Most people assume that the level of doneness is the most important aspect of cooking steak but that is all for naught if you don’t use the right ingredients i.e. butter!
WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ADD BUTTER TO STEAK
Adding butter to steak is completely based on your personal preference but here are a few reasons that professional chefs approve of doing so:
- It increases flavor and richness
- It makes for a glossy finish
- It enhances the steak’s texture
- It forms a delicious sauce that pairs well with the steak and other accompaniments.
Overall, adding butter to steak will add the wow factor that 5-star restaurants are known for.
WHY YOU MIGHT WANT TO AVOID ADDING BUTTER TO STEAK
Although there are numerous advantages to adding butter to steak, it would be wrong to ignore the cons of doing so. Here are two reasons you might decide to avoid adding butter to your steak:
- It has a low smoke point and therefore burns easily.
- Butter is high in saturated fat, making it less ideal for people on weight loss plans
Overall, when adding butter to steak, make sure you know how to do it right to avoid burning the steak.
HOW TO ADD BUTTER TO YOUR STEAK
Butter should always be used towards the end of the cooking process because of its low smoke point. Don’t forget that steak needs to be cooked at incredibly high temperatures, between 425 and 500 degrees F, to get that nice sear. Unfortunately, butter can start to burn between 300 and 350 degrees.
Therefore, keep your butter until the end. Add a small chunk of butter or as much as needed to the steak while it rests after removal from the heat. Go for unsalted butter to lessen the risks of over-salting the steak. If it’s compound butter, which contains a mix of herbs and aromatics, then you’ll enjoy the steak even better!
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. According to experts, there is no substitute for butter when it comes to enhancing the flavors of steak.
Enjoy!
