Sous Vide Steak Recipe

Name: Sous Vide Steak Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 62 min
Total time: 77 min
Ingredients: 1 steak ((at least 1" thick)); Kosher salt; Black pepper; 2 fresh thyme sprigs; 1 tablespoon neutral oil, (such as canola or vegetable oil); 1-3 tablespoons butter

There’s really nothing like taking a bite of a perfectly cooked steak. It’s tender, it’s juicy, it’s bursting with flavor. It’s a special taste and often for a special occasion. Sous vide is the technique that guarantees the perfection you strive for, every time.

The entire steak is uniformly cooked through. The outside has a crust on it and it easily slices through with a knife revealing that ideal medium-rare interior. The flavor is perfect and the texture melts in your mouth. It’s unmistakable. You have one of the best mouth-watering bites possible at that moment.

On a grill or stove, more often than not, your steak is going to come out a little over- or undercooked from what you were going for. And even if the temperature is nailed in the middle, there is likely that dreaded gray ring around the edge.

Sure, we all get it right some of the time, but it takes a lot of practice to get a perfect cook every single time. That is, unless you are cooking your steak with the sous vide method.

Table of Contents hide

1 What Does Sous Vide Cooking Mean?

2 Why Sous Vide Steak?

3 Choosing the Best Steaks for Sous Vide

4 Ingredients

5 Equipment

6 How to Sous Vide Steak - Step by Step

7 Sous Vide Steak Temperatures

8 How to Finish & Sear Your Sous Vide Steak

9 FAQs

10 Sous Vide Steak Recipe

What Does Sous Vide Cooking Mean?

Sous vide is a French term that means to cook “under vacuum.” It might sound super science-y, technical and complicated, but I promise it will just make sense when you try it, and you will see just how simple it is.

The food (steak in this case) is vacuum-sealed in a plastic bag, then that bag is submerged in a temperature-controlled water bath for a period of time that perfectly cooks it all the way through to the same temperature. Once it is cooked, you sear it in a pan to give it a flavorful exterior.

While the sous vide cooking technique has been around for quite a long time, it’s only recently becoming a method that is commonly used in home kitchens because of the accessibility of consumer sous vide machines.

Why Sous Vide Steak?

Cooking steak with the sous vide method will yield perfect results every time. Whether you prefer your steak rare, medium, well-done or anywhere in between, there is no guessing as to when your steak reaches the exact temperature you want it to.

All the guesswork is eliminated. Set the temp and the time and the rest of the work is done for you right in the water bath. No matter the size or thickness of the steak, it will come out to the temperature you specified. That means if you have a 2-pound T-bone and an 8-ounce filet mignon, they will both come out perfectly medium-rare at the same time. Pretty amazing, right?
No risk of overcooking. It is cooked to the exact temperature you specify through the entire steak.
Cook one or many steaks and the process and time is the same.
Perfect for entertaining because it's hands-off! Spend time entertaining your guests rather than hovering over the stove. The amazing thing about sous vide for steaks is they can be cooked to the perfect temperature ahead of time (like way before your guests even arrive), then quickly sear them off right before serving. This makes for stress-free entertaining while executing perfect food (and this is how restaurants do it).
It's great for meal prep! You can sous vide your steak up to a week ahead of time and then just sear it in a skillet just before you are ready to eat.
Make it a "Steak Sampler" Dinner Party! Go pick up a New York strip, a rib-eye and a filet mignon. Everyone can taste to see how the flavors and textures of each cut differ and pick their favorite.

Choosing the Best Steaks for Sous Vide

It is best to go with a larger, thicker steak if possible. If you are making steak for two, get one large steak instead of two smaller individual-size steaks.

The reason that thicker is better is that the steaks are first cooked in the water bath, then quickly seared to develop a flavorful crust on the outside. If the steak is really small and thin, it can overcook during the sear before it is fully browned.

Cut: Any cut will work. Rib-eye, New York and filet mignon are the most popular. T-bone, porterhouse and even a whole prime rib roast will work great as well.
Thickness: Go with a steak that is at least 1-inch thick, but thicker is even better.
Size: 12 ounces and larger (this will get sliced and served to multiple people).
Grade: Prime or Choice Grade.

Ingredients

Steak - See how to choose the best steak above.
Salt - I prefer Diamond Crystal kosher salt but use whatever you prefer. You can even use some smoked salt to add a slightly smoky flavor to the steak.
Pepper - Simple black pepper is great.
Aromatics such as a few thyme sprigs are totally optional but do add a nice flavor.

Equipment

Sous vide machine (immersion circulator)
A large container for the water bath. A large pot can work great, too.
Vacuum sealer (optional)
Vacuum seal bag (optional) or Ziplock freezer bag
Weighted magnets or bag clips for keeping the bag submerged.
Heavy skillet for searing the steak.
Tongs for placing the steak in the water bath and for turning in the skillet.

How to Sous Vide Steak - Step by Step

Now that you've got your equipment and ingredients ready, let's go through the simple steps to cook steak sous vide.

