Steak isn’t (yet!) one of the most popular dishes in Poland. Even though good steak-quality beef is high in protein and quick to prepare, some people still worry if they can actually cook it at home. Is steak really that difficult to make? Let’s be clear: if you can boil potatoes, you can cook a steak. It’s one of the simplest and fastest meals you can prepare. To get a great result, you only need to follow two simple rules: choose good-quality meat, don’t overcook it.
Beef steaks are not (yet!) a very popular Polish dish. Although good steak meat provides plenty of protein and is quick to prepare, some people have doubts whether they can manage to make it at home. Are they really hard to prepare? Let’s be clear. If you can boil potatoes, you can also make good steaks. It’s one of the easiest and quickest meals you can prepare. To be satisfied with the result, you only need to follow two rules. First, choose good meat, and second, don’t overcook it.
What do you need to prepare steaks?
If you’re worried we’ll start listing professional equipment from renowned brands, we can reassure you. You don’t need expensive grills or professional cookware for steaks. You don’t have to make fancy sauces or buy any spice mixes. You don’t even need oil for frying. You can make steaks on a regular frying pan, or even on a camp stove or over a campfire.
There is just one thing you must not forget. The meat for steaks must be of good quality. Otherwise, even the best-selected extras won’t save the dish.
Buy beef from a trusted supplier
This is unfortunately the most common mistake beginners make. Beef from an unreliable source is of inconsistent quality. In the best case, you’ll get average meat that won’t impress your taste buds. In the worst case – you’ll end up with rubbery steaks and be put off from beef altogether.
So it’s important to choose good meat for steaks. Where to buy such beef? Ideally, directly from the producer. On steki.pl you’ll find meat from the small town of Chobot near Warsaw. This is where fresh and dry-aged steaks are prepared, perfect for grilling or pan-frying. We place great importance on the entire production process. The meat comes exclusively from trusted Polish farms and is hand-cut by our female butchers. During aging, we continuously monitor temperature and humidity.
What kind of meat for steaks?
Unfortunately, we don’t have a definite answer – as many beef lovers, as many tastes. Some love rib eye steaks, others prefer sirloin. If you’re a beginner, you should know that the flavor mainly comes from marbling, i.e., the fat infiltration in the meat.
If it’s your first time trying steaks, you probably don’t know your preferences yet. We recommend ordering steak sets so you can compare different types.
How to fry steaks?
Let’s assume you already have good steak meat. How to prepare it? Before you start frying, open all the windows and turn on the extractor fan – there will be smoke! Next, heat a dry pan. When it starts to smoke, place the steaks on it and fry for 2–3 minutes on each side. Finally, you can add salt and optionally pepper.
Place the ready steaks on a wooden board and let them rest for a few minutes.
How to grill steaks?
Grilled steaks are a hit at garden parties. To prepare them, heat the grill to maximum temperature, but don’t place steaks directly over an open flame. Grill them on both sides until they release easily from the grate.
For thicker steaks, a probe thermometer can be useful to check the internal temperature.
What should you watch out for?
Above all, remember not to overcook the steaks. They only need a few minutes of frying (you can also make them as minute steaks if you like rare versions). Frying them too long not only takes away their flavor but also their characteristic tender texture. Don’t be afraid that the meat will be undercooked. If it turns out to be raw inside, just leave it for a few minutes on a cutting board to equalize the internal temperature.
Also make sure that before frying the steaks are at room temperature. So take them out of the fridge at least half an hour in advance.
If you previously froze our steaks, make sure to defrost them properly. It’s important that this process happens slowly. Don’t use the microwave or a bowl of hot water, as it will ruin the flavor and texture. Instead, transfer them from the freezer to the fridge overnight. You can learn more about freezing steaks in our FAQ section.
Summary
Steaks are one of the easiest and quickest meals you can prepare at home. They’re also great for the grill. However, it’s important to not overcook them and ensure the right temperature before preparation.
High-quality beef for steaks is crucial. Where to buy good meat? The best flavor comes from choosing beef directly from the producer – without GMOs, hormones, or antibiotics.
