Cook your strip steaks like the best steakhouses. A little pan sear on the stovetop, then cook your steak in the oven to your taste. The best results are easy with these simple step by step photo instructions.
Introduction
Let's learn to cook a strip steak and make it perfect the first time and every time. Start with a couple of good quality strip steaks AKA New York Strip Steaks.
The technique is simple. Allow the steaks to rest at room temperature if you have time. That will make it easier to get the internal temperature you want without adversely affection the surface. Trim any chunks of fat.
Season to your taste. Just some salt and pepper will do nicely or fancy it up some.
Give each side a nice sear in some butter or oil for a few minutes to get a nice browning, known as a Maillard reaction, which will add a ton of taste.
Then finish by baking the steak in the oven to your preferred internal temperature. Don’t forget to let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
My Rating
A good steak is always a five.
🐄What is a Strip Steak?
Strip steaks are cut from the short loin of a cow, which is located behind the rib area with the tenderloin.
Also called a New York strip, or a Kansas City strip steak, they come from the longissimus muscle that does little work but has a fair amount of fat that help make them tender.
The strip steak is the bigger side of the t-bone and porterhouse steaks. The only difference between the t-bone and porterhouse is the amount of beef tenderloin included in the cut.
If you buy cheap steaks, you may well get what you paid for. Choice or Prime only, please. And since Prime will cost more, get a nicely marbled choice unless it is a special occasion.
You can buy the whole strip loin and cut your own steaks. Also, you can occasionally find the "bone-in" which is then just a t-bone steak without any tenderloin section.
You may run into something called "first cut," which may sound great, but it is not. It is closer to the ribeye and only worth about half the cost of the prized "center cut."
Steak Thickness
Some people will equate thickness with quality, but they are not related. A 1 ½ inch thick strip steak is a good pound plus of meat. An inch is a nice 10-12 oz. But will still be too large of serving for many people.
If you want that 1 ½ inch thick steak, this will still work well, but be sure to rest to room temperature first. Over 1 ½ inch thickness requires a different method.
👨🍳Method
The pan does not have to be cast iron. Any oven-safe pan that can move from stovetop to oven will do.
If you don’t have that, sear in a stovetop pan and move to a different oven-safe pan to finish. If using the later technique, I would preheat the oven pan with the oven, so the steak goes in a hot pan.
⏰Oven Temperature and Time
I suggest a 400° oven. For a final internal temperature of about 145°, it usually takes 7-8 minutes. However, you can use a little lower or higher oven temperature, with or without convection, and get about the same results—remember, you are cooking to a final temperature, not by time.
For rare, it may be almost no time in the oven if you did a strong sear with a rest to room temperature or if you steaks are thinner.
If your steak is thicker or was not rested to room temperature, or you want it more in the well-done range, it may take 12-15 minutes.
There are several variables that will determine the cooking time. The initial temperature of the steak, the thickness of the steak, the temperature of the oven, the length of the sear, and your desired finish level.
A final word to the wise, NEVER COOK BY TIME ALONE, cook to your target internal temperature.
🌡️Final Temperature
A strip steak has a fair amount of marbling so can tolerate overcooking a bit, unlike something like top sirloin. But also is not as tender as a filet. I like about 140° to 145° final internal temperature. My wife is more of a 150° person.
So pick the internal temperature you want. Remove the steak a few degrees less and tent lightly with foil.
The temperature will continue to rise a few degrees when tented, and more importantly, the fluid that escapes the cells during cooking will migrate back into the cells and make for a moist and tender steak.
Remember, you can cook it a bit more if needed, but you can not uncook the steak.
✔️Tips
Trimming
I like to trim as much of the solid fat off the edges as reasonably possible. You won't eat it, and it will interfere with your enjoyment of the steak. Get rid of it.
Seasoning
Just a good sprinkle of coarse salt and pepper is all you really need. We like to use our All Purpose Seasoning - 7:2:1 and 7:2:2, which adds garlic to the mix.
Others like to use commercial mixes like Montreal Seasoning. Just season to your taste.
The timing of seasoning is important. Salt will pull fluid out of meat, but it will reabsorb in about an hour. So if you add a salt containing seasoning, do it an hour before cooking or immediately before cook. In between will pull some moisture out of the meat and not leave time for reabsorption.
Oil vs. Butter
Butter can smoke if overheated. I don't seem to have a problem with that, but some people do, especially if their burner is very hot. You can use vegetable oil if you have that issue.
If you want a middle ground, use oil in the pan then add some butter on top of the steaks as they go in the oven.
