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

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There is nothing like a juicy steak, so we will see how BBQ veterans tenderize New York strip steaks. It doesn’t matter what I’m grilling—it could be strip steak, ribeye, tomahawk, or patio steak.

The smell alone makes my mouth water, but you want to make sure the steaks are tender and juicy when it’s time to tuck them in.

But what happens when you don’t have the cash to splash on expensive cuts like a tomahawk or ribeye? You must learn to tenderize your steak, especially cuts like the NY strip. They are known to be tough if not prepared right!

I will look at the three popular methods of tenderizing: salt, marinades, and puncturing holes with a fork. We compared the methods and found that dry salt brining produced the most 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. It is also a healthier option because it has a lower fat content than other cuts, like the ribeye.

Testing Three Ways to Tenderize New York Strip

Here are the three ways we will test to determine the optimal way to tenderize NY strip steak. If you don’t have time to read the information below, I will give it to you straight up. I found that the dry salt brine helped produce the most tender steak.

I tested three methods to tenderize NY strip steak. If you’re short on time, here’s the verdict: dry salt brining gave the most tender results!

1. Salt Brine 🧂

Dry brining helps lock in moisture. Use kosher or sea salt for best results.
Steps:

• Pat the steak dry with paper towels.
• Generously salt both sides and let rest for 15–20 mins (don’t go over).
• Rinse off salt and pat dry again.
  Result: juicy, tender steak with great flavor!

2. Marinade 🍋

Marinades only tenderize if they include acid or fruit.
Try this mix:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• Balsamic vinegar
• Worcestershire sauce
• Salt & pepper
  Marinate steak in a ziplock bag for 8 hours in the fridge.

3. Fork Method 🍴

Use a fork to poke holes all over both sides of the steak. This breaks down some fibers, but it can also let juices escape during cooking, so results vary.

Cooking The NY Strip Steaks and Comparing

For this tenderizing comparison, I will be cooking with indirect heat and then searing the steak hot and fast with the grill. However, below, I have listed some other methods for cooking it to ensure you end up with a nice, juicy, tender 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. You can also cook the New York strip on a Pit Boss then reverse sear it.

We cooked the NY strips at 250°F with indirect heat. Once the strip steaks reached 100°F, I seared them for a few minutes on each side. Once we reached 135°F, which is medium rare, I removed them from the grill.

The Results: What Tenderizing Method Produces The Most Tender NY Strip?

After letting the steaks rest for 10 minutes, they were sliced and tested. The results are in: all three steaks tasted identical. The salt-brined steak, however, was found to be the most tender. So, this is the method I will use going forward and recommend to family and friends.

Don’t Forget to Render The Fat and Grill The Steak

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

After rendering, grill one side of the meat for 2-3 minutes and the other side 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 for 5-10 minutes or to your preferred doneness.

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

What to Serve With NY Strip?

Serve the juicy steak with some side dishes like;

Grilled or smoked vegetables – Try this smoked zucchini

Grilled Garlic Bread

Mashed Potato Casserole

Smoked Mac and Cheese

How To Store The Strip Steaks.

The strip steaks can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days if they are raw. Cooked strip steaks can be stored in an airtight bag for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Like a Spicy Steak?

Tender strip steaks can also be marinated with spicy harissa butter. If you’d like a spicier steak, modify the marinade recipes above by adding other ingredients, like a pepper spice rub.

 How do you tenderize your steak?

Smoke On!

Charlie

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