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How To Finish Steak in the Oven

By: Author William Thomas

William Thomas

Editor-in-Chief & Pitmaster

I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.
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How To Finish Steak in the Oven

One way to cook meat is by smoking it or cooking it on the stovetop.

While cooking on the stovetop is self-explanatory, for smoking, you are cooking over some firewood. Once you do this, the meat becomes infused with the firewood’s smoky flavor.

It also can taste whatever scent the firewood gives off. Some are woodsy, while others are more on the sweet or fruity side.

Despite starting off cooking on the stove, grill, or smoker, you may not be able to finish it that way.

Fear not because you can finish the food in the oven! In this article, we will go over if you can do this and how!

What Is Steak?

Steak is one of the most popular meats out there, so chances are you have heard of it before.

It’s from a cow, but have you ever considered that there might even be other meats that can be made into steaks?

The following animals can be made into steaks:

  • Pork
  • Turkey
  • Sheep
  • Lamb
  • Salmon or Swordfish
  • Vegan or plant-based options

The most common type of steak is from a cow. It comes from around the muscle area of the cow, and if you want something very tender, then you will want a steak that comes from the loin and rib area.

If you are feeling adventurous enough, you can try one of another types of steaks on our list above.

Nothing wrong with sticking to the classic cow steak, though. Sometimes, the traditional flavor is where it is.

Can You Finish the Steak in the Oven?

It does not matter what kind of steak you end up smoking on your grill or cooking on your stovetop.

All that matters is that you need to know whether you can finish it in your oven. For some, there is a preference for cooking in the oven straight out compared to on the stovetop.

The same goes for how thin or thick the steak is. All of them can be started on the stove and then finished in the oven.

If you are someone who prefers to just sear your meat on the stove, then that is fine, too.

Just be aware that there are some positives to finishing up in the oven rather than keeping it on the stovetop or just the grill.

Is It Good To Finish Steak in the Oven?

So, it can be done, but why is it so good to finish steak in the oven? You don’t have to look any further than the reasons we have listed below.

  • Cooking on a stovetop means the heat is concentrated in one place. Whatever part of the meat is facing the pan is what gets most of the heat. This is why you constantly have to flip the food over every few minutes to make sure it’s getting evenly cooked. It can be an annoying process. The oven cooks meat equally.
  • Sometimes cooking on the stovetop can cause your steak to become on the dry and tough side. What happens with dry and tough meat? Well, let’s just say you’ll end up doing a lot of chewing.
  • When cooking in the oven, you are cooking more slowly than, say, you would on a stovetop. Cooking at a slower pace means you aren’t as likely to burn your steak. A little burnt taste is okay, but if you can’t even cut into it with a knife, then it’s not going to be eaten for your dinner.

These top three reasons are why it’s sometimes better to finish your steak in the oven rather than on the stovetop.

How To Finish Steak in the Oven

Now we’ve reached the crux of the article, where you will learn how you can start cooking your steak on the stovetop and finally finish it in the oven.

  • Preheat the oven to around 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Take the steak out of the package and then start seasoning it with whatever spices you desire. The classic options are salt and pepper, with garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, paprika, red pepper flakes, and thyme being some options. There are so many more options out there, so go with whatever you like!
  • Heat a pan with oil, butter, or whatever you prefer to use. Once it is hot (usually when you hear the sizzle), take the pieces of steak and put them in the pan.
  • Cook the steak on both sides for about 2 minutes or until it starts to get brown. It might take longer, depending on how thick the cut of steak might be. This requires you to watch it because you don’t want to overcook it on the stovetop, but you also want to brown it enough before you put it in the oven.
  • Once it’s browned enough, transfer the skillet into the oven or put the steak on an oven-safe pan into the oven. It should be completely preheated by now.
  • Cook it in the oven for a minimum of 5 minutes to a maximum of around 15 or longer. It depends on the cut of the steak, so keep checking on it to make sure you don’t overcook it.
  • Use a thermometer to check the steak. 125 Degrees is rare, medium rare is 130, the medium is 140, medium well is 145, and finally, well done is 155.
  • Final steps include cutting it up and then serving it to whoever is joining you for dinner.

Final Thoughts

And that brings us to the end, folks! We discussed just what steak was, whether you can finish steak in the oven, and why it is good to do so.

The most important part was learning how to finish steak in the oven. It’s not as hard as you thought it might be, and if you are still feeling unsure, you might as well give it a shot.

You will not know how difficult or easy it is until you try!

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