How Long Do I Cook A Steak For Medium Well

How to Cook Steak in the Oven for a Juicy, Tender Entrée in a Flash

Have you always wanted to learn how to cook a steak in the oven? Fire up your oven and prepare to become a master! Cooking steak in the oven packs robust and savory goodness into each mouthwatering bite. Here we'll show you how to cook steak in the oven by broiling. Once you learn how to broil steak, round out your meaty meal with tasty toppings and simple side dishes.

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Whether a casual meal for the family or a fancy dinner for two, steaks are always a delicious (and easy) entrée choice. They're delicious, high in protein, and when you learn how to cook steak in the oven, you don't need to wait for good grilling weather. When it comes to cooking steak in the oven, your best bet is broiling the meat. This requires a high oven temperature and placing steaks three to five inches from the heat source. Learn which cuts of meat are best for broiling (sirloin steak is only the beginning), then follow our step-by-step instructions to cook steak in the oven for a super quick and fuss-free entrée.

How to Cook Steak in the Oven

Before we start cooking, you'll need to choose the cut of steak to suit your recipe. Seek out these cuts when broiling steak in the oven:

Flank
Strip
Top sirloin
Tri-tip (bottom sirloin)
Tenderloin
Porterhouse
T-bone
Ribeye

Test Kitchen Tip: For melt-in-your-mouth texture, look for steaks with a fresh pink/red color with abundant marbling (stripes of fat in the meat). Some fat around the exterior of beef cuts is good, but trim any large pieces surrounding the meat.

drying off raw steak with towel

measuring raw steak with ruler

Left: Use a folded-over paper towel to gently pat both sides of the steak, then use a ruler to check the height. | Credit: Scott Little

Right: Credit: Andy Lyons

Step 1: Prepare Steaks for the Oven

For even cooking, let steaks stand at room temperature 30 minutes before broiling. Use a paper towel to pat dry each steak. (Surface wetness delays a good sear, removing excess moisture allows the steak to brown evenly.) Season with sea salt and black pepper or desired seasonings. See below for some delicious seasoning suggestions.

Measure Thickness of Steaks

One-inch-thick steaks are ideal for broiling. If your steaks are slightly thicker or thinner, you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly (longer for thicker steaks, shorter for thinner steaks).

Seasoning raw steak on white tray

Salt, pepper, and more can add complexity to your broiled steaks.

| Credit: Andy Lyons

Steak Seasoning

Add extra flavor to your steaks with a homemade rub. Sprinkle your spices and/or herbs on both sides, then rub to distribute evenly. Here are some easy spice formulas for cooking steak in the oven:

Chicago Steakhouse: 1 Tbsp. dry mustard + 2 tsp. granulated garlic + 2 tsp. black pepper + 1 tsp. sweet smoked Spanish paprika + ½ tsp. dried thyme + ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
Spicy Espresso: 2 tsp. chili powder + 1 tsp. salt + 1 tsp. instant espresso coffee powder + ½ tsp. garlic powder + ½ tsp. dried oregano + ½ tsp. black pepper
Chili: 1 Tbsp. chili powder + 1 Tbsp. olive oil + 1½ tsp. dried oregano + ½ tsp. salt + ½ tsp. ground cumin
Mediterranean: 2 tsp. dried rosemary + 2 tsp. dried thyme + 2 tsp. dried minced onion + 2 tsp. dried minced garlic + 1 tsp. salt + ¾ tsp. black pepper
Asian-inspired: 1 Tbsp. dried orange peel + 2 tsp. garlic powder + 1 tsp. salt + 1 tsp.toasted sesame seeds + 1 tsp. black sesame seeds + 1 tsp. black pepper + ½ tsp. crushed red pepper

Step 2: Broil the Steaks in the Oven

Place the steaks on the unheated rack of a broiler pan ($15, Bed Bath & Beyond). Preheat the broiler for 5 to 10 minutes. For 1-inch-thick steaks cooked to medium doneness, steaks will take about 15 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking time. Allow less time for rare steaks and more time for well-done steaks.

How Long to Cook Steak in the Oven

If your recipe doesn't specify how long to broil steaks, follow these guidelines.

Boneless steak (top loin [strip], ribeye, shoulder top blade [flat iron], shoulder center [ranch], chuck eye, tenderloin):
- 1 inch: broil 12 to 14 minutes for medium rare (145°F), 15 to 18 minutes for medium (160°F)
- 1½ inches: broil 18 to 21 minutes for medium rare, 22 to 27 minutes for medium
Boneless top sirloin steak
- 1 inch: 15 to 17 minutes for medium rare, 20 to 22 minutes for medium
- 1½ inch: 25 to 27 minutes for medium rare, 30 to 32 minutes for medium
Boneless tri-tip steak (bottom sirloin)
- ¾ inch: 6 to 7 minutes for medium rare, 8 to 9 minutes for medium
- 1 inch: 9 to 10 minutes for medium rare, 11 to 12 minutes for medium
Flank steak: Cook 1- to 1¼-inch steaks 13 to 16 minutes for medium doneness.
Steak with bone(porterhouse, T-bone)
- 1 inch: 12 to 15 minutes for medium rare, 15 to 20 minutes for medium
- 1½ inch: 20 to 25 minutes for medium rare, 25 to 30 minutes for medium

Test Kitchen Tip:Ensure your steak is cooked to a safe internal temperature using an instant-read meat thermometer ($15, Target).

Scandinavian Steak and Potatoes

Get Our Oven Steak and Potatoes Recipe

Step 4: Let the Steaks Rest

Let the meat rest for 5 minutes after cooking, tented with foil to keep the meat warm. This allows the juices to redistribute from the interior of the steak and keeps the juices from escaping once the meat is cut.

Test Kitchen Tip: If you are slicing the steaks before serving, cut slices perpendicular to the meat's grain for the most tender slices.