Skillet Steaks with Gorgonzola Herbed Butter Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you pan fry steak in butter or oil? ›

Go for oil, it has a higher smoke point. You need a hot skillet to properly sear a steak, hot enough that a pat of butter will begin to burn before it melts completely. You don't want to sear your steak in burnt butter. So reach for some oil when searing steaks.

How Long Will This Butter Last. This gorgonzola butter should keep in your fridge for up to a week in an airtight container. Alternatively, you can freeze it for up to 3 months or so, but you'll want to wrap it tightly to prevent freezer burn.

I like to use a combination of oil and butter for cooking the steak. Make sure you use a high-smoke point oil. I like to use Avocado Oil, Grapeseed Oil, or Olive Oil. Extra virgin olive oil does not have that high of a smoke point so I do not suggest using it.

Again, this varies depending on preference. Choices like coconut oil and avocado oil do tend to have a distinctive flavor that could affect the final taste of your meat, but they are each a great choice for high heat cooking. Olive oil and canola oil are more neutral flavors and tend to be more commonly used.

There are many spices available for seasoning a steak, with salt and pepper topping the list. However, other spices, like thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and minced onion, are also good options to enhance your steak's flavor. Or, use a one-and-done approach with Chicago Steak Seasoning.

Blue cheese crumbles – I prefer the milder taste of Gorgonzola, but any variety of blue cheese can be used. Fresh herbs – parsley, rosemary leaves, thyme, sage, and oregano.

You'll notice mold growing on gorgonzola that has gone bad. Usually, it's fuzzy and a different color from the blue veins. On top of that, the gorgonzola will have a very strong foul smell (even more intense than usual) that will make you wince.

Seriously… Amazing!! You get the punch from the roasted garlic, the tang from the Italian parsley, the creamy texture of the butter, and the Gorgonzola cheese rounds out the flavors and brings them all together.

Best Oil for Steak

When cooking steak in cast iron skillets, you want to use oils with a high smoke point like peanut, canola, grapeseed, and avocado oil. These oils all have smoke points over 400 degrees Fahrenheit that can withstand the high heat needed to cook steak.

What is the best oil to sear steak in a cast iron skillet? ›

Oil. We like to use canola oil because of its high smoke point. If you don't have it on hand, we recommend trying avocado oil, vegetable oil, or a light olive oil. For more info on choosing the right oil, check out our article, “Oils for Cast Iron Cooking and Seasoning.”

Oil the Steak

Choose an oil with a high smoke point, as oil breaks down at high temperatures. Oils like avocado oil can take a much higher temperature than most. It is very important that both sides of the steak are well coated with oil, but there is no need to worry about the edges.

Once your pan is pre-heated, add a little oil or fat. Then simply add your food! (Note: if you want to use butter, start with oil, and then add butter right before you add your food.)

Is it better to pan fry steak in butter or oil? A well marbled steak actually has enough fat in it that you don't need to put any extra oil or butter in the pan. For leaner cuts, use a fat with a high smoke point such as peanut or grapeseed oil, or clarified butter, depending on your taste preferences.

What all this means is that the best cooking medium for a steak is actually plain old oil. And make sure to use plenty of it so that your steak cooks nice and evenly. I like to use at least a quarter cup in a 12-inch skillet. Adding butter to the pan a few minutes before it's done cooking is a fine idea.

Instead, start cooking your steak in the bare pan until it's about 20-30 degrees from your desired doneness, THEN add the butter. It will sizzle right away and you'll create the ideal basting situation.

If you're aiming for a seared crust, a tender and juicy inside and rich flavor in each bite, cooking steak with butter on the stove top might be your best bet. There is no one best way to cook steak. Many different cuts, seasonings and cooking methods can result in a delicious piece of meat.