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Reverse Searing Frozen Thick Steaks

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    Reverse Searing Frozen Thick Steaks

    When prime rib or strip steak roasts are on sale at our local grocery store, cutting the roast into steaks at home can reduce the cost to as much as 25% of the cost of an individual steak. That is hard to pass up.
    The retail roasts at our store usually make four 1 ½ to 2 inch steaks. My wife and I prepare two of the steaks the day of or after purchase. Usually, I vacuum-package the two extra steaks, put in the refrigerator, and prepare in the next few days.
    Clearly, steaks, particularly thick cut, are best not frozen. But, sometimes I need to freeze the steaks before their shelf life expires. There does not seem to be much information on line for how to reverse sear a frozen steak; Cook’s Illustrated has an article on cooking frozen steaks, but uses the sear then cook method.

    So, I was interested in a recommendation for reverse searing a frozen thick steak.

    And to Meathead himself -- I recently purchased your BBQ and grilling cookbook. THIS BOOK IS MARVELOUS. I prepare most of our evening meals and I enjoy doing so. Being from Texas, I am particularly passionate about the meat portion being just right. I like learning the scientific nuances of the Hows-and-Whys of the cooking, grilling, and barbecuing that I do. Your insight and scientific approach is a bull’s eye for me and the information is presented in a very readable and understandable way. More than any other meat cookbook, MEATHEAD has improved my knowledge and ability to prepare top-notch meats. Wonderful job – Thank You.
    And, I appreciate the work you and staff put into your website, also. Great accompaniment to the book.

    #2
    Welcome Scott White DVM

    Comment


      #3
      I have never done it. Having said that, it would seem that the reverse sear would be well suited for this. Probably would just take longer at the low temp. On the down side, you can't really dry brine a frozen steak, but I suppose you can brine it once you get a little thaw as it sits on the grill.

      Comment


      • texastweeter
        texastweeter commented
        Editing a comment
        dunk in warm water and add the salt just before you add it to the low and slow portion of the cook. season before the sear.

      #4
      I frequently buy whole boneless ribeyes when on sale. After either wet or dry aging for 30-45 days, I'll trim & cut what I want for a roast and the rest into nice thick steaks. What's not getting eaten soon gets salted (dry brine), vacuum packed and frozen. When ready to cook, I just thaw them (sometimes in warm water or the sous vide) before cooking so I'm no help in starting with a frozen steak. I would suppose that you could throw a frozen steak on the indirect side of a grill and thaw it on it's way up to pre-sear temp but I never have. I really think that the "downside" to freezing meat is vastly overrated. That, or my taste just isn't discriminating enough to appreciate much difference. Welcome to the "Pit"!

      Comment


        #5
        I guess you already considered this, but why not just take them out the freezer a few hours in advance?

        Either way, welcome to the pit!

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        Comment


          #6
          The reverse sear method really does not change. You can cook your steak from frozen, then reverse sear. I frequently cook frozen steaks, other meats using SV, then a good searing.

          Welcome aboard!

          Comment


            #7
            Howdy from Kansas Territory, Welcome to Th' Pit!
            Yer gonna do jus' fine, Scott!
            Frozen, schmozen....

            Comment


              #8
              I've taken brined steaks from the freezer and used the reverse sear. Works just fine. Might pick up a bit more smokiness, so don't overdo the wood chunks.

              Comment


                #9
                I agree that sous vide is perfect for this.

                Comment


                  #10
                  Brine before freezing. I like it.

                  Comment


                    #11
                    Welcome to The Pit.

                    Comment


                      #12
                      I wouldn't cook from frozen, unless you are cooking sous vide. Keep the steak in the vacuum sealed bag and put in a bowl of cold water. Even a thick steak should defrost in 20-30 minutes and then cook as desired.

                      Comment


                        #13
                        Thanks for the replies and suggestions.
                        Although I did not ask as directly as I should have, what I was mostly debating was when to brine a frozen steak that will be reverse seared. I like the idea of brining, then freezing the steak and will give that a try on the next batch.

                        Comment


                        • vandy
                          vandy commented
                          Editing a comment
                          I have done them that way and what I find is they pick up more of that smoky grill flavor that I like, I just threw them on the grill right out of the freezer and they turned out great. I have also done them like that with the Sous Vide then on to the grill but you have to be careful with the salt if you intend on doing them SV.

                        #14
                        Welcome from Indiana.

                        I like to pick up nice cuts that are on sale and then salt and freeze them. I usually do it as soon as I buy them so they have a couple days of shelf life left for when I pull them out a couple days before before I’m going to cook them and let them thaw in the fridge.... then proceed as normal with the reverse sear.

                        Comment


                          #15
                          Welcome from Winnipeg. I think most of the questions have been answered perfectly above so I can't add much more. This site is great for questions like that. May cause you to buy more toys like an SV machine.

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