Sous Vide Steak Recipe | Easy Sous Vide For Beginners (2024)

PUBLISHED August 3, 2020· MODIFIED April 18, 2022 · by the author listed in the recipe card 2070 words. · About 11 minutes to read this article.· This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases· 3 Comments

If you're looking for the best way to cook steak, look no further than this Sous Vide Steak Recipe. You can learn how to make the perfect steak in a sous vide machine with my easy-to-follow steps.

If you're looking to cook the perfect steak, put away that grill or skillet and reach for the sous vide machine. No, I'm completely serious! You haven't truly experienced steak at its best until you've tried this delicious Sous Vide Steak Recipe.

Why Sous Vide?

• Evenly Cooked. You'll find the biggest advantage of sous vide is evenly cooked food. When you cook on the stovetop or grill, the outer surface of the food gets cooked hard and fast--but the center of the steak takes longer to cook. So what you end up with is a steak that's too well done on the outside, and done just right only on the inside. In contrast, when you sous vide a steak, ALL of the steak is at the same temperature.
• No Guesswork. Sous vide takes all the guesswork out of how to cook steak to perfection. Just set your sous vide machine to the appropriate temperature and let it do all the work for you! No wondering if it's cooked to the appropriate doneness. No having to babysit the grill, oven or stovetop to make sure you don't overcook your steak. Just perfect steak every time.
• Cook Ahead. You can make the steak 1-2 hours in advance, and just let it hang out while YOU hang out doing something else. Just sear it when ready and it's freshly done.
• Meal Prep. You can make this steak days ahead of time. Then, when you're ready, just bring it back up to the temperature you started with---and it will just heat but not overcook.
• Longer-lasting. Your first cook killed all the bacteria in the meat, so it lasts longer in your fridge, but as I mentioned above, it won't overcook or dry out when you're ready to cook.
• Moist Food. Since you're cooking in a contained, closed environment, any moisture that the steak releases gets saved in the bag rather than evaporating. Not only does this make for a more flavorful sauce, but it's also less likely to dry the steak.
• Safer Cooking. Apart from the searing part, there aren't hot surfaces and high temperatures involved. So your kids could start dinner before you get home, without you worrying about them.
• Taste. Really guys, even if NONE of the things above I said were true? You'd sous vide steak for one reason only--it will be the BEST tasting steak you've ever had. That alone is reason enough to sous vide at home.

Seriously, if I haven't convinced you yet, just one bite of this Sous Vide Steak recipe and you're sure to become a believer.

How To Sous Vide Steak

• Preheat your sous-vide machine to the desired temperature (see the doneness chart below).

• Generously season both sides of the steak with salt and pepper. Place the steak in a heavy-duty 1-gallon resealable plastic bag. Drizzle the olive oil over the steak. Add the bay leaf to the bag.

• Press out as much of the air as possible and seal the bag. Submerge the bag in the preheated water. Clip the top of the bag to the pot with a binder clip.

• Cook the steak to the desired temperature. For a 1.5 inch – 2 inch steak, allow 2 hours for the steak to cook to 133F. (Once the steak has reached the desired temperature, it can sit in the bag in the water with the machine on for up to 1 hour before finishing, if desired.)

• To finish the steak, heat the butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat. When the butter has stopped bubbling, add the steak from the bag, reserving the cooking juices to make the optional pan sauce).

• Add the thyme, rosemary, and garlic. Swirl the steak in the pan for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until both sides have a well-browned crust.

• For the Pan Sauce: Remove the steak from the pan. Add the reserved cooking juices to the pan. Bring it to a simmer. Add the butter. Whisk until the liquid reduces and thickens slightly. Remove the pan from the heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

• Slice the steak or cut it into two pieces. Serve with the pan sauce, if desired.

How Do You Seal The Bags?

Before you do anything, watch this video for more information on how to remove the air from the bag using the water displacement method.

What Temperature Do You Cook A Steak In A Sous Vide?

The temperature you sous vide steak at is dependent on how you like your steak. Make this Sous Vide Steak recipe to your preferred doneness by using this simple beef steak doneness temperatures chart:

Sous Vide Steak Time Temp Chart

• Rare Steak: 120°F
• Medium Rare Steak: 134°F
• Medium Well Steak: 150°F
• Well Done Steak: 160°F and up

Why Is Sous Vide Best?

