The Secret to Perfectly Pan-Seared Steak—Without the Smoke and Splatter

These steaks get their deliciously browned crust through the power of the Maillard reaction. Chantal Lambeth

Pan searing is a great way to create a tasty crust on the outside of meat. The Maillard reaction begins on the surface of the meat, as it dries out in the heat of the pan. The proteins begin to break down into amino acids and interact with the heat and sugars to create new flavor compounds.

The meat cooks from the outside in, so a layer of dark brown crust forms on the outside, while the inside stays pink. In this recipe, we start the steaks in a cold pan and flip them over every 2 minutes. This means that the meat’s temperature rises gradually, allowing more time for nice browning to build up on the outside without overcooking the inside (this slow start also keeps the steaks from smoking and splattering on the stove).

Pan-Seared Strip Steaks

Serves 4

• 2 (12-ounce) boneless strip steaks, about 1 1/2 inches thick
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Place the steaks on a large plate. Use paper towels to pat both sides of the steak dry. Sprinkle steaks evenly with half of the pepper. Flip them over and sprinkle evenly with the remaining pepper.