📖Steak Recipes
How to Grill a Strip Steak on a Gas Grill
How to Grill a T-bone or Porterhouse Steak – A Tutorial
Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
How to Grill a Filet Mignon on a Gas Grill
Or see all my steak recipes plus some steak enhancements at the Father's Day Steak Recipe Roundup
🖼️Step-by-Step Instructions
Allow the steaks to rest at room temperature for 30-60 minutes if you have time—Preheat oven to 400° convection or 425° conventional.
Trim and season steaks to your taste. I use 7:2:2 (my homemade seasoning). If you don't have that, you can season with a little coarse salt, pepper, and granular garlic powder. Or any way you want.
In an oven-safe pan (I used my 10-inch cast iron) over medium-high heat, melt one tablespoon of butter or use oil. Some prefer oil at this point due to the lower smoke point of butter, but I have never had a problem.
When hot, sear both sides of the steaks for 2-3 minutes. Sear close to the final color you want.
Transfer pan to the preheated oven. Now comes the variables. The steak thickness, how long you seared, and the true temperature of the oven. Cook to the final temperature you want. Remember that you may get a few more degrees after removal from the oven.
It took 7 minutes to get to 145° (medium). Remove from the oven and allow to rest for a few minutes before serving. COOK TO THE TEMPERATURE, NOT BY TIME ALONE.
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📖 Recipe
Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
Tap to leave a Rating
Ingredients
- 2 strip steaks - good quality about 1 inch thick
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Allow the steaks to rest at room temperature for 30-60 minutes if you have time. Preheat oven to 400° convection or 425° conventional is preferred, but you may adjust this some for your needs,
- Trim and season steaks to your taste with coarse salt and pepper. I use 7:2:2 (my homemade seasoning) or use a seasoning of your choice.
- In an oven-safe pan (I used my 10-inch cast iron) over medium-high heat, melt one tablespoon of butter or use oil. Some prefer oil at this point due to the lower smoke point of butter, but I have never had a problem.
- When hot, sear both sides of the steaks for 2-3 minutes. Sear close to the final color you want. Transfer pan to the preheated oven.
- Now comes the variables. The steak thickness, how long you seared, and the true temperature of the oven. It takes about 7-8 minutes to get to about 145° (medium). Remove from the oven and allow to rest for a few minutes before serving. COOK TO THE TEMPERATURE, NOT BY TIME ALONG.
- Remember that you may get a few more degrees after removal from the oven.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- Allowing the steaks to rest at room temperature before cooking helps obtain final internal temperature easily. Skip if you must.
- I like to use 400° convection for this recipe but you can use a bit more or less and you don't have to have convection. Remember, you are cooking to a final temperature and not by time.
- Trim excessive fat.
- Seasoning just before starting to cook or one hour before is best. Use the seasoning of your choice or use some coarse salt and pepper.
- You may use butter or oil in the pan. Butter has a lower smoke temperature. I have not had an issue but if you have very hot burners or are worried, use oil.
- You will have a few degree increase in the internal temperature after removal from the oven.
- Allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
- NEVER COOK BY TIME ALONE. You must use an instant-read or meat thermometer.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition
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Editor's note: Originally Published February 20, 2015. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Catherine
Hi Dr. Dan..
First, I wanted to commend you on a steak novice, easy to understand recipe! No exotic ingredients, what most of us already have or buy. I have also been intimidated cooking steaks, I like to understand what makes a steak juicy and flavorful, I have found there are as many opinions as there are stars in the sky! I tried your recipe here on new York strip steak and it was great! I did marinate my steak first, so, was wondering what your thoughts are on marinades? Wet vs. dry rubs? Does it affect the overall finished steak? Does it help at all , or only enhance the flavor? Thanks for your insights!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Catherine,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad you like my approach. I try it to give good basic techniques. You can add things later after you get the basics down.
On to the marinade questions. I have https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/the-best-steak-marinade-ever/ that I tend to use on strip steak or simular cuts for special meals. I never do marinade on filet but will on other steaks. Both grill (preferred) and stovetop to oven
Let me know if you have any questions on any recipes. Thanks for the rating.
Dan.
Joshua J
Wow, this is a perfect recipe blog post! I just did this on a whim for lunch, cooked two different sized New York steaks to perfection using the thermometer method to 140*. The smaller was done 5 mins before the larger(of course) and they both came out perfectly!
Just wanted to give you big props for how well-done(pun intended) this post is. I googled "oven-finished steak" and arrived here for the first time. I really appreciate that you get to the point quickly without paragraph after paragraph of useless wording as is common with recipe blogs/articles.
