Do you own a gas grill? If yes, do you know how to grill scrumptious steaks on a gas grill? Before you start cooking juicy steaks on a gas grill, let’s take a look at the differences between a gas grill and charcoal grill.
- Gas Grill– Easier to use due to a steady source of heat and user-friendly temperature controls.
- Charcoal Grill– Has higher temperatures but the temperatures are less controlled with the possibility of a flare up.
The type of barbecue grill that you select depends on how you plan to use it, your past grilling experience, and your flavor preferences. In comparison to a gas grill, a charcoal grill is more difficult to use. However, the benefit of using a charcoal grill for cooking steaks is that they give you a richer and smokier taste than a gas grill.
Learn How to Grill Steaks on a Gas Grill
On the other hand, a gas grill generates more steam inside the grill, which helps keep the steak moister. However, a gas grill prevents the skin of fish and chicken from becoming crispy when cooked on a gas grill. If you want to use a gas grill for mainly cooking steaks, you should invest in a gas grill.
Regardless of the type of barbecue grill you use for cooking steaks, you need to clean your grill after each use to ensure that it lasts you several years. Remove charred food particles from the gas grill using a grill brush. If you will be using a gas grill to cook your steaks, let us tell you about the four different positions you need to master when grilling steaks on a gas grill.
The 4 Positions for Grilling Steaks on a Gas Grill
If you are grilling your steaks on a gas grill, let the grill become as hot as possible. When your gas grill reaches its peak temperature, place your steaks on it.
Do you want to prepare a rare, medium rare, or medium steak? If you do, let the temperature go as high as it can. For a medium-well and well-done steak, heat your gas grill to its highest temperature and then lower it a little.
If you do not lower the temperature, it can burn the surface of the steak, drying out before the middle hits the higher temperature. You can make the perfectly cooked juicy steaks on a gas grill by understanding the four different grilling positions.
Cooking steaks demand your full attention on a gas grill. Make sure to close the gas grill, so it can hold as much heat as possible. You need to inspect the steaks before placing them on the barbecue grill. Decide which side of the steak you want to label as the “top.” You can then grill the steaks in four different positions and change their position with time. Here are the four positions:
1. First Position
- Medium Rare Steaks
- 1-inch thick steaks– 1 min per position
- Between 1 and 2-inch steaks – 1 1/2 mins per position
- Less than 3/4-inch steaks – 45 secs per position
- Medium-Well or Well-Done Steaks
*Note: grill at high heat and turn down the heat to medium-high after you had the steak
- 1-inch think steaks – 2 mins per position
- Between 1 and 2-inch steaks – 3 mins per position
- Less than 3/4-inch steaks – 1 min per position
If you want optimal results, you need to familiarize yourself with your gas grill. For instance, there are some gas grills that can reach temperatures over 700 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas others cannot even reach 500 degrees Fahrenheit. For gas grills running at low temperatures, you will need to increase the timings to change the position of the steaks.
You need to open your gas grill. Place the steaks on the grate that is farthest from you. This means the top of the steak is to the grill’s back or is at the 12 o’ position. You need to close the lid of the gas grill and count the time for grilling as mentioned above.
2. Second Position
For a medium rare, 1-inch steak, you need to rotate it after one minute. Do not turn the steak over but rotate it 45 degrees. You should change the position to the 1:30 position from the 12 o’ clock position. In doing so, the steak will get a diamond design of grill marks, thus giving it a professional appearance. Turn the steaks over quickly, close the lid, and begin the timer.
3. Third Position
By the third position, you are halfway through the grilling time. Remove the lid of the gas grill to inspect the uncooked side of the steak. It should look gray from the top. The gas grill’s heat cooks the steak around the surface. If the steak looks raw from the top, place the lid back on but do not flip it. Instead, let the steaks cook for an additional minute.
If the steak is gray, you need to flip it, so that the uncooked side is at the bottom and the cooked side is at the top. You need to return the top of the steak to the 12 o’ clock position, close the lid, and restart the timer.
4. Fourth Position
You will now turn the steak one final time but before that, you need to check the steak for doneness. Look at the sides of the steak. It should not have any red around the side of the steaks and should have deep brown color at the top.
You need to rotate the steak to 45 degrees, not flip it. Next, feel the density of the steak. The density of a medium rare steak should be firm. Put the lid of the gas grill back on and continue to grill your steaks. Lastly, lower the heat of the gas grill and if required, use a thermometer to check the temperatures of the steaks. The internal temperatures for various levels of doneness are:
- Rare Steaks– 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 130 degrees Fahrenheit
- Medium Rare Steaks– 130 degrees Fahrenheit to 135 degrees Fahrenheit
- Medium Steaks– 140 degrees Fahrenheit to 150 degrees Fahrenheit
- Medium-Well Steaks– 155 degrees Fahrenheit to 165 degrees Fahrenheit
- Well-Done Steaks– 170 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
If you need to cook your steak for a few more minutes, do not pick it or rotate its position but leave it in that position and continue to grill your steak on medium heat until it is done.
Rest the Steaks
Remove the steak from the gas grill and place it on a plate. You need to leave the steak at room temperature or warm but never cold. Resting your steak is one of the most crucial steps of grilling. You need to let the steak rest for at least 5 minutes before you serve it to your guests. When you allow the steaks to rest, you are giving time for the juice and heat to redistribute.
Once you have eaten the steak, you need to record your findings. Some of the things you should keep track of after you have eaten the steak include:
- The thickness of the steak
- Cut of the steak
- The grilling temperature of your gas grill
- The time you spend grilling the steak
If you find out that your steak is undercooked towards the end and requires more time, increase the temperature of your gas grill when cooking the steak by four times. If you find that you have overcooked the steak, you need to decrease the temperature by four times.
If you want to become good at grilling steaks on a gas grill, you need to practice and observe. Note down your mistakes to prevent yourself from making them again. There are other common mistakes that you can make while grilling your steaks.
5 Common Mistakes You Should Not Make While Grilling Steaks
Here is a list of common mistakes that people, especially people grilling steaks or meat for the first time tend to make:
1. Salting Steaks at the Wrong Time
Salt your meat at least one hour before you are to grill it or right before you put it on the gas grill.
2. Not Prepping the Steaks Beforehand
Remove the steaks from the fridge and let them thaw at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before you grill them.
3. Not Preparing Your Gas Grill Correctly
Create several zones for direct and indirect heating. Gas grills take around 10 to 15 minutes to heat. Once the gas grill has reached the required temperature, place the steaks on the rack after a few minutes to ensure the rack is hot enough to keep the meat from sticking while grilling.
4. Putting Sauce on the Steaks at the Wrong Time
Apply sauces and glazes on your meat during the last few minutes of grilling. Also, marinate your steaks before you grill the meat.
5. Slicing the Steaks Too Early
If you slice the steaks too early, you will cause the meat to become dry. Each time you slice it, the steak will lose its juice. Never ever puncture steaks while grilling but use a thermometer to check its temperatures.
Our Final Thoughts
Next time, you grill steaks on a gas grill, you can do it with confidence, knowing that your steak will be cooked to perfection.
