Reverse sear entails a process of cooking/smoking a steak slowly and at a low temperature before finishing on a high hot grill. This process produces incredibly tender and delicious meat with a flavorful outside crust. But how do you reverse sear a Tomahawk Steak?
Start by ensuring everything is preheated before you begin cooking your steak. Here are the steps you will need to follow;
- Season your Tomahawk steak for a minimum of two hours and a maximum of 24 hours
- Cook the steak
- Sear the steak – the steak is ready once the internal temperature reaches 125 degrees
In addition to ensuring that you stick to all relevant instructions, Some ingredients you will need include the thick-cut steak and a Dry Rib Rub. Read for more details on how to reverse sear a Tomahawk steak.
How To Reverse Sear A Tomahawk Steak
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced barbeque enthusiast, cooking a Tomahawk steak is a simple process that you should enjoy doing. Here are the simple steps to follow, and in the end, you will end up with a soft, juicy, and delicious steak.
1. Get The Steak Out Of The Fridge And Let It Rest
If your Tomahawk steak was in the fridge, it is not a good idea to get it out and start working on it immediately. The best practice is to let it out and allow the temperature of the steak to come up by leaving it for about 2 hours before you can plan on cooking it.
2. Preheat Your Smoker
Preheat your smoker in preparation for the cooking process to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. The Oakwood will be the best option as it enhances the rich flavor of the steak to provide you with a delicious steak. However, you should be free to utilize your favorite wood as long as you ensure it does not overpower the steak.
3. Season The Steak
The seasoning part is one of the essential procedures as it will directly influence the steak’s flavor. Therefore, you must ensure you get it correct for a delicious meal. Season all sides of the steak with salt, beef rub, and pepper. Pat or press the seasoning to ensure it sticks well into the meat.
4. Smoke The Steak
The sweetest part is the smoking. Place the steak in the grill grates and start smoking. You will need a functional instant meat thermometer to help with the entire smoking process. Smoke the steak until the internal temperature is 10 degrees Fahrenheit within your desired level of doneness.
5. Prepare For The Sear
The next step is preparing for the sear, which entails preheating your skillet over a high temperature. Put some butter or olive oil into the skillet and allow it to melt.
6. Sear
Place your Tomahawk steak directly into the hot grill or pan and sear each side of the steak for 2-3 minutes until the steak attains the desired level of doneness.
7. Rest Before Slicing
Once your Tomahawk steak has attained the desired level of doneness, get it out of the pan or skillet and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes. Resting the steak is necessary as it allows it to reabsorb the juices for a more delicious meal. After that, you can slice and enjoy.
Reverse Sear Tomahawk Steak On A Gas Grill
Since reverse searing is one of the perfect ways of converting a Tomahawk steak into a delicious meal, you should understand the different ways you can prepare the steak. Here are the steps you need to follow to reverse sear your Tomahawk steak on a gas grill.
- Ensure that the steak has warmed up close to room temperature before you start the cooking process
- Light one burner on your gas and place a smoker tube on it before closing the lid to allow it to preheat to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use steak rub or your favorite seasoning to season the steak.
- Place the steak on the grill and close the lid. Allow the steak to attain an internal temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit before removing it from the grill.
- Turn all the burners on the grill to the maximum. Close the lid to allow the grates to absorb as much heat as possible.
- Place the steak on the grill over direct heat and flip it after 30-60 seconds until you achieve the desired level of doneness.
- Remove the steak from the grill and top with but before serving. Remember to let it rest before you serve.
How to Reverse Sear a Tomahawk Steak In The Oven
If you want to reverse sear your Tomahawk steak in the oven, you need to ensure that your oven is at a minimum temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The preferable temperature is 650-700 degrees Fahrenheit. Here is how to reverse sear a tomahawk steak oven.
- Get your Tomahawk out of the refrigerator and allow it to warm up to room temperature. Cooking a steak at room temperature is necessary as it helps with even doneness.
- Season the steak with salt and pepper and your favorite seasoning before inserting a reliable leave-in meat thermometer into the thickest part of the steak.
- Place the pan in the oven and preheat it to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Put the steak in the oven and cook until it attains an internal temperature of 122 degrees Fahrenheit. That might take about 45 minutes, depending on the size of the steak.
- Get the steak out of the oven and let it rest while monitoring the internal temperatures. The temperatures should be about 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
- While your Tomahawk steak is resting, increase the pan’s temperature to 500-700 degrees and add some butter to the pan and allow it to melt.
- Place the rested steak directly on the scorching hot skillet and ensure that you flip it after every 30 seconds for about 5 minutes. Within five minutes, the steak will develop a dark crust.
- Remove the steak from the pan and allow it to rest for about five minutes before serving it.
How Long To Reverse Sear Tomahawk Steak
To reverse sear a Tomahawk steak, it will take about one hour. However, the exact time differs depending on the thickness of the steak. Instead of staring at the clock, it is prudent to use an instant meat thermometer to ensure that your steak has attained the desired level of doneness.
How To Buy The Best Tomahawk Steak
The Tomahawk steak buying process is essential as the cooking process itself. If you do not have the best quality tomahawk steak, there are chances that you are not going to achieve the best results regardless of your cooking skills. Therefore, start by ensuring you get your steak from a reputable grocery store or butcher shop.
Once you have the right place in mind where you can get your tomahawk steak, there are two crucial factors that you should consider before making your choice;
The color:
- Ensure that you buy a steak with bright red color with no brownish or dark spots.
- Do not let the light in the meat case mislead you.
- Pull the steak out of the case to make it easy to get the actual color of the meal.
A fresh cut is the best for a delicious meal.
Marbling: Besides the color, the other important aspect you must closely examine is the marbling. The marbling is directly correlated to the amount of fat in the cut; the higher the marbling, the more flavorful the meat will be. To be precise, if you want a yummy, delicious steak that melts in your mouth, go for the one with a high level of marbling.
Final Words
The reverse sear method is one of the best ways of cooking a delicious tomahawk steak. Whether you want to give your family a delicious steak or you are preparing for a great special occasion, the reverse sear method will not disappoint you. Moreover, it is simple and easy to follow.
Scot has loved smoking food in his free time for the last few years. Each major holiday or off-weekend, Scot spends days testing and prepping new recipes for perfection.