Baking A Steak In The Oven
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There are different types of ovens to bake a steak in. Ovens all serve the same basic function but may operate in slightly different ways.
Dutch Oven A dutch oven is typically a large cast iron pot that has been used for cooking for centuries. It can be used to roast, boil, bake or stew meals such as beef, pasta, soup and even bread. Dutch ovens were primarily used over an open fire but now a day’s dutch ovens are made to be compatible with gas, electric or ceramic stove tops.
The trick to baking a steak in an oven lies in the temperature of the pan or oven. First, take the steak out of the refrigerator about 40 minutes prior to cooking and allow the steak to reach room temperature. Preheat the dutch oven for about 10 minutes before adding the steak. If you are cooking in a dutch oven over an open fire, sprinkle a few drops of water into the pan. If they crackle and jump, the oven is hot enough for cooking. Just prior to cooking the steak, coat the meat with olive oil and dredge in flour. Add olive oil or melted butter to the bottom of the dutch oven. Cooking over an open fire presents a challenge not found in cooking on a stove. Be sure the dutch oven sits evenly on the fire. That helps the heat to be evenly distributed on the bottom of the pan. An uneven fire will result in a part of the steak being cooked quicker than the other. The result will not be a culinary success.
Solar Ovens Solar ovens are an environmentally conscience way of cooking. Using only heat from the sun, solar ovens work on a similar principle as a green house. Simply put, solar energy is reflected into the cavity of the oven and a glass door keeps the heat in allowing the temperature to rise. How hot a solar oven gets depends on the number of solar reflectors used. Most solar ovens can reach temperature between 250 and 350 degrees, sufficient for cooking most food. Cooking times vary greatly as compared to a conventional oven but typically a solar oven takes longer than a conventional oven. Manufacturer instructions will give you more details in regards to cooking time for different foods but you will find trial and error will be the best way to determine cooking times.
The down side to a solar oven is, depending on cooking time, they may need to be moved every so often to gain maximum exposure to the sun and keep the cooking temperatures constant. If clouds suddenly appear, that can minimize the cooking quality and maximize the cooking time.
But say you do have optimum solar conditions and wish to cook your steak in the great outdoors. Place your solar oven in the sun and begin the preheating process. Solar cooked food is best cooked in a dark, shallow, metal pot or pan with dark tight fitting lids to hold in moisture and heat. Prepare your steak in the same manner you would as if cooking in a conventional oven. Place your steak in the appropriate cooking container and place in the cooker. A medium well steak may take as long as 2 hours. It isn’t necessary to keep checking your food as it cooks. Solar cooked food usually won’t burn or dry out even if left to cook for an hour or so longer than it should. Always remember to use potholders; the solar oven will be very hot.
Conventional Oven Most people have a conventional oven in their homes. These types of appliances have a stove top, oven and broiler. The oven and broiler usually do not work at the same time but rather one or the other. The temperature of the oven usually ranges from 100 to 500 degrees. The oven takes a few minutes to heat to the desired temperature and stays at that temperature until it is shut off. The good thing about cooking in an oven is the temperature stays constant and heats evenly.
To cook a steak in the oven is an easy process. Preheat your oven to about 375 degrees. Heat a skillet on the stove. Remove the steak from the refrigerator about 40 minutes before cooking and let it get to room temperature. For an added flavor, marinate your steak in your favorite spices such as Italian dressing, garlic, parsley, sage, rosemary or thyme for about 30 minutes before cooking. Pan sear your steak in a fry pan for about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Or you may choose to broil the steaks for 4 or 5 minutes. Then put the steak in a shallow roasting pan or cast iron skillet and put into the preheated oven and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Then call the family to the table and enjoy a perfectly cooked, succulent steak. Don’t forget the trimmings.
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