What鈥檚 the best way to grill a steak? There鈥檚 no one answer, but to me, there鈥檚 always been a wrong one. I鈥檝e long considered grilling with gas to be heresy, but it occurred to me that I鈥檇 never actually done a back-to-back taste test between gas and charcoal. Earlier this week, with very excited dogs, I fired up my grills and got down to work.

What’s the difference? Temperature, smoke, and convenience. While natural lump charcoal is able to get much hotter than natural gas or propane, and produces delicious wood smoke, it also takes time to light and bring up to temperature, is messy to use, and can be challenging for beginners to precisely control. In comparison, on a gas grill you simply turn dials and push a button to ignite the flame.

The Experiment: How to Grill a Steak

To control for variables as much as possible, I bought four identical choice-grade New York strip steaks. Not the expensive ribeyes I normally cook, they were maybe half-an-inch thick, and not terribly well marbled. Then, I set out to conduct two tests. First, a cook using the most basic methods possible. I wanted to eliminate any flavor difference created by ultra-hot sears, and just experience the difference in flavor, if any, between fuels. Then, I wanted to take advantage of charcoal’s high temperatures to see if the end result really is superior.

Pulling two steaks out of the butcher paper, I liberally coated each in kosher salt, then set them aside to come up to room temperature. According to Bon App茅tit, before cooking results in a more even temperature听and juicier results.

Grilling Steak: Gas Versus Charcoal

I fired up both burners on my patio鈥檚 built-in Viking grill (it came with the house), and let it heat up on full blast for 15 minutes. 550 degrees was the highest achievable temperature, so I inserted my Meater+ wireless thermometer in the steak, and threw it on the grill, being careful to leave the hood open. The wired probe on my Dot thermometer was throwing error codes and needs to be replaced, and the hottest ambient temperature the Meater+ can withstand is 500 degrees. Leaving the hood open may have allowed some heat to escape, but it also allowed me to monitor the steak鈥檚 internal temperature precisely.

When the steak reached 110-degrees internal, I flipped it over, then pulled it off at 125, setting it aside to rest while I heated up my Big Green Egg (BGE). To make things fair, I also set it to 550 degrees, and left the lid open while I followed the same method.

And the Winner Is…

I actually think I overcooked the BGE鈥檚 steak slightly. While resting, the gas steak reached a high temperature of 132. The BGE鈥檚 reached 136. And you can see that in the side-by-side shots, where the gas steak looks a little more evenly pink throughout.

The difference was stark upon tasting. While an unpleasantly sour taste pervaded every bite of the steak grilled on the Viking, the one grilled on natural lump charcoal just tasted like salt, fat, and heat. I鈥檇 have needed dollops of sauce to finish the gas steak, but could have eaten the charcoal one on its own with a reasonable level of enjoyment.

While that natural gas or propane grills burn their fuels without odor, I鈥檝e never found the taste they produce in steaks palatable. I don鈥檛 know if that鈥檚 simply because I prefer the taste of wood-smoke in steak to steak without the smoke, but I do know I can taste a difference.

With the aid of a leaf blower, I鈥檓 able to take my BGE above 1,500 degrees (this is also very dangerous and is best left to experienced grillers). Of course, that鈥檚 only with natural lump charcoal, which contains nothing but carbonized wood, rather than the compacted sawdust briquettes that are filled with chemical additives. You don鈥檛 necessarily need a multi-hundred-dollar Egg to achieve a perfect steak; just burning natural lump in a standard kettle grill will elevate your flavors, while also facilitating higher temperatures.

Would results differ if I used a more elaborate method, and is it possible to hide the flavor of gas? My go-to grilling method for steak听is to do the hottest-possible sear on the front end, rest the steaks for at least 20 minutes, then put them back on at a low temperature to cook through. At home, I use that Big Green Egg for the sear, then rely on the more consistent temperatures of a pellet grill for the slow cook through. But that method often works just as well on lesser equipment.

Don’t Have a Charcoal Grill? Fear Not.

Because butter withstands higher temperatures than olive oil, and also because I was hoping its sweet flavor could mask the sour aftertaste created on the gas grill, I first salted then seared one of the steaks on my 24,000 BTU Viking range burner, using a Staub enameled cast iron pan. With that pre-heated as hot as possible, I melted some butter, then cooked the steak for a minute on each side, before moving it to a cool cutting board to rest.

To sear on the Big Green Egg, I simply point a leaf blower at the intake from a few feet away, then watch the thermometer dial spin around as a wall of flame emerges from the top. 30 seconds on each side produced a very crispy sear on this strip. I also rubbed the steak with a good quality olive oil听first, to seal in moisture.

