How to Sous Vide a Perfect Steak
- by Omaha Steaks
- Last updated Nov 21, 2023
Cook a perfect steak indoors with sous vide cooking method. Sous vide is used in many high-end restaurants to ensure every steak served is juicy, tender, and perfectly cooked. Cook a sous vide steak at home for the same restaurant results in just five simple steps.
What is Sous Vide?
Sous vide is a French phrase, literally meaning “under vacuum”. This cooking technique utilizes a temperature-controlled water bath to cook the food slowly and evenly. This process ensures that the inside of the steak is cooked to your exact doneness to deliver restaurant-quality results every time.
What You Will Need for Sous Vide:
- Steak
- Seasoning
- Immersion cooker
- Large container
- Sealable bag (optional)
- Clips
- Raised pan (optional)
- Foil
- Knife
- Tongs
- Skillet
How to Sous Vide a Steak
1. Prep and Season the Steak
Thaw steaks completely using the quick thaw method or defrost overnight in the refrigerator. Once defrosted, pat steaks dry with a paper towel and season both side with course sea salt and pepper or Omaha Steaks seasoning. Place the steak in a sealable bag. For even cooking, do not place more than two steaks in a single bag. Add butter, garlic cloves and your choice of fresh herbs, if desired.
Chef Tip: Our vacuum-sealed packaging is SAFE for sous vide. Feel free to place your frozen or defrosted steaks directly into the immersion cooker in the original packaging for quick and easy steak cooking. Season your steak right before searing.
2. Prep the Immersion Cooker
Fill a large pot with warm or hot water and attach the immersion cooker. Place opened bag in water and slowly immerse. The surrounding water will displace air and create a vacuum within the bag. Seal the bag before full immersion and clip it to the container edge. If cooking in Omaha Steaks vacuum-sealed packaging, make sure the steak is fully submerged in the water.
3. Sous Vide the Steak for 1-3 Hours
Set the immersion cooker temperature 5-10 degrees below your desired doneness and sous vide for a minimum of one hour and up to 3 hours depending on the size and quantity of the steaks. Follow our sous vide cooking chart to achieve your ideal steak doneness. If you are cooking two small steaks one hour in the sous vide is sufficient. For more than two steaks or larger cuts, sous vide for at least two hours. For our massive King Cut steaks, cook with the immersion circulator for three hours.
We recommend 125°F for a perfect medium-rare steak for the optimal eating experience. Check out our steak doneness and temperature guide to see how doneness affects texture and taste of your steak. If you prefer a different doneness, here is a guideline for temperature settings on your immersion circulator. You will still cook your steak for one hour at your desired setting.
- Rare: 120-128°F
- Medium-rare: 129-134°F
- Medium: 135-144°F
- Medium-well: 145-155°F
4. Sear the Steak in a Hot Skillet for a Great Crust
Once finished cooking in the circulator, remove the steaks from the bag and pat dry to remove any excess moisture. If you cooked in the original film, season your steak with coarse sea salt and black pepper or Omaha Steaks Seasoning before searing.
Heat a skillet on high, add a high smoke point oil, like grapeseed, canola, ghee, duck fat or pork fat, and sear both sides until a nice crust develops. If you are cooking a thick steak, you can also sear the edges of the steak for an incredible steak experience. Make sure to check the temperature with a meat thermometer for the perfect internal doneness.
5. Rest Steak 5-10 Minutes
Resist the urge to slice into the steak immediately. Resting the steak just 5-10 minutes under tented foil allows the juices to redistribute. This ensures every bite of steak is juicy and tender. Pair with your favorite steakhouse side dish and a decadent dessert for an incredible restaurant-quality steak dinner at home.
More ways to cook a steak indoors:
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