Today, we will discuss the best cooking temperature for steaks on pellet grills. We’ll also look at what affects the cooking times and how to make the perfect steaks on these modern advanced grills.
If you enjoy this informative and educational guide, check out the many others I have on my website. How Long To Bake Lasagna At 350 is one that people find especially useful.
What Is A Pellet Grill?
A Pellet grill is a surprisingly multi-functional and very underrated cooking appliance. These are new types of outdoor grills that can be used to smoke foods, grill them, bake dishes, and even braise meats.
So, how do they work? This grill functions similarly to an outdoor convection oven.
The ignited wood pellets that are used create smoke and heat. Then, the built-in system of fans helps evenly distribute this heat (and smoke) until it reaches a specific cooking temperature.
For a more in-depth explanation of this appliance, look at this pellet grill guide.
How Do You Use A Pellet Grill For Cooking Steaks?
First, you can place the wooden pellets inside a chamber called a pellet hopper.
The pellets are then moved from the pellet hopper to the fire pot via the “auger.” The fire pot is where the pellets are ignited. They will start creating heat and smoke.
And finally, the fans will help distribute the heat and smoke evenly.
Benefits Of Making Steaks On a Pellet Grill
There are many benefits of cooking your steaks on a pellet grill instead of a regular gas grill.
- This appliance allows you to use a wide variety of cooking methods. It provides the versatility that few cooking appliances do.
- You can set specific cooking temperatures. That will help prevent over-cooking or under-cooking cuts. It will also help you develop cooking techniques with precise times and temperatures.
- There is no risk of flare-ups. This happens when flames burst up when fat drippings or oil splatters on them. Because of how these pellet grills have been designed, there is no risk of this happening.
- That also means that your meat won’t ever get scorched or burnt. There won’t be any black, charred pieces if you don’t want them.
Deciding What The Best Temperature To Cook Steaks On Pellet Grill Is
So, now that you understand what pellet grills are and how they work, let’s look at how to make steaks on pellet grills.
The most important factor to consider is the best temperature to cook steaks on pellet grills. So, how do you decide?
Think about the texture you want.
For more caramelized crispy textures, a higher cooking temperature will work best. Searing your steaks before or after cooking will also help achieve this texture.
A lower temperature will help create a tender, juicy texture, but it won’t be able to create an equal amount of caramelization.
Higher temperatures also cook the steaks faster. This is ideal if you don’t have much time on your hands.
Consider how done you want the steak to be.
If you want a well-done steak, a lower cooking temperature (that takes longer) will be best. It creates a less tough steak as compared to a high-heat cooking technique.
High cooking temperatures are best for rare, medium-rare, and medium steaks. It can also make well-done steaks, but again, they usually come out very rough.
What Temp To Grill Steak On Pellet Grill? How Long To Cook Steaks On Pellet Grill?
This is a rough breakdown of the different temperatures you can cook steaks on and how long to do so. It’s a rough guide, and you should always carefully monitor the internal temperature of the steaks to determine when they are cooked to your liking.
500ºF (260ºC)
At 500 degrees, the steaks will take roughly 4 minutes to cook per side. This is for medium-rare steaks.
Rare steaks will take between 2-3 minutes per side to cook. Medium steaks will take about 4-5 minutes per side. And well-done steaks will take about 6-8 minutes per side.
450ºF (230ºC)
Rare steaks will take 3-4 minutes per side and medium-rare about 5 minutes. It will take slightly longer for medium steaks, about 6-8 minutes. And for a well-done steak, you can expect it to take up to 7-10 minutes.
350ºF (180ºC)
At this lower temperature, the meat will still take slightly longer to cook. Medium-rare steaks need to cook for 6-8 minutes per side.
Rare steaks only need about 5 minutes per side. Medium steaks can cook for 7-9 minutes per side. And well-done steaks can take about 8-10 minutes per side.
250ºF (120ºC)
The exact cooking time for medium-rare steaks in a pellet grill at 250 is up for debate.
Therefore, I would estimate that for medium-rare steaks, you will need to cook them for about 30-40 minutes.
For rare steaks, it’s likely more like 25-30 minutes. And well-done steaks are said to take up to an hour.
Factors That Affect The Exact Cooking Time
The biggest factor that affects the precise cooking time for steaks on a pellet grill is their size and the amount you are cooking.
The thicker the steaks, the longer they will take to reach the correct internal temperature.
The more steaks you add to the cooking chamber, the longer they all will take to cook.
The internal temperature for the different doneness are as follows:
Rare: 120-130ºF (49-55ºC)
Medium-rare: 130-135ºF (55-57ºC)
Medium: 135-145ºF (57-63ºC)
Well done: 145-165ºF (63-74ºC)
Another factor that will affect the cooking time is if you decide to sear the steaks (regardless of whether you sear them before or after cooking).
If you sear the steaks before cooking, you’ve already started the cooking process. This means the steaks will have less cooking time inside the pellet grill.
If you want to sear them after they have cooked, you need to slightly undercook them inside the pellet grill. That’s because you can overcook them afterward when searing them.
FAQs – What Temperature To Cook Steak On Pellet Grill?
How do you grill the perfect steaks on a pellet grill?
Firstly, you can season your steaks by covering them with a dry rub or marinating it beforehand. Preheat your grill to the desired temperature. Insert the internal probe thermometer into the steaks. Leave the steaks for cooking at the average temperature I’ve mentioned above. Check the temperature as you go.
Will a pellet grill work without pellets?
You shouldn’t use this grill without the pellets. That’s what it has been designed for and how it is made to operate. You should also ensure you have enough wood pellets to create enough heat and smoke.
Can you sear steaks on a pellet grill?
You definitely can. Just ensure that you are working with a very hot temperature. You can also transfer the steaks to the warmest area on the grill. Make sure you hear them sizzle.
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