Sometimes all you fancy is a juicy steak, but a great steak isn’t as easy to cook as you’d think. Most people toss the meat in a pan until it is cooked to perfection (by personal standards), but there might be a quicker and easier way to get the job done. Can you cook steak in the microwave? Express.co.uk reveals everything you need to know.
Steak is one of the few types of meat that you can eat undercooked or even raw, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely safe.
Thorough cooking is important with any meat, as it’s the only way to kill any harmful bacteria and viruses that may be present in food.
The best way to cook your steak depends on what cut of steak you’re using, and the cut (sirloin, t-bone, bavette and flank, fillet, rib-eye, and so on) of steak you use is down to preference and budget.
Most people pan-fry their steak in a heavy griddle pan or cast-iron skillet, but there are other ways to cook steak from oven roasting to grilling.
Can you cook steak in the microwave?
The microwave is the lazy option for heating up a number of different foods, but it’s debatable whether or not you can cook a steak in the microwave.
Technically, all meats can be cooked in a microwave if you’re careful.
However, it’s not the safest option because this method can cause the meat to cook unevenly and leave cold spots where harmful bacteria can survive.
If you’re going to cook your steak in the oven, it’s important to cover the meat, flip it once or twice during cooking, and check the internal temperature throughout with a thermometer.
According to the Microwave Master Chef blog, a website that features countless microwave recipes, there is a really good reason to cook your steak in the microwave.
If you like your steak well done (cooked all the way through with a pinkish to grey-brown colour in the middle) with no charring, the microwave is your new best friend.
However, you can’t cook the steak in the microwave entirely, you’ll need to use the frying pan to finish it nicely and brown it off.
To follow Microwave Masterchef’s recipe, you’ll need:
- A plate
- A bowl
- A frying pan
- 1 tbsp oil
- 250 g steak
How long to cook the steak in the microwave for
Exactly how long to cook the steak in the microwave depends on your microwave’s power.
- 500W = seven minutes and 10 seconds
- 600W = six minutes
- 700W = five minutes and 10 seconds
- 750W = four minutes and 50 seconds
- 800W = four minutes and 30 seconds
- 850W = four minutes and 10 seconds
- 900W = four minutes
- 950W = three minutes and 50 seconds
- 1000W = three minutes and 40 seconds
- 1250W = two minutes and 50 seconds
- 1500W = two minutes and 20 seconds
How to cook a steak in the microwave
Rinse, dry and put your steak on a plate and season to your preference.
If you’ve got time, salt your steak for at least 40 minutes or even overnight before you cook it.
Put a bowl upside-down in the centre of the microwave with the steak on a plate on top.