After allowing both steaks to rest for 20 minutes, I threw them back on their respective grills, with both of those set at 250 degrees, to cook through to 125. Then rested each again for 10 minutes to come up to something north of 130 before slicing. I again think I slightly overdid the steak on the Egg, simply because I鈥檓 not used to cooking such thin pieces of beef.

The Bottom Line: Just Avoid Gas

With this method, the gas grill produced a more predictable result, but the sear was lackluster and the flavor of the gas was not dissipated at all, even with all that butter. The charcoal steak was a little overdone, but a lot more palatable anyways.

I鈥檒l go back to reserving my gas grill for occasional vegetable-only duty during big dinner parties, and keep my meats as far away from gas-fired grills as possible. Still, the dogs didn鈥檛 seem to care which steak they were given. All four disappeared in only a few quick chomps.

The post How to Grill Steak the Right Way appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer, when everyone starts thinking about how to spend more time outside. And brands know it, too, so they have some of their biggest sales of the year with the hopes of catching your eyes as you gear up for fun in the sun. To make your spring gear hunting a little easier, we put together a list of the best deals and promotions from some of our favorite brands. Bookmark this page and check back frequently through Memorial Day on Monday, May 29听for more deals鈥攚e鈥檒l be updating it with more deals as they become available.

Backcountry

Promotion: Save up to current and past season styles.
Dates:听May 19-29
Our Pick:听Select colors of the Patagonia Better Sweater 1/4 Zip Pullover are up to 50 percent off.

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the rest of the sale.

Bespoke Post

Promotion: Get up to select items from the Bespoke Post store.
Dates:听May 19-29
Our Pick:听The Wren Quick-Dry Beach Towel set is currently 20 percent off.

the rest of the sale.

BioLite

Promotion: Score site-wide, including head lamps, stoves, power units, and more.
Dates: May 19-29
Our Pick: The AlpenGlow rechargeable lantern is one of the most versatile pieces of camping gear.

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the rest of the sale.

Black Diamond

Promotion: Get all apparel and up to 25 percent off select equipment.
Dates: May 19-29
Our Pick:听The Coefficient LY Hybrid Hoody was the Editor’s Choice for best fleece of 2023.

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the rest of the sale.

Competitive Cyclist

Promotion: Get up to select bikes, kits, components, apparel, and more.
Dates: May 19-31
Our Pick: The Yeti Cycles SB115 Turq T1 XT Mountain Bike is 30 percent off鈥攃heck out our full on Pinkbike.

the rest of the sale.

Cotopaxi

Promotion: Save up to select new apparel and packs during the Summer Kickoff Sale.
Dates: May 16-29
Our Pick:听The Capa Insulated Jacket was one of our favorite puffy jackets of the year.

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the rest of the sale.

Gerber Gear

Promotion: Get almost everything.
Dates: May 25-June 6
Our Pick:听The Dual-Force wast just awarded the best multi-tool in this year’s Summer Gear Guide.

the rest of the sale.

Huckberry

Promotion: Save on select styles.
Dates: May 24-31
Our Pick:听The Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Hudson Jacket is similar to the beloved Trucker version of the jacket, with a slightly different cut.

the rest of the sale.

Icebreaker

Promotion: Take almost everything.
Dates: May 20-30
Our Pick:听The Merino 200 Oasis Crewe thermal top has been a long-time favorite thanks to the silky-smooth merino wool that naturally wicks away moisture.

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the rest of the sale.

Klean Kanteen

Promotion: Get the camping collection, including mugs, water bottles, and food storage.
Dates: May 22-29
Our Pick: The TKWide is one of our favorite water bottles, and the brand has recently updated the design to the insulated Pro version.

the rest of the sale.

Moosejaw

Promotion: Get one full-price item, and select styles are 25 percent off.
Dates: May 19-29
Our Pick: The Nemo Jazz sleeping bag was our for car camping last year.

the rest of the sale.

Ooni

Promotion: Get up to select ovens and accessories.
Dates: May 20-29
Our Pick: The Karu gives you the option to cook with gas or wood fire, which we appreciated for frequency and flavor, respectively. Don’t forget the 鈥攊t’s essential for maneuvering the pizza as it cooks for an even bake.

the rest of the sale.

Osprey

Promotion: Get up to select packs during the Spring Into Summer sale.
Dates: May 19-29
Our Pick: The Aether Plus 60 (men’s) and Ariel Plus 60 (women’s) stores all of our gear without sacrificing comfort.

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the rest of the sale.

Pearl Izumi

Promotion: Get up to during the Get In Gear sale.
Dates: May 19-29
Our Pick: We are big fans of the Interval Cargo Bib Shorts. Note that they run on the small side.

