Do you have a gas grill but are unsure how to make the most of it? Do you want to be able to sear steaks and other meats but don’t know where to start? Look no further!
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to use a searing burner on your gas grill and the best practices for getting the perfect sear.
Identify Your Searing Station
Once you have preheated your gas grill, it’s time to identify your searing station. Many grills, like these Traeger grills, come with a side burner, which is ideal for searing.
If yours doesn’t have one, you can use a cast-iron pan or griddle directly on the grill grates.
Once you have identified where you will be searing, it’s time to get the steak and bring it to room temperature.
Spray the grates with oil before placing the steaks on the sear burner. This will help them to cook evenly and prevent sticking.
Get the Steak and Bring it to Room Temperature
Once the sear burner is identified and preheated, it’s time to get the steak and bring it to room temperature.
This is important for even cooking, as cold steaks will not cook evenly on the hot sear burner.
Remove the steaks from the fridge and let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
During this time, pat them dry with a paper towel and season them with salt and pepper.
After they have warmed up, the steaks will be ready for the searing process.
With these steps complete, your gas grill is ready to help you create perfect steakhouse-style steaks every time!
Preheat Your Grill
When prepping to use a searing burner on a gas grill, it’s important to preheat your grill correctly. Start by turning on all of your burners and open the dampers.
Close the lid and let it heat up for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your cooking type. You’ll need to preheat for higher-temperature cooking using a non-infrared burner for closer to 15 minutes.
This ensures that the heat is evenly distributed throughout the grill, and your steak will be perfectly cooked.
Spray the Grates with Oil
It is important to oil the grates before putting on the steak. This will help create a non-stick surface and will help to prevent the steak from sticking to the grates.
To oil the grates, fill a spray bottle with a high-heat oil such as vegetable oil, peanut oil or canola oil.
Spray the grates with the oil, making sure to get full coverage. After spraying, use a paper towel or paintbrush to remove excess oil.
If you are using a hot grill, spray from an angle so that your spray bottle is not directly above the flame.
After each use, let your grill cool and brush away any food debris before reapplying another light coat of high-heat oil.
Place the Steaks on the Sear Burner
Once the grill has preheated, it’s time to place the steaks on the sear burner.
This should be done at a 45-degree angle to the grid. Be sure to use tongs or a spatula to avoid burning your hands or getting burned by any hot grease that may splatter.
Once the steaks are in place, they should be left undisturbed for about one minute.
This will allow for the formation of restaurant-style grill marks and ensure that the steak is cooked evenly on both sides.
After one minute, turn the steaks 90 degrees and proceed with flipping, as mentioned in the previous section.
Sear for 1 Minute
Once your steak has been brought to room temperature, it’s time to start searing.
After preheating your grill and spraying the grates with oil, place the steak on the searing burner.
Sear it for one minute and turn it to create grill marks. This will help to lock in the flavor and create a delicious crust.
Once you’ve achieved the desired look, flip the steak over for 1-1/2 minutes on the other side. Keep an eye on the steak and look for signs of doneness.
With a properly heated searing burner, you can achieve restaurant-quality results in no time!
Turn for Grill Marks
After patting dry the steak and seasoning it, the grill should be preheated with all the burners on high or the dampers open and the lid closed for 10 to 15 minutes.
Once the grill is hot, spray the grates with oil to prevent sticking.
Place the steaks on the sear burner at a 45 degree angle to make restaurant-style grill marks.
Sear for 1 minute and then flip them over for 1-1/2 minutes.
After flipping, turn the steaks 90 degrees to form a crosshatch of grill marks.
Keep an eye on them as they cook and look for signs of doneness such as color and texture.
Before removing it from the heat, the steak should be cooked to your desired doneness.
Flip for 1-1/2 Minutes
Once the steaks have been seared on one side for approximately two minutes, it’s time to flip them for 1-1/2 minutes.
This ensures that the steak is cooked evenly on both sides and produces beautiful grill marks that everyone loves.
Move the steak around the grate to expose it to the hottest part of the grill. This will ensure that each side of the steak is cooked for an equal amount of time.
After flipping the steak for 1-1/2 minutes, use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness and enjoy the perfectly cooked steak!
Look for Signs of Doneness
Once your steaks have been seared on both sides, you can check for signs of doneness.
With a digital thermometer, check the steak’s internal temperature to ensure it is cooked to your desired level. Medium rare should read 145°F, medium 160°F, and well-done 170°F.
You can also use the touch test by pressing the steak with your finger and comparing the resistance to that of your other fingers.
A medium-rare steak should feel like touching your middle finger to your thumb. If you want more visual cues, cut into the middle of the steak for a cross-section view of its color.
A medium-rare steak should have a pink center with some redness around it, while a well-done steak will have no pink or red.
Once you have checked for doneness, let the steak rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to ensure maximum juiciness and flavor.
Can Using a Searing Burner on a Gas Grill Cause Excessive Smoke?
Yes, using a searing burner on a gas grill can stop smoke signals from grill. The high heat from the searing burner can cause excessive smoke as it quickly vaporizes any food drippings. To minimize smoke, reduce the searing burner or use a different cooking method.
Conclusion
Once you have mastered the art of using a searing burner on a gas grill, you can produce high-quality steaks every time.
From identifying your searing station to looking for signs of doneness, you can confidently cook up delicious steak dishes.
By following the simple steps outlined in this blog post, you can achieve perfect steaks with the help of your gas grill’s searing burner.