Start With Best Cut of Meat

There's nothing like knowing how to cook a New York Strip Steak in your very own home. This steak, one of America's favorites, tempts with its sizzling crust flavored with your choice of seasonings and its melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Think you can only get a perfect steak like this at a top steakhouse restaurant? Not so. These simple Instructions for cooking your own New York Strip steak at home will help you prepare an excellent meal. Cooking the perfect New York Strip Steak is easier than you think!

For years, I routinely traveled the country as part of my job. This often involved eating at some of the country's best restaurants and steakhouses. My husband and I even have a favorite out-of-state steakhouse we always visit on our anniversary (partly because the steak is the best and partly because I've never had better whipped sweet potatoes anywhere else! MGM Las Vegas Craftsteak). Pick any popular steakhouse in the United States and I've probably eaten its steak. There was always one, tiny flaw with this travel perq - I sometimes (most of the time) really wanted these same steak experiences in my own home with my own family. I like the people with whom I do business, but I LOVE my family. I really didn't think I was asking too much in figuring out a way to be able to prepare an awesome steak myself. So, after some trial and error and a lot of research, I am finally able to confidently deliver a great steak at home. Now, I've gathered that information in one place so you, too, can know how to cook a New York Strip steak yourself.

So get ready for one mouth-watering piece of meat....plan a party - or just an intimate dinner for two. It's time for you to master one, great steak.

Your first task is to pick the best possible cut of New York Strip Steak you can afford. The United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, grades meat based on its age and degree of marbling - the white fat found in beef. The younger and more marbled the beef, the better its flavor and texture. Prime, Choice, and Select are the meet cuts available to the general consumer with Prime being the best cut of meat.

Shop carefully. Not all grocery stores carry USDA Prime beef. Look for the actual title of "USDA Prime" and not a lower USDA grade disguised with a brand name. If you can't find Prime at your grocery store, try a local butcher or purchase from a reputable online source. You can get some of the best cuts of meet online and have them delivered to your door often at a discount to your local options.

Look for a New York Strip steak that is at least 1 1/2 inches thick. Steaks thinner than 1 1/2 inches will dry out more easily.

While Choice and Select grade meat can be prepared nicely at home, do not expect them to have quite the same flavor and bite as a steakhouse steak. Knowing how meat is graded, however, can help you find the best cut of these grades. Look for those with the most marbling and test the meat's age by pressing it gently with your finger. The younger the beef, the more tender it will be when pressed. (squidoo)

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Sushi
Wine