Freezing a steak for 30 min before cooking it?

Bjorg · April 2013

Saw an article that got me intrigued. They freeze steaks for 30 min before cooking them.

I always rest my steak on counter top with kosher salt for 30 min before cooking them.

http://www.cookscountry.com/how-to/steaks/

Also cornstarch?? Ive heard it being used for chicken, but not beef. Any body tried this technique?

JRWhitee · April 2013

That one is new to me.

Charlie tuna · April 2013

I have heard of restaurants doing this, but i have never tried it. I marinate mine with KIKOMAN Teriayki Marinade about an hour before cooking and set them on the counter, kosher salt and fresh course ground black pepper.

PS: Corn Starch didn't work on the chicken, so it ain't going on my steak!!

Eggcelsior · April 2013

I have heard of the cornstarch thing. It is added to a ton of stuff to absorb moisture. That's all it's doing here. I salt my steaks and stick them in the fridge for 24 hours. It does the same thing. The moisture gets "sucked" back into the steak. If I am doing it the same night, I salt and cook right away or wait at least an hour. This either keeps the salt from drawing moisture to the surface or allowing it to be reabsorbed.

Little Steven · April 2013

Serves the same purpose on beef as it does on chicken. It helps form a crust. Beef is often dredged in flour to crust meat that is to be browned for a braise or stew.

Skiddymarker · April 2013

Modernist Cuisine also suggests this with a low temp oven steak. The process used is a 30 minute freeze followed by a brush with butter/oil, then a sear in a hot dry skillet, then into low temp oven to finish. They claim the outside browns without overcooking the inside.

I think the idea is to brown the outside, get a good crust while "protecting" the interior from cooking.

My preference is reverse sear, but that's just me.

Never tried cornstarch on steak, but have used the heavy salt, then rinse, then cook routine. Starch or baking powder is great on chicken skin, it always produces a crisp skin.

Crimsongator · April 2013

Not sure about this. I suppose you could benefit from slightly freezing a steak cut on the thin side. This would give you a little more wiggle room so you don't over cook the thing. If you want the crust, I suggest pan searing it in stead of grilling over coals.

GK59 · April 2013

Many years (20 plus) ago a friend of mine had a friend in MN who did fillets from rock solid frozen. Of course the steaks were very RARE. It was to their liking. Throw in a load of booze and well take it from there.

Little Steven · April 2013

Charlie tuna said:

I have heard of restaurants doing this, but i have never tried it. I marinate mine with KIKOMAN Teriayki Marinade about an hour before cooking and set them on the counter, kosher salt and fresh course ground black pepper.

PS: Corn Starch didn't wor

It's a very light dusting that works. I use two or three sieves ang just lightly shake them any heavy areas I brush with a pastry brush.

Chubbs · April 2013

Little Steven said:

Charlie tuna said:

I have heard of restaurants doing this, but i have never tried it. I marinate mine with KIKOMAN Teriayki Marinade about an hour before cooking and set them on the counter, kosher salt and fresh course ground black pepper.

PS: Corn Starch didn't wor

It's a very light dusting that works. I use two or three sieves ang just lightly shake them any heavy areas I brush with a pastry brush.

Cornstarch always works for me too. I pour my rub in a bowl and pour the CS as well. Mix up well then throw run on chicken. Crispy every time.

Charlie tuna · April 2013

I was hell bent on getting crispy skin on my chicken, i tried all these aplications and finally found cooking high in the dome -- which worked for me! Maybe i was applying too much, but all i got out it was mushy skin. But being a forum member, now i am trying to take the skin off!!! Oh, how i love this forum!! :((

Little Steven · April 2013

Oh I cook high in the dome too. Try some wings with your rub mixed with cornstarch and shake in a bag. Try some without and cook together. You will be a convert

henapple · May 2013

I do Burgers like that...

Charlie tuna · May 2013

OK -- next batch of wings i will do a comparison!! Wings are almost as expensive as steak !!!

Little Steven · May 2013

henapple said:

I do Burgers like that...

Bastid!

Black_Badger · May 2013

@Charlie_tuna where do you buy your wings and/or steak! One of those might be a very good deal!

B_B

bbqlearner · May 2013

@Charlie_tuna I used cornstarch on the wings I just did last Sunday and those are not even cooked high in the dome (it's at felt level). You can see the picture of the wings on the egg in my sunday cook thread. It turned crispy just like fried wings. Love it

bbqlearner · May 2013

Sorry got distracted. Meant to respond to OP: I never tried freezing the steak before cooking but if anyone ever tried, please share with us how it turned out vs. normal method.

yzzi · May 2013

I do baking soda instead with excellent results. America's Test Kitchen did an episode on how to get the crispiest skin and baking soda came out on top. I've only tried on chicken though.

jlsm · May 2013

I did the whole process a couple of times but didn't notice a big difference so I stopped.

Bjorg · May 2013

Thanks for the input guys, especially jlsm who has tried it.

rcone · May 2013

Freezing a skirt steak before you cook it provides an amazing outcome. The outside gets real color, while the inside stays medium rare.

Freezing a steak for 30 min before cooking it?

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