Technique · 4 min read

How to Sear Meat

Dry surface, hot pan, don't crowd it.

A good sear comes down to three things: a dry surface, a properly hot pan, and enough room for steam to escape. Pat the meat completely dry before it goes anywhere near the pan — any surface moisture steams instead of browns. Get the pan hot before the fat goes in, and don’t crowd it; if the pieces are touching, cook in two batches instead of one.

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Kitchen kit

  • Heavy cast iron casserole
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  • Digital probe thermometer
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  • Microplane grater
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  • Bench scraper
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  • Air fryer
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