I didn't have time to let the steaks warm up and yet with this method everything still went perfectly, I'm quite pleased and will add this to my steak-cooking toolbox.
Thanks again!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Joshua,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad it worked well for you. I try to keep my writing easy to follow and relevant to the recipe. There is so much wondering stories out there. I try to write what I would want to know.
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Susan Webster
I made N.Y. Strip steaks tonight using these directions, but when I put the cast iron skillet in the oven a bunch of juices collected in the bottom of the skillet. Is it because I didn't sear them enough before transferring to the oven, or maybe because I was cooking 4 steaks instead of 2? Where did I go wrong? Also, just fyi, I used an instant read tgermometer, which does poke a hole in the meat, but I only checked each steak once before I put them in the oven. Could they release that much juice from one poke?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Susan,
Welcome to the blog.
First a couple of comments about what it is not. It is not from checking the temperature and it is also not from searing enough. While many will blame those things, they are mostly disproven.
Now, what was it? As beef and most meats cook, the muscle fibers contract and force out fluids. So that is probably what you saw. The more meat, the more fluid.
I also find it happens a lot more of the meat has been previously frozen. I try not to freeze really good prime beef for this reason. Prime filets start to act like choice grade.
So can they release a lot of fluid? Yes.
Dan
Tracy
Excellent and detailed recipe. My steak turned out great!
Thank youuuuuu!!!! :)
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Tracy,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad it worked well for you. There is nothing like a nice steak.
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Gail Bebee
Hi Dan, you say 400 F temperature for the oven. I've seen recipes using 500F. Why 400F?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Gail,
Welcome to the blog.
I don't think the exact temp matters a lot. The steak is not in the oven that long. But 500 degrees tend to smoke a lot for most people due to the oven cleanliness and the oil used. Butter will really smoke at that temp. Most people don't get smoking at 400. The time difference between the two will probably be only a minute or two.
Also, since we are cooking to a final internal temperature and not by time, another reason it doesn't matter much.
Hope that helps.
Dan
Wade
Thanks for the help. I had been doing it with the oven on 300 and the results were not as good. 425 much better.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Wade,
Welcome to the blog. Sorry for the delayed response.
Yep, 300 was just not high enough, it would dry too much.
Glad it worked for you.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Dawn
Hi I'm new to this site and like what I've read so far.....I enjoy cooking and baking but I've always been a bit intimidated by the thought of steaks....my finance loves them so for his Birthday dinner I bought 2 NY strips......I will be cooking them like you say....sounds easy and tasty...I also made a homemade oreo cheesecake,,which I was less intimidated by as I am quite comfortable with them...lol...will be serving peppered green beans and roasted potatoes.....will come back with the outcome.....I'd love to get more recipes for 2 but couldnt put in my email on the form....was too small and wouldn't stay enlarged...
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Dawn,
Welcome to the blog.
Hope the steaks worked well for you.
Sorry to hear you are having trouble with the form. It is controlled by Feedburner (owned by Google) and I can't control that. If you want, you can just email me the email you want to use. I can enter it and you should get a confirming email.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Joyce J
Thank you Dr Dan excellent...made this for the hubby for his birthday today and he likes med well as it turns out I followed your instructions and put it in oven for 10 minutes and took temperature it was perfect...he kept saying this is so good ...I used Montreal Steak seasoning and combined olive oil and butter made garlic mushrooms put them on top of steak with a pat of butter
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Joyce,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad it would so well for you.
Thanks for the note and have a great day.
Dan
Dandy Homecook
Thank you for sharing! I am still using this recipe in 2019.
DrDan
Hi Dandy,
Welcome to the blog.
I do love good steak.
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Erin
We have tried many different ways to make steak. Since finding this method I have used it 3 times, and every time our steak has been amazing! It is so simple and delicious, tender and juicy! Thank you!
Zandra
My grilled died! Thanks for saving my dinner. I didn't know how to prepare a steak in the oven that tasted good. It was delicious! My grandmother's cast iron pan worked fabulous!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Zandra,
Welcome to the blog and sorry for the delayed response.
Cast iron is great. Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Amber
I have been using this recipe for years thanks to you! I have it down pat and it turns out wonderful everytime. I like to change up the seasoning every once in awhile, but the technique is fabulous. Thanks for this awesome how-to!
DrDan
Hi Amber,
Welcome to commenting.
Glad you enjoy the recipe. I do love how-to recipes.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Brent Porter
Perfect method, thanks! Just like the steakhouse!
DrDan
Hi Brent,
Welcome to the blog.