Now that we know what sous vide is, let's get into why you should sous vide your steak. Traditional cooking methods cook the steak by applying heat to the steak from the surface it is on (grill grate, pan, etc) and from the air surrounding it. This issue with this is that the surface and air surrounding the steak has to be higher than the target steak's internal temp in order to cook the steak all the way through.

This means that you have to remove the steak from the heat source early and allow it to cook from the residual heat. This makes hitting the perfect doneness almost impossible.

Since the sous vide machine only heats the water surrounding the steak to the exact temperature you set it at, the steak reaches your desired doneness without you having to remove the steak from the heat source early. This also means that the entire steak will be cooked to your desired doneness without fear of the outside or edges of the steak becoming more cooked than the middle.

What Types Of Steak Can You Sous Vide?

Honestly, any cut of steak is sous vide-able if you cook it at the proper time and temperature. These are some of my personal favorite steaks to cook with this method:

• Ribeye. Sous vide ribeye steak is my personal favorite to make because it can be a little thicker and trickier to get the perfect cook on the grill or in a skillet.
• Sous Vide Flank Steak. This cut is extremely versatile and great for a variety of recipes like flank steak fajitas or chipotle steak tacos.
• Skirt Steak. Sous vide skirt steak is also very versatile, and because of the thin cut of the meat, it can easily be overcooked. This is a great way to ensure it stays the perfect medium rare.
• Sous Vide Frozen Steak. Yes, I said frozen steak. Since the water surrounding the steak is held at a constant temperature while it cooks, it will safely and naturally defrost your steak and cook it evenly just as it would a fresh steak.

Can You Overcook Steak Sous Vide?

This is quite possibly the best part of making this Sous Vide Steak recipe: You absolutely can't overcook your steak when you sous vide it.

The sous vide machine regulates the temperature of the water surrounding the steak to the exact temp to set it to, so no matter how long you sous vide your steak, the steak's internal temperature will never surpass the temp you set it to. This means no overcooking and no need to pull your steak from the heat at the perfect time.

I just love food science, don't you?

Should I Sear My Steak?

I love to sear my steaks after I sous vide them. When it comes to meat, color equals flavor. Adding a quick 45-second sear in a cast iron pan with lots of butter and herbs can add not only a little extra texture to your bite but also loads of extra tasty caramelization to the meat.

What To Serve With It

The great thing about a perfectly seasoned steak is that it's not only a fantastic meal alone but it pairs well with nearly any other side dish you can think of!

Here are some of my favorite things to eat sous vide steak with:

• Air Fryer Carrots
• Cheesy Potatoes
• Stuffed Tomatoes
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Keto Broccoli Salad

How Long Does It Last?

A sous vide steak lasts as long as a steak cooked any other way. It is best enjoyed immediately after it is cooked since it can be tricky to reheat a steak after it is completely cooked without overcooking it.

However, if you do have leftovers, try to eat them within 3-4 days of the initial cook for the best flavor and texture.

Looking For More Great Steak Recipes? Check These Out!

• Italian Stuffed Steak Rolls - Stuffed with green spinach, red peppers, gooey Mozzarella cheese!
• Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak - Make a traditional Southern dinner in your air fryer!
• Flank Steak with Zhoug - Enjoy steak covered in a delicious Middle Eastern sauce.
• Flank Steak Fajitas - Super easy to make and oh-so-delicious!
• Air Fryer Philly Cheesesteak - Made easily and quickly with the help of your air fryer!
• Spicy Lamb Sirloin Steak - Get the taste of Tandoori Raan in your air fryer.
• Air Fryer Montreal Steak Burgers - The taste of a Montreal steak in a burger.
• Keto Air Fryer Steak - The best way to cook a ribeye ever!

You can make the perfect main course tonight with this Sous Vide Steak recipe. Make sure to share this recipe with your friends on Pinterest and Facebook so they can enjoy it as well!

Originally Published July 16, 2019

Don't forget to check out my other Keto cookbooks.

Keto Instant Pot, Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets, & Treats, and Easy keto in 30 minutes.