Ina Garten Just Revealed Her Method for Grilling Steak, and It’s Totally Foolproof

You take a bite of your steak only to realize—whoops!—at some point on the grill, medium-rare turned into extremely well done. There’s really nothing to do but put more steak sauce on it and keep chewing. Itt’s not like you can un-grill it.

How could this have been prevented?, you wonder during your 20th chew of the same mouthful. Ina Garten has the answer. Read on to discover her method for grilling steak—and why we think it’s completely foolproof.

What Is Ina’s Secret?

You’ve definitely heard of Ina Garten; after all, The Barefoot Contessa has been airing new episodes on The Food Network since last month. But you might not have heard of her method for grilling steaks, a task that can intimidate even tough grill masters.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Ina showed her Instagram followers how it’s done. The way she explains it, it’s essential that the steaks are at least 1-1/2 inches thick, and that grillers only light half of the coals in a charcoal grill, leaving the other half cool. This technique is called indirect heat grilling.

She puts the steaks over the hot coals for two minutes to sear, then she flips them and sears them for two minutes on the other side. Then, she moves the steaks to the cool side and closes the top of the grill. If you want rare steaks, she says to leave the grill closed for 8 minutes; if you’re fond of medium stakes, 10 minutes will do the trick.

It’s all in her Instagram post:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Ever wonder how to grill a perfect steak? My New York Strip Steaks have a few tricks – thick steaks and perfect timing plus a spicy dry rub! Thank you @lobelssince1840 for teaching me how! Recipe on BarefootContessa.com. Have a happy, healthy Memorial Day weekend! #staysafe

A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on May 22, 2020 at 9:02am PDT

Of course, they’re done perfectly—and she even has time to pour herself a glass of wine while they cook!

Need More Grilling Help?

If you’re looking for ways to improve your technique, we have a list of tweaks you can make. And of course, our Test Kitchen has shared some of its secrets on how to grill perfect steak. Whether you use Ina’s method or ours, as long as the meat’s done the way you like it, we’re happy!

Our Best Grilled Steak Recipes

1 / 10

Grilled Marinated Ribeyes

These juicy steaks are a favorite meal of ours when we go camping. Let them sit in tangy, barbecue-inspired marinade overnight and you've got a rich and hearty dinner ready to grill up the next day. —Louise Graybiel, Toronto, Ontario

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Teriyaki Shish Kabobs

When I was a teenager, my father worked for an airline, and my family lived on the island of Guam in the South Pacific. A friend of my mother gave her this tangy-sweet recipe, and we enjoyed it often. Now I make it for my family, and they're big fans as well. —Suzanne Pelegrin, Ocala, Florida

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Beef and Blue Cheese Penne with Pesto

Unique and simple to prepare, this delicious pasta dish is filled with fresh flavors, and it’s as healthy as it is hearty. Best of all, it takes just 30 minutes to set this meal on the table. —Frances Pietsch, Flower Mound, Texas

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Flank Steak Pinwheels

The secret to these pretty flank steak pinwheels lies in their butterfly treatment. Because the steaks are flattened, marinade isn’t need. Instead, they’re filled with a colorful stuffing of red pepper and spinach and draped with a flavorful, homemade blue cheese sauce. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Grilled Tender Flank Steak

This marinated steak is so moist that it will become one of your favorite ways to serve beef. You can even prepare it on the grill. It can be easily cut into thin slices. —Heather Ahrens, Columbus, Ohio

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Steak Fajitas

Zesty salsa and tender strips of steak make these traditional fajitas extra special. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah

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Summer Steak Kabobs

These steak kabobs not only satisfy my love of outdoor cooking, they feature a mouthwatering marinade, too. It's terrific with chicken and pork, but I prefer it with beef because it tenderizes remarkably well. —Christi Ross, Guthrie, Texas

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Fajita in a Bowl

Pull out the skewers and take a stab at grilling peppers, onions and corn for an awesome steak salad that’s all summer and smoke. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Grilled Flank Steak with Summer Relish

My garden produces a nice harvest of tomatoes, scallions, corn, garlic and poblanos, so that's what I use to make relish for this tasty steak. —Brenda Washnock, Negaunee, Michigan

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Peppered Ribeye Steaks

A true Southerner to the core, I love to cook—especially on the grill. This recipe is one of my favorites! The seasoning rub makes a wonderful marinade, and nothing beats the summertime taste of these flavorful grilled steaks! —Sharon Bickett, Chester, South Carolina

Get Recipe

The post Ina Garten Just Revealed Her Method for Grilling Steak, and It’s Totally Foolproof appeared first on Taste of Home.

Emily Hannemann