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What Are the Best Tips for Grilling a T-Bone Steak?

Misty Amber Brighton
Misty Amber Brighton

When grilling a T-bone steak, the first step should be to select a good cut of beef from a reputable butcher. After doing so, it can be helpful to marinade the T-bone to make the beef tender and add flavor to the steak. If the grill is preheated before grilling a T-bone steak, it can ensure that the meat cooks evenly. The amount of time needed to cook the steak can depend on whether it is being eaten rare, medium, or well done.

A quality T-bone steak is often labeled as a premium cut of meat. One way to judge the quality of a piece of meat is by looking at the color of the T-bone, because a darker piece of meat is generally more flavorful. There should be a moderate amount of fat throughout the steak, as this will ensure the meat is tender rather than tough or gristly. It might be helpful to look for beef that is marked as aged because T-bone steaks that are aged are usually the most tender cuts.

Hot charcoal in a grill. Many cooks find that cooking over charcoal enhances the savory flavor of steak.
Hot charcoal in a grill. Many cooks find that cooking over charcoal enhances the savory flavor of steak.

Before grilling a T-bone steak, many cooks like to marinade this meat for up to 24 hours. There are a number of marinades on the market, and some of the more popular ones might contain olive oil, soy sauce, bourbon, or garlic. When preparing a T-bone steak in this manner, the steak and marinade should be placed in the refrigerator to prevent bacteria growth and food borne illness. It is important to discard any extra marinade rather than using it to marinade the meat while it is cooking.

A butcher can provide the best beef cut for a grilled steak.
A butcher can provide the best beef cut for a grilled steak.

Grilling a T-bone steak can be done by using an electric, gas, or charcoal grill. No matter which type is used for cooking T-bone steak, it is very important to heat the grill to around 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232.22 C) before placing the beef on it. The time needed to do this can be around five minutes for an electric or gas grill, and around 10 to 15 minutes for a charcoal one.

Turning a steak only one time can result in a more tender piece of meat that is heated evenly throughout. The amount of time needed for grilling a T-bone steak can depend on the type of grill used to cook the steak and how it is being served. It should take anywhere from six to eight minutes per side for rare steak, eight to 10 minutes per side for a medium one, and 11 to 13 minutes per side for a well done piece of beef.

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    • Hot charcoal in a grill. Many cooks find that cooking over charcoal enhances the savory flavor of steak.
      By: Daniel Bujack
      Hot charcoal in a grill. Many cooks find that cooking over charcoal enhances the savory flavor of steak.
    • A butcher can provide the best beef cut for a grilled steak.
      By: Mirko Milutinovic
      A butcher can provide the best beef cut for a grilled steak.