February is the season to celebrate love and nothing shows your loved one that you care more than a home-cooked meal from the heart. This holiday, skip the roses and cook the perfect ribeye steak to make your Valentine’s Day date night one to remember.
Why choose a ribeye steak?
The ribeye steak is a beef cut that is rich, juicy and full of flavor. It is most recognizable for generous marbling that, in turn, melts into incredible flavor and tenderness when cooked just right.
That fat also helps ribeyes stay tender without much additional effort. The muscles are naturally soft, so the need for a long marinade is not necessary besides to play with additional flavors.
Where does a ribeye come from?
The ribeye is a cut of steak from, as the name suggests, the rib section of a beef animal. More specifically, it comes from the upper rib primal, the same area that produces a prime rib.
The muscle location does little work, allowing it to stay tender and give the ribeye the iconic marbling that it is known for.
How do I cook the perfect ribeye steak?
The good news is that ribeye is very forgiving. Its marbling helps it regulate heat, making it simple to cook on the grill or stovetop alike. The fat also encourages browning over a hot pan or grill grate, resulting in the perfect crust you can hear as you cut into it.
To cook the perfect ribeye steak, first bring the steak to room temperature to help with an even cook. Once it has come up to temperature, pat the steak dry and season both sides with salt pepper and additional seasonings based on your flavor preference.
Once seasoned, heat a cast-iron pan at a high heat until smoking and add a tablespoon of avocado oil or another oil with a high smoke point. Sear the first side of the steak for 2-3 minutes to build a crust. Flip and repeat on the other side until the steak reaches your desired doneness. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to keep your Valentine happy! For a medium-rare steak, cook until it reaches 135°F; for medium, 145°F.
After it is cooked, let the meat rest for five minutes to allow the juices to settle and make sure it is truly perfect!
Round out your meal
Now that you have the perfect ribeye steak (and the perfect Valentine to match!), round out your meal with the perfect side to match. Whether you are looking for cheesy mashed potatoes or a spicy spin on corn on the cob, check out our Gather Wisconsin recipes that have you covered from main course until dessert!