One of the recommended methods of cooking steak is to pan sear it in butter, but what about cooking steak without butter?
Can you even do that, and if so, how? If you are counting fats and calories, there are several alternative ways that you can cook your steak.
No, butter is not a necessary ingredient.
Of course, you want to achieve the best taste possible, but eliminating butter will not compromise the flavor of the steak if you properly season the meat and use one of the following butter substitutes.
Here are a few of the best ways that you can cook steak without butter…
How to Cook Steak Without Butter
To cook steak without butter use a substitute such as cooking spray, olive oil, coconut oil, or margarine to achieve the best results. Alternatively, you could just season your steak with salt and pepper to bring out the flavor in lieu of butter. Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and rosemary also work well for seasoning steaks. Of course, you can always soak your steak in a marinade before pan-frying it.
Vegetable Oil, Margarine, or Cooking Spray May Be Used Instead of Butter
If you are health conscious and counting calories, vegetable oil isn’t much better to use than butter, but many people do cook their steaks in oil.
Ideally, you should use a minimal amount of vegetable oil to grease the pan, and once the burner has heated, place your steak in the pan.
This option doesn’t do much to bring out the flavor of the steak, but it works.
Of course, margarine can always be used as a butter substitute.
If you decide to go this route, you will cook the steaks in the same manner that you would with butter but use a pat of margarine instead.
Cooking sprays are another common butter alternative.
Simply spray the pan, throw your steaks on it, and you’re good to go, but it’s advisable to season the meat heavily beforehand.
If you prefer a nuttier flavor, peanut and sunflower oils have also been used to pan-fry steaks.
Olive, Avocado, and Coconut Oils are Excellent Butter Alternatives
Vegetable oil and margarine aren’t the healthiest butter alternatives, so if you are seeking a health-conscious butter alternative, olive or coconut oils have been said to work well for cooking steaks.
While many people swear by rubbing the steak with extra virgin olive oil before pan-searing it, others say that this method may burn the meat, so it’s best to only try olive oil if you like your steak well-done.
Even so, olive oil is a healthy, viable alternative to butter.
Another method that you can try is rubbing the steak with coconut or avocado oil.
Sure, this steak recipe may sound new to you, but these are natural healthy oils.
Since avocado and coconut oils have such distinctive flavors, it’s recommended to use refined oils to avoid compromising the flavor of the steak.
Seasonings Will Work Instead of Butter
While many people insist that steaks should be heavily seasoned, plain old salt and pepper will work fine.
It just depends on your individual taste.
It’s not necessary to use butter or butter substitutes when cooking steaks.
Steaks will grill in their natural juices, so you can just season them and throw them in the pan, and they’ll still turn out fine.
Aside from greasing the pan, the main reason for using butter is flavoring.
The same result can be achieved with garlic, rosemary, onion, and paprika, without all the calories.
Of course, marinades are an excellent option for flavoring your steaks, while still maintaining their tenderness.
Steaks Can Be Cooked Plain
Now, if you prefer the natural steak taste, you can pan-sear your steaks plain, no butter, no seasoning, just a good ole juicy steak.
This is the simplest method of cooking steak, but it works best on a charcoal grill rather than a pan to avoid a bland flavor.
When grilling steak, you’ll want to set your grill to high heat and wait for the coals to warm.
Then place your steaks directly above the hottest coals and cook each side for at least two minutes, depending on how well-done you like your steak to be.
Of course, this method of cooking steak doesn’t require butter, and you can either grill your steaks plain or season them to your preferred taste.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Steak Without Butter
Does Steak Really Need Oil?
Steak doesn’t require much oil, or any at all, for that matter. Vegetable oil is simply used to grease the pan a little to avoid sticking, but steaks have their own natural juices and fats, so oils are necessary for cooking steaks.
Why Does Steak Need Butter?
First of all, steak doesn’t really need butter, but butter is often used when cooking steak to reduce charring and bring out the additional richness of flavor. However, butter should be complementary and not mask the natural flavor of the steak.
When Should You Add Butter to Steak?
While many people use butter to grease the pan, it’s recommended not to add butter until the last two minutes of cooking time as a finishing touch.
Conclusion
There are many ways of cooking steak without butter, but it all depends on personal preference.
As long as you thoroughly enjoy your fat, juicy steak, that’s what matters, not how you choose to cook it.