For several cuts, grilling steak is among the most preferred methods. But it’s well known that grilling times for steak can vary significantly depending on the meat’s cut, thickness, and preference.
How long to grill a steak depends on the cut, but we’ll go through some of the more common cuts so you can learn how to grill them perfectly.
What steak is the best for grilling?
You can’t go wrong with any cut of steak when cooking one on the grill. However, achieving a perfectly cooked steak from a grill might be challenging if you’ve never cooked a steak or used a grill before.
It will take a different technique to grill ribeye steak than grill a much thicker steak, like a filet mignon, because every cut of steak is different in size, thickness, and texture.
Common steak grilling times
So, how long do you grill a steak? The thickness of the meat you’re cooking significantly depends on how long it takes to cook steak. Thin or thick pieces can cook well on the grill, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking times to get the ideal doneness, a matter of personal choice.
Use a meat thermometer for thick steak slices and a timer for thin as a solid general rule. A timer might be useful to help you get an accurate temperature reading from a steak that is ¾ of an inch thick or less.
However, a meat thermometer can give you a more accurate idea of your steak’s level of doneness to ensure it’s perfect.
Depending on thickness, you should grill your steak for 4 to 6 minutes on each side for medium-rare doneness.
Aim for 5 to 8 minutes on each side for medium cooks. Instead of letting it cook for a few more minutes, start with the lower grilled steak time and check with your finger to see if it might require a little more time.
If necessary, you can always cook it for a little bit longer, but you can never regain the softness that comes with overcooking.
A medium-rare steak will gently bounce back when you touch the middle of it, but it will still feel spongy. An ideal cook will be springy rather than squishy.
Using the finger and palm trick is a better choice. Your thumb should be in contact with the tip of your middle finger. Prick the fleshy area of your palm beneath your thumb with the opposite hand’s index finger. Your medium-rare steak should feel like this (a medium steak will feel similar to the fleshy part when you touch your ring finger to your thumb).
How long do you grill ribeye on the grill until it is medium rare or done?
Since rib eye steaks are normally between 1 ¼ and 1 ½ inch thick, they usually require longer grill time than a New York Strip.
For medium-rare doneness, you should cook the ribeye steaks to 130 degrees, which usually takes 5 minutes on each side. Grilled ribeye steaks should be cooked to 140 degrees for 7 to 10 minutes on each side for medium doneness.
How long should you grill sirloin to get it medium rare or medium?
While most sirloin steaks are around the same thickness as a ribeye, others may be somewhat thinner, at about 1 inch. Fo medium rare doneness or 5-6 minutes for medium steak doneness, a 1-inch sirloin typically needs 4-5 minutes on each side.
How long do you grill filet mignon on the grill until it is medium rare or done?
The average thickness of a filet mignon is between two and three inches, making it one of the thickest steaks cut possible.
You should allow 5 to 6 minutes on each side of the grill. It will probably take about 6-8 minutes on each side to cook a filet mignon to medium. To ensure the inside of your filets cooks to the proper temperature, you might also need to transfer your filets to indirect heat and close the grill cover for a few more minutes.
Steak grill charts
Filets mignon & boneless ribeyes
| Thickness | Rare 110° To 120° F | Medium Rare 120° To 130° F | Medium 130° To 140° F |
| 1.5″ | 3 min EACH SIDE | 3.5 min EACH SIDE | 4 min EACH SIDE |
| 1.75″ | 3.5 min EACH SIDE | 4 min EACH SIDE | 4.5 min EACH SIDE |
| 2″ | 4 min EACH SIDE | 4.5 min EACH SIDE | 5 min EACH SIDE |
Sirloin strip steaks, bone-in ribeye steaks & porterhouse steaks
| Thickness | Rare 110° To 120° F | Medium Rare 120° To 130° F | Medium 130° To 140° F |
| 1″ | 5 min First Side3 min Second Side | 4.5 min EACH SIDE | 6 min First Side4 min Second Side |
| 1.25″ | 5 min First Side4 min Second Side | 5.5 min EACH SIDE | 7 min First Side5 min Second Side |
| 1.5″ | 6 min First Side4 min Second Side | 6 min EACH SIDE | 7 min EACH SIDE |
| 1.75″ | 6 min First Side5 min Second Side | 6.5 min EACH SIDE | 8 min First Side7 min Second Side |
| 2″ | 6 min EACH SIDE | 7 min EACH SIDE | 8 min EACH SIDE |
Tips for grilling steak
Clean and season your grill
Before starting, ensure your grill is clean and seasoned with high-heat cooking oil (like canola oil). You don’t want too much extra oil because it might change your steak’s taste and cause flare-ups. To keep the grates clean and ready for your next grilling experience, brush them both before and after use.
Be patient with charcoal.
Be patient if you’re using charcoal. Your perseverance will be rewarded with a charcoal grill with delectable, smokey flavor if you allow the coals to burn to a nice, even heat.
Temper the meat
Before putting it on the grill, temper it. The steak will cook more quickly and evenly if you let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before grilling.
Don’t skimp on seasoning.
Always season the steak with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to bring out the meat’s natural flavor.
Leave the steak alone.
Leave the steak alone after it’s on the grill. You run the danger of drying it out if you poke it, and the meat won’t get a nice crust or grill marks if you move it about a lot.
And let it rest
Let the steak sit after removing it from the grill for around half the cooking time before slicing it. The juices redistribute at this point, resulting in a more tender result.
Now that you are familiar with the basics of grilling steak, let’s explore the best ways to grill some specific cuts of meat.
Conclusion
We hope this guide will help you learn how to grill a medium-rare or medium-well steak. Mastering cooking steak on the grill requires experience, just like learning any other culinary technique. However, you’ll master the art of grilling after you use your finger to feel for doneness and the right temperature!
