The Complete Guide to Perfect Steak (Buying, Aging, Cooking, Slicing) | America's Test Kitchen

Want a steakhouse-quality sear without the smoke or giant gray ring of overcooked meat? We’re breaking down the ultimate guide to cooking steak at home, comparing traditional pan-searing, sous vide, reverse-searing, and our favorite low-mess trick: cold-searing. Plus, learn how to select the best cuts at the grocery store, how to mimic pricey dry-aged steak using shio koji, and why you might want to rethink butter basting! Steak Cooking Methods Featured: Cold-Searing: Get edge-to-edge medium-rare perfection in a nonstick pan without heavy smoke or splatters. Sous Vide Steak: How to use an immersion circulator for failproof, perfectly tender results every time. Reverse-Sear: The low-and-slow oven trick that guarantees a killer crust and uniform internal temp. Shio Koji Hack: How to unlock rich, umami-packed, dry-aged flavor in just a few hours using koji. Butter Basting Demystified: When butter-basting is actually necessary (hint: delicate fish) and how to make a no-waste pan sauce instead. Dry-Aging Steak at Home: https://cooks.io/4kpETDs Shio-Koji Marinated-Flank Steak Recipe: https://cooks.io/4pChZx1 Get our Pan-Seared Strip Steak recipe: https://cooks.io/3R8gOm5 Learn more about cold-searing: https://cooks.io/3E5aJnJ Butter-Basted Rib-Eye Steak Recipe: https://cooks.io/4ozw6RZ Skillet-Roasted Chicken Breasts with Rustic Orange-Thyme Sauce Recipe: https://cooks.io/3KEc6is Butter-Basted Fish Fillets with Garlic and Thyme Recipe: https://cooks.io/4gSjrXD Sous Vide Seared Steaks Recipe: https://cooks.io/2SFJjLy Buy our winning sous vide machine: https://cooks.io/2Dw6HpU 00:00 Cold-Searing Steaks 12:44 Tips for Buying Expensive Steaks 16:33 How to "Dry Age" Steak in Two Hours 29:30 How to Sous Vide Steak 40:31 Do You Need to Butter Baste Steak? Discover more recipes through the America’s Test Kitchen App: https://cooks.io/41TUSTK Get exclusive access to every recipe, review, and more via our homepage: https://cooks.io/4fsNGUM Buy The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook 2001–2026: https://cooks.io/4fDMf69 Discover the latest recipes, tips, and tricks from Cook’s Insider: https://cooks.io/4fyNumS Subscribe to Cook's Illustrated: https://cooks.io/4vS2TF0 Subscribe to America's Test Kitchen: https://youtube.com/@AmericasTestKitchen?sub_confirmation=1 ​ Watch full episodes of America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country for free on our new YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@ATKFullEpisodes Watch More! ​ In The Test Kitchen: https://youtube.com/watch?v=eLxup9tEP0M&list=PLnbzopdwFrnZsva37L040wy1u2RTOhqiF&pp=0gcJCWMEOCosWNin ​ The Taste Test: https://youtube.com/watch?v=SkqhwZqnA8s&list=PLnbzopdwFrnZ3usQguuxS2qWxlwj-9aN8 ​ Techniquely With Lan Lam: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnbzopdwFrnYyvwrqTB_5AhufdOMisGnF ​ Most Popular: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2guC4Badq2s&list=PLnbzopdwFrnZcFFuiSDnaymlMCb9ANwC5 Follow America's Test Kitchen: ​ Instagram: http://instagram.com/testkitchen ​ Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/testkitchen ​ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@testkitchen?lang=en ​ Facebook: http://facebook.com/americastestkitchen ​ Twitter: http://twitter.com/testkitchen ​ At America’s Test Kitchen, we investigate every aspect of cooking—recipes, equipment, ingredients, and techniques—with a goal to empower and inspire home cooks. Since 1992, our team of 50+ cooks, editors, and culinary creatives ask a lot of questions—and do a lot of testing—so that you get dependable, delicious recipes, comprehensive guidance, and thorough and unbiased equipment and ingredient reviews. You can find us in the pages of Cook's Illustrated magazine, on our television shows America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country, in dozens of best-selling cookbooks, and via the 14,000+ recipes, reviews, and classes available on our website and app. Whether you’re in search of a great weeknight meal or an impressive dinner-party dish, we’ve done the testing to deliver reliable recipes and comprehensive cooking info to your home kitchen. Bring your curiosity, and we’ll make you a better cook. #AmericasTestKitchen #CookingTutorial #FoodScience​​ When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission.