Indirect T-Rex Steaks?

Unknown

I ate at a steakhouse recently that talks about their cooking process. They have an oven cranked up to some 1200 degrees. The steaks have a beautiful and even crust on them. Very tender in the middle.[p]Which got me to thinking.[p]How would the T-Rex method work if I used the plate setter, and let the fire get super hot, before a 2-minute or so pseudo-sear? Then the usual rest, and then the finish cooking at approx. 400 degrees.[p]The advantage I can see to the indirect method is the even crusting of the steak without the very-charred parts that the direct flames licking at the meat usually impart. [p]Thoughts??

Pakak

My first thought was - wonder how many pieces that plate setter would end up in? LOL Maybe it would be okay, but it seems like it's more "used" to lower temps. I personally have no experience with a plate setter, BTW. Has anyone had problems with them cracking/breaking? From pictures, it seems like they have even MORE potential places to break than a firebox.

The Naked Whiz

gonzo,
The steak house doesn't do an indirect cook do they? Don't they put it under some sort of radiant heater? I'd think you need some sort of radiant heat to sear the meat.[p]TNW

mad max beyond eggdome

gonzo,
give this a try, i do a modified trex where i have an old cast iron pan that i put on the grid and let come up to heat with the egg (over 750 degrees), then do the sear on that pan. . when i pull the steaks after a couple of minutes per side, i also pull the pan, then do trex method the rest of the way. .. .searing in the pan this way gives a great crust to the meat (although no grill marks). . .this may give you the effect you are looking for. . [p]careful though, when you put a piece of meat on the red-hot steel, it will spit and flame and do all kinds of mean things to you (my steaks are always rubbed first in olive oil and some rub, kosher salt/pepper, etc.), and you have to have good tools to pull it out of there as well. . ..but IMHO, its worth it. . .

TRex

gonzo,[p]They're probably using an infrared burner type oven to sear their steaks, similar to what Ruth's Chris uses. Those things sear by radiant heat only - no conductive heat (e.g., grill grid which leaves the marks).[p]You can use a cast iron pan if you want a more "even" sear, like what mad max does.[p]TRex

buffy

TRex,
Wow! People refer to it as the T-rex method. I'm jealous of your celebrity