How To Cook Steak On An Induction Cooktop

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Induction cooktops have become a welcome replacement to the old one coiled hot plates of the past. I received a NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop as a gift a couple of years ago and was blown away by the performance.

One of my favorite foods to cook on it is steak. This article gives easy steps to teach you how to cook steak on an induction cooktop such as the NuWave Cooktop.

How To Use A NuWave Induction Cooktop

Are you able to use a microwave oven? If so, then you won’t have a problem using a NuWave Cooktop. It has a panel with clearly marked buttons for all functions.

The large LED display shows the temperature. It is incredibly easy to get started:

1. Press the “Start” button

2. The NuWave is preset to cook at 425 degrees F for 1 hour.

3. Choose your temperature by pressing one of the pre-set buttons such as (“Low”, “High”), then use the “+” or “-” buttons to select your temperature.

4. You can set the cooking time by pressing the “Time” button

Benefits of Using an Induction Cooktop To Cook Steak

Aside from being able to cook a great steak in a small space such as an RV, there are many benefits of using an induction cooktop to cook your steak.

Related: Best Detachable Handle Cookware Sets

Induction cooktops use electromagnetism to produce heat. The result is the major benefit of induction which is even cooking. Hot spots which can destroy a well-cooked steak are non-existent with induction cooking.

Other Benefits

NuWave PIC Gold 1500W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner, Gold

Quick heating – My gas stove takes at least 15 minutes to get hot enough to cook a steak. The NuWave Cooktop had my pan ready in less than 5 minutes!

Cooler kitchen temp – The last time you cooked steak on your gas or electric stove, you probably looked as if you had just finished a marathon because you were drenched in sweat. An induction cooktop generates a fraction of the heat of other cooktops.

What Temperature Do You Cook Steak On Induction?

You may be wondering what temperature your induction cooktop needs to be to cook your steak. If you normally cook on an electric or gas stove top, you probably simply set your burner to medium-high and decrease or increase the temp based on how much smoke is coming from your pan.

The best temperature to cook your steak on an induction cooktop is between 400-500 degrees F. I usually use the higher temp and my steaks come out beautifully.

Steak with veggies and knife

How To Cook Steak On An Induction Cooktop

Here are the steps you need to cook the perfect steak on a NuWave or any other induction cooktop.

1. Choose the right cookware

Induction cooktops require cookware that consists of magnetic materials. A good test of induction-ready cookware is to place a magnet to the bottom to see if it stays.

Suitable cookware materials are cast iron, enameled iron and steel and stainless steel with magnetic bases. The best cookware to use on induction cookware to cook steaks will have a heavy bottom and high heat retention.

Preseasoned Cast Iron Skillet 12 Inch with Removable Silicone Handle Grip and Pan Scraper, Cast Iron Fry Pan for Indoor and Outdoor Use, Ovenproof, Stovetop, Induction Safe Seasoned Skillet

Cast iron and tri-ply stainless steel pans are perfect for cooking steak on the NuWave Cooktop. The pans should not be any larger than 12 inches.

Related: Who Makes The Best Cast Iron Skillet

2. Preseason your steak

I like to preseason my steak and let it sit in the fridge to soak up the spices for a few hours. I do not use any types of liquid marinades but you could do that as well.

My preseason is pretty simple. A simple seasoning of salt, pepper, and garlic powder is all you will need for a flavorful steak.

The McCormick Grill Mates Steak Seasoning is a great blend that saves the time of gathering various seasonings.

3. Bring steak to room temperature

It is imperative to allow your steak to come down to room temperature before cooking. Have you ever thrown a cold steak in the pan and wondered why the outside was well-done and the inside was bloody raw? If so, this was a result of the heat not being able to penetrate entirely through a cold piece of meat.

4. Preheat your cookware on the induction cooktop

As your steak becomes closer to room temperature it is time to preheat your cookware. Do you remember the best temp for cooking your steak? Yep, it is 400-500 degrees F. I always use 500 degrees F.

Set your induction cooktop to 500 degrees F and place your cookware pan onto the cooktop. Your pan should take no more than 5 minutes to reach 500 degrees. Once ideal temp is reached, place enough oil in the pan to coat the bottom so your steak does not stick.

5. Place steak into the pan

It is extremely important that your steak is patted dry before placing it in the pan. If it is not dry then you will end up boiling your steak. Talk about gross and unflavored.

Quick Tip – I rub in a small sprinkle of cornstarch onto my steaks to absorb any excess moisture. This produces a fantastic char on your steak.

A normal medium-cooked ribeye steak will need approximately 3 minutes on each side.  A thicker cut (say over 3 cms) will need about 5 minutes.

Two steaks in a pan

For an extra flavorful and juicy steak throw a couple of pats of butter to the pan towards the end of cooking. Once the butter melts, use a spoon to ladle the butter all over the steak.

6. Remove and let rest

As tempted as you may be to dig in, you have to let the steak rest. You don’t want to slice in immediately and get rid of all the flavorful juices, do you? But don’t worry, you can dig in and start slicing up tender delight in 5 – 10 minutes.

Our Final Thoughts On How To Cook Steak On An Induction Cooktop

It is easy to cook a steak on an induction cooktop. All you need is the right kind of pan and season your steak with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Make sure that your steak is at room temperature before cooking it, and preheat your pan to 500 degrees F.

Cook the steak for 3-5 minutes per side, or until it reaches the desired level of doneness. Let the cooked steak rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing into it.

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