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    Home » Recipes » Dinner Ideas » How to Reverse Sear a Steak

    How to Reverse Sear a Steak

    Published: Aug 8, 2023 Modified: Sep 8, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    My Reverse Sear Steak recipe is a flavorful, easy steak dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes! Reverse searing a steak is the best way to cook steak. This simple cooking method makes it so easy to beautifully cook and sear any cut of beef, including a perfect ribeye! I will show you how to reverse sear a steak to perfection!

    A reverse sear ribeye in a cast iron skillet with fresh herbs on top
    Jump to:
    • Reverse Sear Ribeye
    • What is reverse sear?
    • Ribeye Steak Recipe Ingredients
    • Ribeye Steak Seasoning
    • How to Reverse Sear a Steak
    • Steak Degree of Doneness
    • Reverse Sear Steak FAQs
    • How to Sear Steak on the Grill
    • Can I cook more than one steak?
    • Side Dishes for Steak
    • What to Do with Leftover Steak
    • Steak Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Reverse Sear Ribeye

    I’ll show you how to cook the perfect steak using the reverse sear method in your oven, and promise it will be your new favorite cooking method! Cooking steak in a cast-iron skillet and oven makes the most flavorful steak with a delicious browned crust. Every bite is steak perfection. Perfect for a weekday meal or a Sunday dinner!

    What is reverse sear?

    Reverse searing is a cooking method that involves first cooking steak in the oven, then searing it at a high temperature in a pan over the stove or on the grill.

    This is the opposite of traditional pan-searing, where you begin by searing and then continue to cook the steak in a hot skillet or over a grill until it cooks through.

    The benefits of reverse searing is that you can better control the cooking temperature for perfect results every time. I love to use this method for all of our best steak recipes!

    First time I was ever able to cook the steak perfectly without stressing

    @LisaGeeee

    New york strip steaks searing in a skillet to make Steak diane

    Ribeye Steak Recipe Ingredients

    • Thick-cut ribeye steak (about 1 ½ to 2 inches thick, if possible)
    • Santa Maria seasoning or your favorite steak seasoning
    • Avocado oil, canola oil, or another neutral cooking oil with a high smoke point
    • Unsalted butter
    • Fresh rosemary (optional)

    Ribeye Steak Seasoning

    Santa Maria seasoning is a simple steak seasoning that uses a mixture of salt and pepper, granulated honey or sugar, granulated garlic, and onion powder.

    We use it in our churrascaria-style Picanha Steak Recipe and love to use it for this ribeye steak, too. Along with my dry-brining method using my Dry Rub for Steak, it makes one of the best steak seasonings ever.

    You can also use simple kosher salt and black pepper to season a good quality steak, and it will be delicious.

    How to Reverse Sear a Steak

    1. Preheat oven to 275°F. Place a wire cooling rack onto a baking sheet, then place ribeye steak onto the wire rack.
    2. Thoroughly season both sides of the ribeye with Santa Maria steak seasoning or your favorite steak rub.
    3. Place the sheet with the steak in the oven. At the same time, place your cast-iron pan into the oven to let it warm while the steak cooks.
    4. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the steak reaches about 90°F. Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.
      A raw ribeye steak on a rack over a baking rack
    5. After 15 minutes or the steak reaches 90°F, carefully remove it from the oven. Carefully remove the hot pan
    6. from the oven and place it onto a burner on the stove.
    7. Add avocado oil to the skillet and heat over high heat until it begins to smoke.
    8. Gently add the steak to the cast iron skillet and sear for 2 minutes on one side. Flip, then sear for another 1-2 minutes on the second side or until the internal temperature reaches your desired degree of doneness*. For a medium rare steak, let it reach 135°F.
      A reverse sear steak searing in a cast iron skillet
    9. Remove from the skillet and let the steak rest for 10 minutes on a plate.
    10. Top with unsalted butter and fresh rosemary, or a pat of garlic butter as it rests.
    11. Slice against the grain. Serve, and enjoy!
      A sliced ribeye steak on a white plate next to a forkk

    Steak Degree of Doneness

    Note: The USDA recommends steak be cooked to a minimum of 145°F. For more info, see my Steak Temperature Chart.

    Steak DonenessInternal Temperature
    Rare125°F – bright red center
    Medium-rare135°F – warm red center
    Medium145°F – warm pink center
    Medium-well150°F – slightly pink center
    Well-done160°F – little to no pink

    I recommend always using a meat thermometer when cooking any meat, especially if you want that perfect steak temperature every time!

    Reverse Sear Steak FAQs

    What do I need to reverse sear steak?

    To make a perfect reverse sear ribeye, you will need a cast-iron skillet and oven. That’s it! No special tools are necessary when you bake and sear a steak.

    What oil should I use to sear a steak?

    I like to use avocado oil. Avocado oil is available at most grocery stores and can be found alongside other oils, often with an avocado on the label.
    If you cannot find it or would prefer to use another type of oil on hand, use canola oil or another neutral vegetable oil with a high smoke point. Extra light olive oil works too, as it also has a high smoke point.

