People who cook their steaks at home often wonder why their steaks don't look and taste the same as those they get at a restaurant. Don't forget that at a restaurant the intense heat of restaurant grills or broilers sear steaks and give the steak that flavorful "crusty" finish that is very hard to duplicate at home. Also, don't forget they are usually purchasing a different grade of meat than what you are purchasing is the supermarket. They are usually using "Prime" meats or certain grade specifications that are required by the restaurant.

Beef is one of the most versatile, delicious and easy-to-cook food you can find.
Keep this in mind for great results when cooking steaks at home.

Choose the cooking method for your steaks. Tender steaks can be cooked by dry heat cooking methods such as broiling, pan-broiling and grilling; less tender steaks can be cooked by these methods, too if marinated prior to cooking. Otherwise, less tender steaks should be prepared by the moist heat method of braising.

Use correct cooking temperature. Cooking beef steaks at too high a temperature can cause the outside of the steak to char before the interior reaches the proper doneness; to high heat can also contribute to overcooking the steak, causing it to be dry and flavorless.

Cooking times for gas and electric ranges are comparable. However, since individual ranges perform differently, it's important to become familiar with your range.

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