How to Prepare the Perfect Steak - Cast Iron vs Grilling

Learn how to prepare the perfect steak in two of the most popular methods for cooking a steak - grilling and pan searing in a cast iron skillet. Lauren Nagel, a former culinary arts teacher, gives us a step-by-step guide for cooking a delicious steak every time in just four simple steps:
Step 1: Preparation
Remove moisture from the steak to ensure nice, crispy crust from pan sear or lines from grill. If you have excess moisture on your steak, you will steam your meat instead of browning it. Salt the steaks and allow to rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before searing.
Step 2: Preheating
While steaks are resting, preheat the cast iron or grill. Meat browns at temperature that is over 500 degrees. For best results, preheat cast iron in an oven at 525 F and preheat grill between 550 to 600 F.
Step 3: Searing
Cast Iron: Searing creates a nice crust on your steak. For cast iron cooking, flip the steak every 45-60 seconds until desired doneness. Add a few tablespoons of butter, a few smashed cloves of garlic and fresh herbs and baste the steak