Rouses Markets Brings Steakhouse Quality to Your Backyard Grill
It’s steak season and the time has come to fire up your grill.
For those seeking the finest quality meat, Rouses Markets carries Chairman’s Reserve 100% USDA Angus Choice Beef. Sourced from independent farmers and ranchers, Chairman’s Reserve 100% USDA Angus Choice Beef meets strict standards to ensure you’re getting the very best. Beautifully marbled. Juicy. Delicious. It’s like bringing the steakhouse home.
At Rouses Markets, all steaks are hand-cut in-store, a commitment to quality that goes back to 1960 and the Rouse family’s very first grocery store. “Our butchers still cut, trim and package all of our steaks and roasts in-store,” notes CEO Donny Rouse. “Managing each detail within our own stores, we guarantee that you receive the perfect cut every time.”
You can even choose how thick you want your Chairman’s Reserve 100% USDA Angus Choice Beef steak to be. While it depends on the cut, Rouses Markets butchers say thick is almost always better than thin. With a filet, especially, you want at least 1-and-a-half inches, if not a full 2-inches. For a ribeye or strip, it should be somewhere between 1 to 1-1/2 inches, so it stands up to the heat, and you can be very precise when it comes to doneness. There are some cuts that are naturally thinner. A thinner steak — less than one inch— is easy to overcook. The trick is to keep the cooking time to a minimum so the heat doesn’t have the time to penetrate much further than the surface.
If you’re looking for a true steakhouse experience, most Rouses Markets have humidity- and temperature-controlled dry-aged beef lockers, where they dry-age Chairman’s Reserve 100% USDA Angus Choice Beef for at least 25 days. The dry-aging process draws moisture out of the meat, giving it a richer, beefier flavor. This is also the reason why dry-aged steaks cook faster than fresh. Because enzymes break down most of the collagen during the aging process, a dry-aged steak isn’t as chewy as fresh. It’s so tender, in fact, that you may not even need a knife.
Enthusiasts often debate between using charcoal, stove top or a grill. Charcoal will add a rich, smoky flavor that arises from the combustion of the charcoal. On the stove top, cast iron pans provide even heating and excellent heat retention, resulting in a golden-brown crust. Alternatively, grills boast unmatched cooking accuracy and even heating, offering another avenue for achieving steak perfection, and you get those beautiful grill marks on the meat. Plus Spring is a great time of you to be outdoors.
Regardless of your preferred cooking method, it’s crucial to let your steak sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before cooking. This ensures even cooking, as a cold steak may cook unevenly. For dry-aged steak, allow it to come to room temperature for 30–60 minutes before grilling or pan-searing.
Seasoning your steak before cooking is a must. A straightforward yet impactful approach involves generously applying olive oil and seasoning with kosher salt and black pepper on both sides. Salt plays a pivotal role in cooking, contributing not only to flavor but making your steak juicier and even more tender. And the use of high-quality ingredients, such as Rouses Markets’ authentic Italian olive oil and Butcher Blend Coarse Ground Black Pepper, enhances the natural flavors of the beef.
Cook times and temperatures vary with cut, size and method preparation, as well as your preferred degree of doneness. Use an instant-thermometer to check steaks while they cook. Insert the probe sideways towards the thickest part, not touching bone or fat. Remove steaks from heat when thermometer registers 5°F lower than desired doneness. Rest your steaks because temperature will continue to rise. This also lets the juices go back into the steak, which makes it even more flavorful.
Mastering the art of cooking the perfect steak requires attention to detail and the use of quality ingredients. Whether you prefer your steak extra-rare or well-done, using Chairman’s Reserve USDA Angus Choice Beef and following these tips will ensure a memorable dining experience for all steak lovers.