How To Make Hatch Marks On Steak

Anyone can slap a steak on the grill and cook it til it's done. Well, that may be an overstatement. If you've invested a nice chunk of change into a beautiful hunk of meat, the last thing you want to do is toss it on the barbie, move it around a bunch, accidentally puncture it, spilling all its nice juices into unsympathetic flames.

It's easy to get perfect grill marks on your steak while also cooking it correctly — puncture-free, crisply seared and juicy as all get-out. Follow these six steps to steak perfection, then hit the Recipes section and find a side dish that speaks to you.

Here's what you'll need:

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Preheat your grill to medium-high. When it's hot, place the steak square in the center. Once meat hits grill, play it as it lies and don't touch it.

Close the lid and cook the steak for about 3 minutes. Ignore all urges to open the lid. If you move it before the grill marks have formed you'll just have a weird chaotic grid on a steak that might have been juicier. 

Using the spatula, flip the steak over. Remember, wherever it lands, that's where it cooks. Repeat steps 2 and 3. 

Carefully transfer steak to a plate or cutting board using the spatula — again, not the tongs. Be careful not to puncture it. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes before taking all the pictures you're going to take and digging in.

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