Protein is an essential part of our diet, and if you want to stay healthy, you need to add healthy proteins to your diet. However, the question on your mind is, are steaks a good source of protein.
Well, they can be, if you prepare them the right way and choose the right cuts, steak can be an excellent source of proteins and minerals. Today, we are going to focus on making a healthy steak, rather than the kind of steaks you get at steakhouses and restaurants.
However, that doesn’t mean that we will compromise on flavor. So, keep reading to learn how you can make your steaks healthy and delicious at the same time.
Start by choosing the right cut:
There are various kinds of meat in a cow, some cuts have more fat, while others are leaner. The flavor and texture can also vary quite considerably from one cut to another.
Firstly, you should know that expensive doesn’t always mean better; in fact, various common and moderately priced steaks are comparable to costly steaks in terms of flavor and texture.
If you wanted the best flavor, I would surely suggest a fattier steak because more marbleized fat means more flavor. However, since we are focusing on healthier cuts, leaner cuts should be preferred.
Therefore, instead of going for a large T-bone, or a Porterhouse, opt for a less fatty cut like flank steak or top round if you are looking for a budget option, tenderloin, and sirloin if you want a more moderate cut.
Choosing the right cut can make a massive difference in flavor and the nutrition of the steak.
Trim off the excess fat:
Though if you wanted a steak that tastes the best, I would suggest keeping the fat cap, but for a healthier and more positively nutritious steak, you should trim off the excess fat. Many healthy cuts have a lot of fat on their exterior, and it can be unhealthy if you are trying to maintain a healthy body.
When you are buying your steak, tell them that you want lean meat without any extra fat, this way you won’t have to pay for fat and will end up throwing away anyway.
Though having a lean cut is essential for a healthy steak, it doesn’t mean that you have to take every shred of it. Leaving a little bit of fat can result in a better flavor, and as long as you are regularly exercising, it doesn’t disturb your health.
Store the meat properly:
Though it is quite rare with meat bought from supermarkets and legitimate butcher shops, it is sometimes possible for meat to have parasites and disorders like Salmonella. Therefore, getting fresh meat and avoiding cross-contamination is essential.
Remember to keep your steaks in closed containers or zip lock bags if you are going to freeze them. Otherwise, blood from the steaks could drip on other foods in the fridge, leading to cross-contamination and food poisoning.
Let the meat come up to room temperature:
For a healthy and delicious steak, you need to be a little patient. Don’t be too eager to throw the steak on the grill. For the best flavor and a properly cooked steak, you need to allow it to reach room temperature and defrost thoroughly.
If your steak is cold, it will get cooked on the outside and stay raw on the inside, and obviously, raw meat is not suitable for your health. Furthermore, if the steak isn’t perfectly cooked, it will be tough and bloody on the inside, which can have an awful effect on the flavor and texture.
Make sure that the grill is very hot:
For an ideal steak, the grill needs to be as hot as possible; in fact, most high-end steak houses have special broilers in their kitchen, that can go up to 800 degrees F. Though you won’t be able to get this temperature on your home coal or pellet grill. However, if you slow cook your steak in a pellet smoker, you can get as high as 600-700 degrees. Check out some online reviews for the best pellet smoker.
A scorching grill allows you to get a perfect sear on the outside, while the steak cooks through thoroughly.
Use a meat thermometer:
A meat thermometer is an essential tool if you are grilling steaks. You see, there is no fixed time for which you have to cook a steak, depending on thickness, lean meat to fat ratio, and many other factors, different steaks may cook at different times.
Therefore, for a delicious and healthy steak, you need to measure its internal temperature. For a perfect medium-rare, you should aim for an internal temperature of 115-120 degrees F at the steak’s thickest part.
Clean up the grill:
Cleaning the grill is essential before every use when we cook fatty meat or burgers on a grill, the rendered fat can deposit on it, and the burnt meat and vegetable can start to rot, mainly if you haven’t used your grill for a while.
If you cook on a dirty grill, the bacteria from the rotting fat and burned meat can get into your food, and sometimes cause food poisoning. Furthermore, a cheap grill will also give your meat a better flavor, and there aren’t any bits of burned meat and fat sticking on it.
The best time to clean the grill is right after using it. It is easier to get the fat off while it is still warm, and it also saves time the next time you set up for a backyard barbecue. Therefore, use a wire brush to clean the grill after every use thoroughly, and brush some clean oil on the grill before using it the next time, so that the meat doesn’t stick.
Furthermore, using a meat thermometer will also allow you to ensure that the meat is not undercooked.
Final thoughts:
Depending on the way it is made, red meat can be quite healthy. Therefore, follow the guide above, and you won’t have to stop eating some delicious steaks, even when you are following a healthy diet.