The Best Oils And Fats For Cooking Prime Steak: Butter, Tallow, And More
Nothing beats a steak dinner, especially when it’s cooked to perfection. But the key to the ultimate steak isn’t just about choosing the best cut—it’s about the oil or fat you use.
Using the right oil or fat can enhance the flavor of steak, helping to create the perfect sear and affecting the overall texture. From classic butter to traditional beef tallow, each option brings a unique element to your cooking. So which types of fats and oils are best for cooking steak? We share the best options to help you cook the perfect steak at home.
Why Fat Choice Matters When Cooking Steak
The fat you choose can have a significant impact on your steak. Fats can help you achieve a rich crust full of flavor, improving the taste and texture of your steak. Using the right fats can also help you improve moisture retention, preventing your steak from becoming too dry during cooking and improving the overall taste.
Different fats can add complementary flavors or help provide a neutral cooking base for your steak. Experimenting with different fats can help you find new and exciting ways to cook your steak, helping you discover what works best for you and your taste buds.
Butter
Butter is a kitchen staple often used to add flavor while cooking. It provides a rich, creamy flavor that enhances the natural taste of steak. Butter can be combined with other ingredients to help add further flavor, including garlic, herbs, and aromatics. Basting steak with butter can help the meat absorb the flavor for a more robust result.
Here are some of our best tips for cooking steak with butter:
- Choose the right cut of steak. Butter works well with a marbled cut like ribeye, filet mignon, or New York strip.
- Try combining butter with oil with a higher smoke point to prevent thinner cuts from burning.
- Start with high heat and a neutral oil like vegetable oil to sear the steak. Once a crust has started to form, reduce the heat and spoon some melted butter onto the steak. A low heat will prevent the butter from burning.
- Once cooked, let the steak rest for five minutes, and spoon some of the remaining butter over the steak before serving to enhance the richness.
Beef Tallow
Beef tallow is rendered beef fat that can help intensify the beef flavor of the steak. It has a high smoke point of ~400°F, which makes it excellent for searing. Use the following pointers to help you cook a tasty steak with beef tallow:
- Use beef tallow with bolder cuts of meat such as ribeye, porterhouse, and tomahawk. It can also work well with leaner cuts of steak, like sirloin.
- As beef tallow has a high smoke point, you can use it to sear steak at a high heat, helping you achieve a thick, golden crust.
- Season your steak well with salt and pepper.
- Heat your skillet or pan to a high heat before adding the beef tallow.
- As the steak begins to form a crust, baste it with some of the melted tallow, helping to add juiciness and an even flavor.
- For even more flavor, add garlic, shallots, rosemary, or thyme to your pan.
High-Heat Cooking Oils
In addition to butter and beef tallow, steak cooks well with high-heat cooking oils. These include:
Avocado oil
Avocado oil has a neutral flavor and a very high smoke point at ~520°F. It can be combined with other ingredients to help create a richer flavor for your steak.
Ghee
Ghee is a type of clarified butter that retains the rich flavor of butter but has a higher smoke point at ~485°F. It can provide some intensity to the taste of the steak without being overpowering.
Peanut oil
Peanut oil provides a subtle flavor for steak and boasts a high smoke point of ~450°F. It's an excellent choice for cast-iron searing, delivering a rich, well-textured steak packed with flavor.
Oils and Fats to Avoid
One mistake many people make when cooking steak is they think they can use any oil or fat. However, the wrong type of oil could affect the taste and texture of your steak. Some of the oils to avoid include:
- Olive oil: Has a low smoke point that can burn easily and turn bitter during the searing process
- Vegetable oil: Has a neutral flavor but doesn’t have the same flavor impact as butter or tallow
- Coconut oil: Has a flavor that may not complement steak very well
You may find that different oils and fats produce different results when cooking steak. Trying different varieties can help you discover your favorites and work out what complements the rest of your dish.
Prime Steak in Idaho Falls
A high-quality steak deserves to be cooked well, and the right fat will make a difference to both the taste and texture of your steak. While butter adds a creamy, rich flavor, oils can give you a neutral base to add other flavors, such as herbs and garlic. Pay attention to the oils and fats you use, and learn which temperatures work best to sear and cook your steak. The proper cooking technique will give you the perfect steak each time, helping you enjoy restaurant-quality food at home.
If you’re looking for quality cuts of prime beef, look no further than Grand Peaks Prime Meats. We stock a variety of fresh steaks that are perfect for any occasion and ready to be cooked by you at home. Check out our full selection of products and place your order online today.