Step 1: Choose Your Desired Temperature

Preheat the water bath with your sous vide machine to the temperature you want your steak cooked. Use 130° F (54.4° C) for a medium-rare cooked steak. You can go less or more depending on your specific preference.

new york steak prep for sous vide vertical

Step 2: Season the Steak

Liberally season all sides with plenty of kosher salt and pepper. Place a few thyme springs on each side of the steak, if desired.

new york steak vacuum sealed for sous vide

Step 3: Vacuum Seal

Place the steak in a vacuum-seal bag and vacuum seal, removing all the air. *If you don't have a vacuum sealer, you can use a Ziplock freezer bag and use the water displacement method to remove the air and seal the bag.

To use the water displacement method using a Ziplock bag: Partially seal the bag and remove as much air as possible, then partially submerge the bag into the water (always keeping the opening above the water line) and let the pressure push the air out. Seal the bag just before reaching the water line.

steak in sous vide water bath horizontal

Step 4: Cook the Steak

Submerge the sealed bag in the water bath and cook for 1 to 3 hours. Be sure that the steak is completely below the surface to ensure even cooking. Any air pockets can cause it to float. Use a clip or magnets to hold it in place.

Step 5: Remove from the Water Bath

Remove the cooked steak from the water bath and place on the counter still vacuum sealed for 10 to 15 minutes to cool slightly before searing. You can also refrigerate the steak in the bag and keep it for up to 1 week.

Step 6: Remove the Steak from the Bag

Pat the steak as dry as possible with paper towels, which helps get a better sear.

Step 7: Finish with a Quick Sear

Heat a heavy cast-iron skillet over high until it's just starting to smoke, then drizzle in enough neutral oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the steak and sear for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side until golden brown. Don't sear the steak for longer or it will start to raise the internal temperature.

Tip: Baste the steak with butter by adding a few tablespoons of butter, smashed garlic cloves and thyme sprigs to the pan after the steak is in the pan. Use a large spoon to baste the browning butter on the steak. This will add extra flavor and help develop a golden crust.

Step 8: Slice and Serve

Using a sharp knife, slice the steak against the grain and serve immediately. There's no need to rest a steak that has been cooked sous vide.

Sous Vide Steak Temperatures

Since we’re cooking the steak sous vide, there’s no need for a temperature range to shoot for, like there is when cooking steak with traditional methods. With sous vide, it's an exact science, so you can just set it to the exact temp you want and forget it (until it’s done). 🙂

The perfect medium-rare temperature for steak is 130° F or 54.4° C. You can go up or down a degree or two depending on your preference. It's great to experiment with different temperatures to find out what you like, and it might vary depending on the cut of steak you are cooking.

Cooking Temperatures and Times for Sous Vide Steak

Doneness	Water Temp	Time
Rare	125° F / 51.6° C	1 to 3 hours
*Medium Rare*	*130° F / 54.4° C*	*1 to 3 hours*
Medium	140° F / 60° C	1 to 3 hours
Well Done	160° F / 71° C	1 to 3 hours

Read the full steak temperature guide.

How to Finish & Sear Your Sous Vide Steak

Cooking the steak sous vide gets you 95% of the way, but there's still the all-important sear to develop a flavorful crust on the outside. The searing step isn’t one you want to overlook. You have multiple options from searing in a skillet to using a torch.

Not only is it the most exciting step, but it happens very quickly and the steaks can easily overcook if left in the pan too long. Make sure the surface of the steak is as dry as possible so they sear instead of steam.

Since we're searing at a super-high temperature and there is some fat involved, which will produce smoke, there is an advantage to taking your searing outside.

The Skillet Method: This is generally the go-to method because it is the most convenient and provides great results. Just heat a heavy bottom skillet (such as cast iron or carbon steel) over high heat, add some neutral oil and sear for about 1 minute per side.

On the Grill: If your grill is already going, searing your steak there is a no-brainer. You want it as hot as possible to avoid the steak from taking too long to sear. I don't really find it worth lighting the grill just to sear a sous vide steak.

Charcoal Chimney Starter: Filling a chimney starter halfway with charcoal and getting the coals super hot with the grill grate right on top is a super hot way to get a quick sear, with minimal charcoal usage.

With a Torch: There are numerous high-intensity gas torches out there for searing foods. I have a Bernzomatic TS8000 and use MAP-Pro fuel, but there are sous vide specific devices you can find. You will basically run the flame along the steak until it forms a seared crust. The results can be delicious, but it can take a little longer than a pan sear.

In the Smoker: You can actually smoke your steak after it is cooked sous vide. Fully chill it down in an ice bath, then warm it up in your smoker at the lowest temperature possible (200° F or lower) until the internal temperature of the steak reaches 115° F. After the smoke flavor is added, you can sear it on the grill or in a pan.

FAQs

How long to sous vide steak?

A 1-inch-thick steak should be cooked sous vide for a minimum of 1 hour and up to 3 hours. That’s right! You have that big window of time in which you can do other things and your steak will come out perfect whenever you remove it from the water bath within that window of time.

Can you sous vide frozen steak?

Yes! You absolutely can sous vide a frozen steak. In fact, it's great to prep your steaks, vacuum seal and store them the freezer until you want to eat them. No need to defrost them. Just add 1 hour to the cooking time for them to fully defrost.

How do you cook multiple steaks at different temperatures?

It's super easy to cook steaks at different temperatures using sous vide. Set for the higher temp doneness and cook for at least 1 hour. Then lower the temperature of the water bath (you can add some ice to speed it up) and add your second steak and cook for another 1 to 2 hours. That makes it easy to make both medium and medium-rare steaks with the same water bath.

More Sous Vide Recipes to Try