaks in the hot skillet and cook for about 3 minutes each side or until the steaks get a nice crust. Reduce heat to medium-low, add butter and garlic. Flip the steaks again and tilt the pan to help the butter spread on the skillet.

As you can see, between butter and oil, butter has a dramatically lower smoke point. Because of this, if you heat up a pan hot enough to sear your steak, putting a dollop of butter in first means it is likely to burn up. However, that doesn't mean you can't still get the delicious flavors of butter with your steak.

Butter has a rich, creamy taste that, when melted over the hot surface of a perfectly cooked steak, creates a symphony of flavors. This combination doesn't just add fat; it introduces depth and complexity, enhancing the natural savoriness of the meat.

As a general rule, wait to add the garlic until immediately before you add other ingredients like stock or meat, allowing it to mingle with the cooked onion to create the onion and garlic foundation of the flavor profile you're building.

Gently push the steaks down so the sides are in full contact with the pan and sear, without moving them around, on high heat for about 3 minutes on both sides or until nice and brown. Reduce the heat to low and add the butter, garlic, and thyme. Tip the pan slightly to spoon the butter over each steak.

To mince peeled garlic, lay the flat side of a knife over the clove and smash it. Roughly chop the clove then move your free hand flat across the tip of the knife and use a rocking motion to chop the garlic until it's finely minced.

Maybe it's time to stop oiling your pan. The best way to oil your pan before cooking a steak is to not oil it at all. Seriously, back away. Put the oil down.

DON'T USE ANY OIL – if you're using a barbecue or well-seasoned cast iron griddle pan and the heat is high enough you won't need anything – the meat won't stick. If you're using a heavy-gauge frying pan (preferably not non-stick) add a nugget of beef dripping to the hot pan.

Does putting butter on steak make it more tender? ›

The fat in the butter can help soften the meats' protein fibers, resulting in a more tender steak.

Oil the Steak

It is very important that both sides of the steak are well coated with oil, but there is no need to worry about the edges. While the steak won't stick to the pan, you need the oil to conduct the heat from the pan to the meat as fast as possible.