How to Tenderize New York Strip Steaks (3 Super Simple Methods)

There is nothing like a juicy tender steak!

It doesn’t make what I’m grilling!

It could be strip steak, ribeye, tomahawk, or patio steak!

The smell alone gets my mouth watering!

But what happens when you don’t have the cash to splash on the pricy cuts?

You need to learn to tenderize your steak!

Especially cuts like the NY strip.

They are known to be tough if not prepared right!

So follow my steps below, so you can chow down on a deliciously tender steak!

What is Strip Steak?

The New York strip steak is cut from the short loin of the cow.

It is also called the Top Loin Steak, Country Club Steak, or the Kansas City Steak.

The New York strip steak has less marbling than other cuts of beef and needs to be tenderized before it’s cooked.

What Makes The New York Strip Steaks Better Than Other Cuts Of Meat?

The New York strip steaks are a healthier option because they have a lower fat content than other cuts like the ribeye.

How To Store The Strip Steaks.

If the strip steaks are raw, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

While cooked strip steaks can be stored in an airtight bag for up to 5 days and from in the freezer for up to 3 months.

3 Ways to Tenderize Your Strip Steak

Here are two ways super easy ways to tenderize your steak.

1. How To Tenderize New York Strip Steak With Salt.

Dry brining the steak will help tenderize it because it helps the meat preserve moisture during cooking.

You can use different types of salt for tenderizing the New York strip steak, preferably kosher salt or sea salt.

Follow these simple steps to tenderize steak with salt.

Step 1.

About 30 minutes before cooking time, pat and dry a naked piece of meat with paper towels and season both sides with a lot of salt.

Step 2.

Let the steak rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. Then take out the tender steak at that exact time and rinse it with clean water.

Quick tip.

You’ll know the steak is ready for cooking once you see the water rise to the surface of the steak and it will have a deeper red color. 

You can also use a wet brine for tenderizing your meat.

Simply soak the steak in a saltwater mixture for a particular period of time, This makes the meat easier to chew 

2. Using A Marinade To Tenderize

You don’t need to have a Ph.D in barbecuing to make an easy, mouth-watering steak marinade.

The marinade you make will not tenderize the strip steaks unless it has an acidic or fruit component in it.

Follow these simple steps to tenderize steak with marinade:

Step 1.

In a bowl add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

Then add some chopped fresh garlic and onions, and a dash of dalmatian rub (salt and pepper) to the same bowl and mix the marinade ingredients all together.

Step 2.

Pour the mixture on the steak in an air-tight ziplock bag and let the steak marinate in the refrigerator for 8 hours.

Marinading the steak will definitely help to tenderize the steak and give it an enhanced flavor.

3. Using a Mallet to Tenderize Your Steak

No need to provide any steps here.

Just cover your steak in plastic wrap, then grab your mallet and lightly pound the steak.

You go over it 2-3 times.

Cooking Your Strip Steak

The best cooking methods for the New York strip steak are is smoking it, pan-frying in a cast-iron skillet or grill your NY strip hot ‘n’ fast or in the oven

Follow this marinade recipe to tenderize the steaks for grilling.

It only takes 10-15 minutes of cooking time and will give a nice juicy tender steak.

Step 1. Trim Your Steak and Tenderize

Pat the steaks dry and trim off any excess fat content on the strip steak.

Then use the spiky side of a meat hammer to pound the steak cuts. Using a meat hammer makes the pound of meat tender instantly.

Step 2. Season Your Steak

In a bowl, add a dash of simple seasonings consisting of table salt, black pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, ground pepper, and Italian seasonings.

Then add 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and sour cream in the same bowl.

Save some of the marinades for grilling to get those valuable juices in the steak.

Step 3. Marinade Steak

Pour the marinade on the raw meats in an airtight ziplock bag.

Let the tender cuts marinate overnight in the refrigerator. 

Step 4. Bring Steak to Room Temperature

Take out the marinated meat and let them rest for 10 -15 minutes to get the meat to room temperature.

Step 5. Render The Fat and Grill The Steak

Then place the of meat on the hot grill, you want to cook the steak on its narrow side. You want to render the fat so there is is good, flavorful fat on the grill or in the pan for the rest of the cooking.

After rendering grill one side of the meat for 2-3 minutes, and grill the other side of the meat for 2-3 more minutes. The browning will also help the steak look appetizing when it is served.

Alongside grilling the meat, grill some onions, carrots, or any vegetables of your choice, do this for 5-10 minutes, or to preferred doneness.

If you have a Traeger you can also try smoking your NY strip then searing the it.

What to Serve With NY Strip?

Serve the juicy steak with some side dishs like;

Grilled or smoked vegetables – Try this smoked zucchini

Cucumber and tomato salad

Mac and Cheese

Like a Spicy Steak?

You can also get tender strip steaks marinading with spicy harissa butter.

You can also modify the above marinade recipes by adding other ingredients like a pepper spice rub if you’d enjoy a more spicy steak.

 How do you tenderize your steak?

Smoke On!

Charlie

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