This Ina Garten Hack For Grilling The Most Perfect, Juicy Steak Every Time Is Going To Change The Way You Cook

Ina Garten is the original queen of food bloggers and everyone’s stylish, denim-shirt-wearing, bougie aunt in our heads. Known for her catchphrases like “use good vanilla” and “store-bought is fine,” as well as for pouring oversized cocktails, she makes cooking feel enjoyable and stress-free. With her helpful hacks for things like potato salad and deviled eggs , she has mastered the art of hosting effortless and chic parties.

So, who better to teach us how to serve the perfect summer steak than Ina? Her method for grilling New York strip has transformed my cooking, proving that while store-bought may be fine, poorly cooked food is not.

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The Hack: Use Two-Zone Grilling

In true Ina fashion, she learned this tip from her “fabulous” friend Mark Lobel of the legendary Lobel’s of New York butcher shop. Instead of cooking steak over scorching heat the whole time, you create two temperature zones on the grill: one hot side for searing and one cooler side for finishing.

It’s a simple move that helps ensure you never serve a tough, overcooked steak again. My dad swears by this method. Plenty of chefs do too. Ina’s endorsement seals the deal.

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How To Do It

Pile your coals on one side of the grill and leave the other side bare. Sear the steaks directly over the hot side for exactly two minutes per side (use a real timer, not a vibes-based one), then move them to the cool side, close the lid, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.

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Aim for 115°F for rare, 120°F for medium-rare, or 125°F for medium. Tent with foil for 15 minutes, then slice. That’s it. That’s the whole thing. Gas grill? Same deal, just turn off half the burners. How easy is that?

Why It Works

The two-zone method gives you the best of both grill worlds. The hot side creates that deeply browned steakhouse crust everyone wants. The cool side lets the center cook more gently and evenly, so you get a juicy pink middle without a burnt exterior.

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The Bottom Line

If you’re grilling for Memorial Day and want steak that tastes expensive without requiring emotional damage, try Ina’s two-zone method. It delivers the kind of results that make guests assume you know far more than you do. It’s easy, it’s foolproof, and it’s fabulous.

If you want to feel like you have Ina by your side during grilling season, download the free Tasty app to cook along with us in step-by-step mode — no subscription required.

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