Here's How Much Salt You Really Need To Season A Steak Properly

Buying a great steak can obviously be quite pricey if you go all out. That's why, when you splurge on a steak, you should really take care to season and cook it well so you can really enjoy it. But properly seasoning your steak with the right amount of salt can be surprisingly hard to do. It seems many recipes do not give an exact amount of salt to use, for one, turning the process into an un-fun guessing game. But fortunately, there are some guidelines you can follow to ensure you get it right.

According to Kitchn, you should use one teaspoon of salt per pound of steak to really season it well from the outside. For those who prefer to eyeball it, Bon Appétit suggests using enough to coat the steak well without allowing multiple layers of salt to build up on the meat. Keep in mind, however, that this is just to season the outside of the steak. For many, the inside of the steak will also need a little bit of seasoning. But you should know that not all kinds of salt are created equally. That's why it is important to know which type of salt to use on a particular part of the steak.

What kind of salt to use and where

According to Bon Appétit, you should stick to kosher salt for seasoning the outside of your steak. While this type of salt can also be used to season the inside of the steak after it has been sliced and plated, it's better to switch to something like sea salt at that point. That's due to the size of the salt crystals themselves. The larger crystals of kosher salt are easier for the outside of the steak to absorb; that way, the meat can really be seasoned rather than having the salt simply fall off the surface.

Meanwhile, sea salt is lighter and flakier, making it a great garnish while adding just enough additional flavor to the meat. If you do not use sea salt, just keep the overall saltiness in mind. The last thing you want to do is over salt your steak, which can utterly upend your experience. Remember that you can always add more, but you cannot take it away quite so easily.