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Original poster

Please someone help a hopeless cook!!!!

31 replies

megandsoph · 02/07/2006 18:38

hehe I'm so but how do you cook a steak. I have an old friend coming over tomorrow night and I want to do steak and chips does a salad go? really its just the steak thing thats got me worried. anyone??

OP posts:
trinityrhino · 02/07/2006 18:40

I've never done it but don't you just fry it

NotQuiteCockney · 02/07/2006 18:41

Depends. Do you want it rare? Or well-done?

I eat mine rare (red in the middle). I use a grill pan (the kind with ridges), get it quite hot, and cook the meat for a minute or so on each side, until there are nice dark stripes on it.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/07/2006 18:41

Oh, and buy the best meat you can afford, if you're doing it simply, it needs to be v good quality.

Greensleeves · 02/07/2006 18:42

Do you want it well done, or a bit pink in the middle?

I would put a bit of oil in a frying pan, heat it on a fairly high heat and then drop the steak in, cook it for about 8 minutes on each side for meduim, 10 for well done and about 5 for red in the middle... but it depends how big they are and how you like it. Might be nice to rub a bit of black pepper/lemon juice on it, if you like that.

Original poster
megandsoph · 02/07/2006 18:44

he did mention he like it rare yes.... ooooh so theres no chance he can get food poisoning then if it cooks a bit dodgy??

will a normal frying pan do NQC?? or can you cook it on the grill?

OP posts:
Original poster
megandsoph · 02/07/2006 18:46

hahahaha sooooo nervous am quite a useless cook it drives my mother insane.

it does sound simple. the pepper and lemon sounds lovely greensleeves may try that actually thanks

OP posts:
crunchie · 02/07/2006 18:51

Greensleeves, how thick are your steaks??

An average steak - about 1cm thick will be rare cooked/fried or on griddle in about 3 mins each side. 5 mins for medium.

I saw a great way to test steaks by touching them steaks Which is so easy.

ALso leave it to 'rest' on the plate for a few mins before serving, this makes it more juicy (plate up the steak first)

I usually grind loads of black pepper and a bit of salt on my steaks, salad is fine, a big bowl of it to share. Make sure you have ketchup and a nice mustard and you are done

Greensleeves · 02/07/2006 18:53

I don't cook steaks very often but when I do they are BIG ones. I also use a lower heat than most people, because I find otherwise the meat is tough.... hence extra minutes. It works, honest!!

liquidclocks · 02/07/2006 18:57

Asda's sirloin steaks come with instructions

Original poster
megandsoph · 02/07/2006 19:07

will be going asda first thing

OP posts:
DumbledoresGirl · 02/07/2006 19:10

Just grill it for as long as they recommend on the packet - it is only a few minutes either side. As easy as doing fishfingers IMO And yes, salad is ideal with it.

Original poster
megandsoph · 02/07/2006 19:16

easy as fish fingers?? my girls aren't aware that a fish finger is supposed to be orange lol

It does sound pretty easy just hope it looks nice when i'm done... thanks girls

OP posts:
mawbroon · 02/07/2006 19:28

Don't forget to leave them rest for 5 mins before serving them. It lets the fibres in the meat relax after cooking and makes the meat softer.

SSSandy · 02/07/2006 19:37

so what's for dessert then?

booge · 02/07/2006 19:40

If you put your thumb and index finger together lightly and touch the fleshy bit at the base of your thumb, that is what a blue steak should feel like, middle- rare, ring - medium, little - well done.

Or cheek rare, chin - medium, nose- well done

I prefer the first version, the fleshy part of your thumg feels more like meat.

booge · 02/07/2006 19:42

opps I see crunchie got there before me, that'll teach me to read the thread properly.

liquidclocks · 02/07/2006 19:51

just returned asthought of another tip/reassurance - very difficult to poisonanyone with a fresh stake - you could eat it raw if you wanted to!

Also - ask your friend how many minutes they'd like it done for, that way you can't get it wrong can you?!

ilovecaboose · 02/07/2006 19:51

You can apparently eat raw steak without getting food poisoning (French Steak tartare is raw)so I wouldn't worry about poisoning them. and i find if you bash it a bit first with a rolling pin its a lot more tender.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/07/2006 20:01

The thing is, it's the outside of the meat that's most likely to have bacteria etc on it. (Poo from the slaughterhouse etc.) And the outside of the meat gets thoroughly cooked, at a high temperature. The middle bit is fine as long as the meat is fresh.

SSSandy · 02/07/2006 20:02

poo from the slaughterhouse....

feel a vegetarian phase coming on

NotQuiteCockney · 02/07/2006 20:05

Sorry. Just being clear.

Please don't wash raw meat, though, as the water + bacteria get spashed all over the kitchen to poison you later.

SSSandy · 02/07/2006 20:06

I've been thinking for a while now that I might give up meat actually

NotQuiteCockney · 02/07/2006 20:12

I'm quite weird about meat at the moment, haven't had steak for ages. I can eat sausages etc.

And tea is vegan, a few days per week, vegetarian for a few days, and meaty for a few days.

Original poster
megandsoph · 03/07/2006 08:19

Sandy he will have to have a "petit fleur" for dessert lol have no idea really

if all goes wrong then I will just slap him a raw slab of meat on his plate

OP posts:
moondog · 03/07/2006 08:21

NQC,I'd steer clear of sausages.
Lips,ears and arseholes from about 300 cows,all ground up.
At least a steak is from one animal....