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the rest of the sale.听*Excludes Grateful Dead collab.听

Public Lands

Promotion: Take up to , including apparel, camping and hiking gear, bikes, and more, during the Summer Sale Event.
Dates: May 19-29
Our Pick: The Hoka Tecton X trail running shoes won our Editor’s Choice Award in last year’s Summer Gear Guide.

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the rest of the sale.

RAD Power Bikes

Promotion: Save on select ebikes, plus plenty of accessories are on sale, too.
Dates: May 19-31
Our Pick: We can’t get enough of the RadWagon.

the rest of the sale.

REI

Promotion: Save up to 30 percent during the 鈥攑lus, members get 20 percent off one full-price item and 20 percent off one outlet item.
Dates: May 19-29
Our Pick: The Nemo Aurora Highrise four-person tent offered plenty of comfort and stood up to abuse, making it one of the best car camping tents of 2022.

the rest of the sale.

ROKA

Promotion: Get up to on sunglasses, eyeglasses, and gear.
Dates: May 18-31
Our Pick: We named the Matador sunglasses the best sunglasses for cycling in last year’s Summer Gear Guide.

the rest of the sale.

Rumpl

Promotion: Get up to almost everything.
Dates: May 19-30
Our Pick: You can’t go wrong with a Nanoloft Puffy Blanket, especially in this groovy, retro pattern.

the rest of the sale.

Running Warehouse

Promotion: Running Warehouse has going on right now, including deals on shoes, apparel, and accessories.
Dates: Ongoing
Our Pick:听Select . Our tester loves the Superior 5: “the light, balanced ride makes me feel like a wild animal padding lightly over prairie and mountain trails.”

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the rest of the sale.

Saucony

Promotion: Get select shoes and apparel.
Dates: May 19-30
Our Pick: The Tempus offers unparalleled stability without sacrificing pop or comfort.

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the rest of the sale.

Sea to Summit

Promotion:听Sea to Summit is running a offer on a sleep system bundle: buy one item, save, ten percent; 15 percent off two items;听 20 percent off three items; and 25 percent off four-plus items.
Dates: May 11-22
Our Pick:听We think the is a carry-on travel essential.

the rest of the sleep bundle savings.

Smith

Promotion: Save up to full-price styles.
Dates: May 19-29
Our Pick: The sunglasses were our favorite sunglasses of 2023 for trail to town.

the rest of the sale.

Solo Stove

Promotion: Score a with the purchase of any Ranger, Bonfire, or Yukon fire pit. (You need to add the Mesa to your cart and use the code FREEMESA.)
Dates: May 19-June 4
Our Pick: The 听We consider it a backyard essential.

the rest of the sale.

Stio

Promotion: Save up to 40 percent off during the .
Dates: May 11-24
Our Pick:听Form meets function in the Coburn Pants: the stretch from the nylon blend fabric allows movement on the trail, while the subtle style doesn’t scream “trail geek.”

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the rest of the sale.

Superfeet

Promotion: Get , plus free shipping.
Dates: May 18-June 7
Our Pick: The Green insoles are designed to maximize stability, comfort, and support for runners and hikers.

the rest of the sale.

Tentree

Promotion: The Certified B-Corp brand committed to planting ten trees for every product sold is offering up to 50 percent off site-wide during their Birthday Sale.
Dates: May 18-28
Our Pick: These hemp joggers are going to be your new work from home and apr猫s staple.

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the rest of the sale.

TheMagic5

Promotion: Get 15 percent off any custom 3D-printed goggles.
Dates: May 25-June 1
Our Pick: Check out our full review of the goggles on .

the rest of the sale.

The Pro’s Closet

Promotion: Tons of promotions going: get an additional , up to $1800 in savings; save an (up to $900 off); apparel is up to; accessories are up to ; components are up to ; wheels are up to ; and .
Dates: May 25-30
Our Pick: The Yeti Cycles SB130 T3 mountain bike is a more recent version of the

the rest of the sale.

Tifosi

Promotion: Take 25 percent off sitewide.
Dates: May 20-29
Our Pick: The Rail rimless cycling glasses swappable lenses and a low profile to fit under a helmet.

the rest of the sale.

Toad&Co.

Promotion: The sustainable apparel brand is offering up to .
Dates: May 25-31
Our Pick: The Daybreaker Hemp Jumpsuit is designed for comfort and travel.

the rest of the sale.

YETI

Promotion: Get 20 percent off 14oz Rambler mugs while supplies last, plus get free personalization on eligible drinkware, Boomer dog bowls, and the new Beverage Bucket.
Dates: May 25-31
Our Pick: “The Yeti Rambler is the best mug ever made.” Need we say more?

the rest of the sale.

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The post The Best Memorial Day Deals on Outdoor Gear and Apparel appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.