It is the way many pros cook strip steaks. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Lillian
This recipe is so delicious!! Used on strip steak and it was delicious!! Thank you for the recipe
Tonia Gray
Thank you so much. Your recipe was amazing. My steak turned out awesome. Thank you for taking the time to post it. My husband was so impressed with my dinner.
DrDan
Hi Tonia,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Amy
I’ve used your recipe for years. It’s always what pops up first when googling how to sear a steak and finish in the oven. I know zero about steaks so don’t flinch but I use this for any cut and it’s always fantastic. Hubby agrees.
DrDan
Hi Amy,
Welcome to commenting.
I use this pan seared oven roasted technique on chicken breast and pork tenderloins. The recipes are around here.
I also use it for some great filets. It will work on bone-in steaks like t-bones but the area of meat near the bone will not get brown as it shrinks some and looses contact with the surface. So I tend to grill those.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Suzanne
You tell people to let the steaks rest for 30 to 60 MINUTES?! Please correct your recipe. They would be eating flat cold nasty steaks dude. Most people looking at recipe are looking because they need help and DONT know how to cook. Screwed up instructions like yours have made me ruin a meal more than once. Annoying!
Otherwise, looks like a good recipe.
DrDan
The recipe is correct.
The rest to room temperature is before cooking. It is to bring the temperature of the meat up to make getting the final internal temperature easier. I do suggest a 5 minute rest after cooking. See #5 in the Pro Tips at the bottom of the recipe card.
Hope that helps.
Dan
C
Suzanne,
Learn how to read instructions before you go off on a rant! Dan's response was very professional. Looking forward to trying out this recipe.
DrDan
Hi C,
Welcome to the blog.
Thanks for the defense. This sort of thing happens occasionally around here. If the comment it profane or insulting, I just delete it. Otherwise, I try to be polite if I choose to respond.
Mostly it is people complaining about the time being wrong even though the recipe says multiple times not to cook by time and use a thermometer. I generally just ask what the thermometer read. Nobody has responded yet.
Again, thanks for the defensive note.
Dan
Darrel Leonard
That's a good recipe thank you enjoyed it whoever's on this
Linda
Yup! 30-60 mins BEFORE cooking. 5 mins after! I got that. And the steak is great!! Thanks for the help!
Double L
Suzanne
January 23, 2019 at 10:07 am
You tell people to let the steaks rest for 30 to 60 MINUTES?! Please correct your recipe. They would be eating flat cold nasty steaks dude. Most people looking at recipe are looking because they need help and DONT know how to cook. Screwed up instructions like yours have made me ruin a meal more than once. Annoying!
Otherwise, looks like a good recipe.
Regarding the post which I pasted above: wow, Suzanne! what an ANNOYING series of comments you posted! Please consider taking a course on Reading Comprehension. That might help with your screwing up other meal-prep instructions. (You might also consider not posting.) Thanks for the reminder that I should ALWAYS double-check before making a fool of myself (as you did!). My steak dinner turned out perfectly. Thanks, DrDan.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Double L,
Welcome to the blog.
Thanks for the defense. I delete obscene or misleading comments but I left Suzanna mainly to remind people to really read and understand a recipe before starting to cook ... or commenting ;)
Thanks for the note.
Dam
Jill
DrDan:
Hi. We used this recipe for filets and it turned our perfect. I doubt we will ever use a grill again. Thank you for your recipes. We saw the Salisbury steak recipe and I had never seen it made with ground beef. That is the next one we will try. And, Happy Birthday to the girls from our Tico and Cloe.
DrDan
Hi Jill,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad the strips steaks worked well for you but when grill season comes, look at the grill instructions which is what I do most of the time. Try the steak marinade https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/the-best-steak-marinade-ever/ and even the https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/blue-cheese-garlic-compound-butter/ which puts my wife in heaven.
The Salisbury steak is a good comfort food (anything with gravy is for me).
Lilly and Molly say thanks and give Tico and Cloe a pat for them.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Cindi
This is, by far, my favorite way to prepare strips and ribeyes! I also like to throw in a few cloves of smashed garlic before placing my pan in the oven. I also use your similar method for pork chops and your recipe for crispy baked chicken thighs! Thanks for the recipes!
DrDan
Hi Cindi,
Welcome to the blog.
It is a great technique. I use it all the time for a variety of things, as you see. People want a recipe specific to the meat they have so you see it repeated over and over on this site.
Thanks for the note and Happy Holidays
Dan
Fran
Delicious!
Lauren
Steak turned out perfect. Excellent recipe!
Shannon
Lol @ grass fed comments. People are gross.