How to Cook Strip Steak

Strip steak is a primary option on most steakhouse menus, fitting right up there with ribeye, T-bone, and porterhouse. Interesting fact: Strip steak is also included in T-bone and porterhouse steaks, taking up one side of the bone while tenderloin takes over the other side. Those cuts can be a lot for one person to handle, though, so if you’re looking for a smaller portion, the strip steak could be just right.

Grilling and pan-searing are the most popular ways to cook this steak, but it can also go in the oven or cooked to perfection using the sous vide method. Whatever way you choose for this tasty cut, you’ll end up with a drool-worthy meal.

Use our guide to learn how to cook strip steak at home with some of the most popular steak cooking methods.

What is Strip Steak

Most commonly known as the New York strip steak, strip steak isn’t just a New York cut of beef. However, Delmonico’s Restaurant in New York City made the cut famous when it served up a strip steak and labeled it a Delmonico steak. Since then, the cut has kept its popular ties to the city. You also might hear it referred to as a top loin steak, ambassador steak, or Kansas City strip steak. 

This steak is one of the best for grilling because of its flavorful bite and excellent texture. You can order strip steaks bone-in or boneless, but boneless tends to be the preferred option. However, some people prefer the bone attached for a little added flavor.

What Cut of Beef is Strip Steak

Strip steak comes from the loin primal, which is right behind the ribs and underneath the backbone. It’s also where you’ll find filet mignon and T-bone steaks. This area isn’t overly exercised, making the meat nice and tender. 

6 Ways to Cook Strip Steak

The following simple guides explain how to cook strip steak with various cooking methods. Before you get started, be sure to let your steak brine. This gives it a crispy sear for a crunchy outside and tender inside. 

To do this, salt both sides of the strip steak. Then, leave it at room temperature on a clean plate for 45 minutes before you’re ready to cook.

Grilling Strip Steak

• Brush grill grates with olive oil. Preheat the grill to high heat.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sites of strip steaks.
• Place steaks on the hottest part of the grill, and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side.
• Move to a low-heat area of the grill for 1-2 minutes, or until desired doneness level is reached.
• Transfer to a clean plate tented with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes.

Grilling Strip Steak on Skewers

Strip steak is an excellent addition to skewers. First, cut the steak the same way the grain runs into thin strips. Then, thread the strips onto skewers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper on all sides. Transfer to a high-heat area of the grill, and cook for 1-2 minutes. Rotate a quarter of a turn and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Repeat until the steak is thoroughly cooked to your desired doneness level on all sides. Then, rest on a plate for five minutes before serving.

Pan-Seared Strip Steak

• Preheat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat with one tablespoon of olive oil or butter.
• Place steaks in the skillet. Sear for 3-4 minutes. Use tongs to flip to the other side, searing for 2-3 minutes. 
• If more time is needed to reach medium-rare or medium doneness, turn the heat to low and continue cooking for a few more minutes.
• Transfer to a plate tented with foil, and rest for 5-10 minutes.

Cooking Strip Steak in the Oven

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet to medium-high heat with one tablespoon of olive oil.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the steaks. Add the steaks to the pan, and sear on each side for 2-3 minutes.
• Transfer the skillet to the middle rack in the oven. Cook for 4-7 minutes, depending on your desired level of doneness.
• Remove the skillet from the oven, and transfer steaks to a clean plate. Tent the plate with foil, and rest for 5-10 minutes.

Reverse Sear Method for Strip Steak

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
• Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a cast-iron skillet. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the steak, and transfer the steak to the skillet.
• Place the skillet in the oven. Cook for 15-30 minutes. This will depend on thickness and how done you’d like your steak to be. For medium-rare, pull from the oven when the steak reaches about 120 degrees.
• Heat the skillet to medium-high on a stove burner with a drizzle of oil. Sear steaks on each side for 1-2 minutes.
• Move steaks to a clean plate tented with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes.

Strip Steak Sous Vide 

• Heat water bath to 130 degrees.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the strip steak. 
• Add the steak to a sealable bag with a few thyme or rosemary sprigs.
• Remove air from the bag while sealing, and place the bag into the water bath so that the steak is fully submerged.
• Cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours, depending on the steak’s thickness.
• Sear the steak on both sides in a cast-iron skillet.
• Rest for five minutes on a foil-tented plate before serving.

Seasoning Strip Steak

For light seasoning, sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of a strip steak. To beef things up, drizzle a little Worcestershire sauce on the steak before grilling or pan-searing. You can also add flavor with your favorite steak seasoning or marinade.

Marinating Strip Steak

Strip steak is delicious with or without marinade, but some steak enthusiasts prefer a little added flavor. If that’s you, try our grilled steak marinade for a simple way to add lots of flavor. If possible, marinate the steak overnight for the best results. 

Additional Information

Let’s wind down our guide to cooking strip steak with a few more tips for achieving the perfect cook.

Cooking Times

Strip steak isn’t an overly thick steak like filet mignon, so it generally doesn’t take very long to cook. In most cases, you can expect strip steak to be cooked from start to finish in 20-30 minutes, including rest time. However, reverse-searing and the sous vide method will take a little longer. For sous vide, set aside about two hours to cook your steak.

Measuring Doneness

To make sure your steak gets to the right temperature, use a digital meat thermometer. Insert the probe of the thermometer into the steak’s thickest part after pulling it from the heat source. For medium-rare, the temperature should read 120-125 degrees. After resting, the temperature should rise to 130-135 degrees. Add a little more time to your steak for a medium or medium-well cook.

Conclusion: Your Guide to Cooking Strip Steak

Bone-in and boneless strip steaks are tasty, beefy, and relatively simple to cook. Try our selection of gourmet strip steaks, which you can order from the Chicago Steak Company website to have delivered in a few days. Our steaks are hand-cut and flash-frozen to ensure their quality during every step of the process, from our state-of-the-art facilities to your table.