Purists will argue that a good steak needs nothing more than sea salt and pepper by way of seasoning.
Depending on the quality of your meat, these simple kitchen cupboard staples are all you need to make your cut sing - or if you're Salt Bae, a little extra (famously flavourless) gold leaf. Well, in theory.
Because there is a world of spice and herbs out there ready and waiting to take filet, sirloin, rib-eye, rump et al. to the next, lip-smacking level.
Take inspiration from South Africa, where it’s fair to say most folks know their way around a cut of prime beef, and its braai BBQ, or look to the southern States and their penchant for dry rubs to introduce incredible flavour to your food. Even Japan has shichimi togarashi, a special blend of seven carefully chosen spices to sprinkle over seared slices of Wagyu and fat, chewy udon noodles.
How to cook the perfect steak
Prep starts before you go anywhere near a frying pan or skillet. Take your steak out of the fridge and leave to come up to room temperature for at least an hour. This will help the heat penetrate to the centre, avoiding horrible cold spots.
Lightly drizzle olive oil on both sides and crumble over salt and pepper, paying attention to fatty areas. This will help flavour the meat and draw out moisture, with the end goal being a gorgeously caramelised crust.
Now it's time to cook. Turn the heat up to high and get the pan screamingly hot. Gently lay your steak across the surface - it should sizzle on contact - and leave to sear on one side before flipping over for the same treatment on the opposing side. Use tongs to help you sear around the edges too. You want the whole thing evenly browned.
How long to cook your steak depends on how 'done' you want it. Even if you're not wild about pink meat, don't go beyond medium as the meat will continue cooking when it's resting. Overdoing it will make it tough and ruin a great piece of meat.
Cooking times for steak
Cut, size and fat marbling all make a difference in cooking steak. As a rule of thumb, here are the timings for different donenesses.
- Blue: for carnivores who like it really bloody, no more than a minute on either side.
- Rare: 90 seconds or two minutes max of high heat on each side
- Medium-rare: treat your beef for up to four minutes of cooking time
- Medium: no more than six minutes per side before removing from the heat
Once the steak is cooked, transfer it to a chopping board and - this is vital for taste - leave it to rest for at least ten minutes, preferably under a foil wrap. Add a pat of butter and herbs like rosemary to allow it to seep into the meat. You could drizzle a dressing like chimichurri over the top instead if you're trying to emulate an Argentine steak.
In terms of presentation, serve the steak as is or slide a sharp knife against the grain into quarter-inch-thick slices. This keeps each forkful tender and makes it easier to chew.
You can add seasoning before or after cooking, depending on what you’re using. We’ve rounded up our favourite ones here to delight foodie friends or just help you take your next steak dinner to new heights.
Shop now
Smokehouse by Thoughtfully, Gourmet Ultimate Grilling Spice Set
Get grilling right with this compilation of 20 seasonings and rubs to impart a delicious taste to meat and veg. The pack contains small jars containing rubbing spice: think Cajun, Southwest, Jalapeno, Jerk, Memphis and more. Standby for flavour bombs on everything from beef to fish, pork and chicken. A great way to discover a new favourite.
Buy now £29.98, Amazon
Click & Grow Small "Steak Seasoning" Kit
For those who don't want to overpower their steak's natural flavour with spice, herbs can add a subtle elevation. This kit comes with enough pods to nurture your own mini garden and have fresh herbs on call when you're cooking. There's enough here to last a year. Find three each of thyme pods, curly parsley pods, coriander pods and basil pods for good measure too.
Buy now £79.95, Click & Grow
Life of Spice Great With Steak! Five Gourmet BBQ Rubs Gift Set
From a gut-busting collection of 12 bundles comes this set of five spice rubs, made for winter grilling as well as summer cookouts. Containing up to 60g each, this set includes Montreal Canadien (inspired by a 40s recipe), Pepper Smurf (a herby Italian pepper rub), Kansas City Rib Rub (bursting with Midwest flavour), Rub Me Tender (an all-purpose barbecue rub), and Memphis Belle, best saved for ribs. Not sure what to cook first? Recipe cards are included to provide tummy-rumbling inspiration.
Buy now £25.00, NOTHS
Sauce Shop Essential BBQ Collection
From burgers and bangers to steaks, Sauce Shop has mouthwatering flavour in the bag with its essential BBQ collection. The six-piece set has it all, from its cult favourite original BBQ rub (with a Great Taste Award to prove its hype) to sauces for slathering and dipping afterwards.
Buy now £19.50, Sauce Shop
Random Harvest All About Meat Condiment Git Set
When sauce is a way of life, an extra condiment - or three - will always be welcomed with open arms. Aussie brand Random Harvest has bundled three of its best sauces to pair with meat in one cute bundle, complete with a wooden knife for delicate dolloping.
Buy now £15.99, Selfridges
Hot Chimicurri condiment 165g
You don't need to perform endless cheffy tricks to ensure your steak delivers on big flavour. This unassuming little jar is your shortcut to a meal your mates won't stop talking about.
Building on South American Chimichurri, this extra hot version includes chilli flakes and a hit of jalapeno to trace your cooked and sliced steak with fiery flavour. Try it in a steak salad to make the most of the dressing.
Buy now £5.79, Selfridges
Silk Route Spice Company Giant Sweet & Smoky BBQ Chargrill Seasoning Grinder
A spice grinder is perfect for keeping things as clean as possible in the kitchen. Silk Route's giant version will see you through years of steak dinners and contains a sweet yet spicy spice blend to flake over your meat. Other seasoning combos are available online, and once you're done you can refill or recycle the grinder after use.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Just Spices Barbecue Spice Set
Meat, fish, veggies: everyone's invited to this BBQ party with Just Spice's mixes. The seven spice mix tubs can be used in myriad ways, from a dry rub, and general seasoning or mixed with oil to create a marinade. Made with natural and vegan ingredients, it makes BBQ cooking a doddle.
Buy now £22.75, Just Spices
Cape Herb & Spice Rub Texan Steakhouse Seasoning
Eat like a Texan without jumping on a long-haul flight thanks to this 100g tin of herb and spice rub. Inspired by the classic flavours of a steakhouse in the Lone Star state, the mild flavour has been devised in Cape Town, bringing two BBQ-heavy traditions to your table. To use, sprinkle over an oiled steak before cooking.
Buy now £3.85, Amazon
Waitrose & Partners Cooks Ingredients Hamper
For steaks and beyond, get your spice cupboard in order with the best of Waitrose's Cooks essentials range. The bundle contains bottles, jars and tubs ram-packed with global flavours: think harissa paste, cacio e pepe, teriyaki sauce and deep south cajun rubs as well as a fiery gunpowder spice blend. Just try and have a boring meal with this lot in your kitchen arsenal.
Buy now £50.00, John Lewis
Verdict
With 20 rubs to choose from, we can't see any foodie worth their salt tiring of Thoughtfully's spice set anytime soon. There's just enough to keep your tastebuds on their toes and discover your new favourite to buy in bulk.
Prefer to keep things simple? The herb grow garden makes adding fresh herbs as easy as plucking them off the windowsill.