    How to Sear Steak on the Grill

    If you’d like to reverse sear a steak on a gas grill instead of in a cast iron skillet, you can do that easily.

    1. Cook the steak as instructed in the oven, and then finish on the grill over high heat.
    2. Sear for 2 minutes on one side, and then 1-2 minutes on the other, or until it reaches your desired degree of doneness.

    Reverse sear ribeye makes one of the best grilling recipes for summer, along with our grilled Picanha steak.

    Picanha steaks on skewers cooking on the grill

    Can I cook more than one steak?

    Yes, you can! Bake two steaks at the same time. For best results, make sure to use a meat thermometer when checking the internal temperature of the steaks.

    However, you want to avoid over-crowding the pan when searing the steaks. It’s best to avoid adding more than one steak to the pan if you’re cooking large cuts, so sear the steaks one at a time. If you’re finishing steaks on the grill, this won’t be an issue.

    For feeding a family of four, bake the second batch of steaks while you finish the first on the stove or grill.

    Side Dishes for Steak

    • Foil Pack Potatoes
    • Grilled Corn on the Cob
    • Grilled Potatoes
    • Mushrooms and Onions
    • Garlic Butter Potatoes!

    The best sides for steak are simple vegetable sides, grilled vegetables, simple salads, and potato dishes!

    Foil pack potatoes in foil on a wooden surface

    What to Do with Leftover Steak

    Make a leftovers steak sandwich with homemade remoulade sauce (it’s amazing!) and Perfect Caramelized Onions, or try our Creamy Penne Pasta with Sliced Prime Rib using steak instead of prime rib.

    Creamy penne pasta with sliced prime rib in a pot

    Steak Recipes

    • Grilled Filet Mignon
    • Sous Vide Ribeye Steak
    • Wagyu Steak Recipe
    • Grilled Porterhouse Steak
    • Flank Steak Recipe

    Make any cut of steak tender following our guide on How to Tenderize Steak.

    Did you try this reverse sear ribeye steak? Let us know in the comments below what you think! We love to hear from you.

    📋 Recipe

    Reverse sear ribeye on a plate

    How to Reverse Sear a Steak

    Isabel Laessig
    Reverse searing is the best way to cook steak! Our reverse sear ribeye steak recipe shows you how to reverse sear a steak for perfect results every time.
    4.55 from 24 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1
    Calories 755 kcal

    Equipment

    • Cast Iron Skillet
    • Oven

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 thick-cut ribeye steak
    • 1 Tbsp. Santa Maria seasoning (see notes)
    • 1 Tbsp. avocado oil or canola oil
    • 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
    • 2-3 rosemary sprigs (optional)
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
      Place a wire cooling rack onto a baking sheet, then place the uncooked ribeye steak onto the wire rack. Season both side of the ribeye steak with the Santa Maria seasoning.
      A raw ribeye steak on a rack over a baking rack
    • Place the steak into the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches about 90 degrees F. At the same time, place a cast-iron skillet into the oven to let it warm as the steak cooks.
      When the steak has reached 90 degrees F, remove from the oven. Carefully remove the cast iron skillet (it will be hot) and place onto a burner on the stove. Add 1 Tbsp. of avocado oil to the cast iron skillet and heat over high heat until it begins to smoke.
      Next, carefully place the ribeye steak into the cast iron skillet and sear for two minutes on one side, then flip and sear for another 1-2 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches your desired level of doneness.
      A reverse sear steak searing in a cast iron skillet
    • Carefully remove from the cast iron skillet and let rest on a plate for 10 minutes. Top with 1 Tbsp. of unsalted butter and fresh rosemary and allow it to melt as it rests.
      A sliced ribeye steak on a white plate next to a forkk

    Video

    Notes

    • Santa Maria seasoning is a simple steak seasoning made with a mixture of salt and pepper, granulated honey or sugar, granulated garlic, and onion powder. It’s featured in our Brazilian churrascaria-style Picanha Steak Recipe, too! We think it is the best steak seasoning.
    • Avocado oil is available at most grocery stores and can be found alongside other oils. There is often an avocado on the label.
    • You can substitute canola oil for avocado oil. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 755kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 47gFat: 60gSaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 124mgPotassium: 707mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 817IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 163mgIron: 9mg
    Keyword how to reverse sear a steak, reverse sear ribeye, reverse sear steak, ribeye steak recipe
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. B.Scott says

      October 12, 2022 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      We really rarely eat steak we never order it out. I never buy it but for some reason I came across this recipe. Well, I bought two three-quarter inch Delmonico steaks and I made them this way and I’ll tell you why I got some stuff from my husband. We had it with mashed potatoes and fresh broccoli

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        October 13, 2022 at 4:33 pm

        That’s awesome! Thank you so much for sharing with us! We’re glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply

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