I wanted to cook a steak in the Weber Q+ with a meat thermometer.

In theory, the Weber Q+ should function like an oven. Although it runs on gas instead of electricity, the main difference lies in temperature control. My benchtop oven has a microprocessor-controlled thermostat and heating elements that are less affected by maintenance and wind, resulting in a low coefficient of variation. If my benchtop oven was a laboratory instrument, it would be pretty good. The Weber Q+, however, would not be highly regarded as a laboratory instrument.

The key to reverse sear success is using a meat thermometer.

I bought this 611 gram steak from my butcher. Normally, I prefer grass-fed rather than grain-fed, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Recipe

Ingredients

• Steak — 611 grams (21.6 ounces/1.35 pounds) with the bone
• Salt — iodised table salt and flaky finishing salt
• Pepper — freshly ground black peppercorns

Equipment

• Weber Q+
• Gas torch
• Meat thermometer

Instructions

1. Season the steak with salt and pepper.
2. Dry brine the steak overnight.
3. Heat the Weber Q+ and set the gas burners to low.
4. Insert the meat thermometer into the steak.
5. Cook the steak until the internal temperature reaches 55 °C (131 °F).
6. Remove the thermometer and sear the steak with a gas torch.
7. Rest the meat.
8. Slice the meat.
9. Arrange the meat.
10. Serve the meat.
11. Eat the meat.
12. Dream about meat.

Thoughts on the meal.

What is reverse sear cooking?

The reverse sear method offers benefits when cooking beef steak, particularly for thicker cuts. Here are some of the key advantages:

Even Cooking:

By slowly heating the steak in the oven at a low temperature, the meat cooks uniformly. This gentle cooking phase means there’s far less variation in doneness across the steak, eliminating the common problem of having a stark contrast between a well-done exterior and an undercooked centre.

Enhanced Crust Formation:

A brief sear delivers a caramelised crust once the steak reaches the desired internal temperature. The Maillard reaction develops a deep, savoury flavour without risking additional interior cooking.

Improved Temperature Control:

The two-stage process means you can monitor and control the internal temperature, reducing the risk of overshooting the target doneness. This control is beneficial for achieving a medium-rare or any other preferred level of doneness.

Moist and Tender Results:

Initially, cooking at a low temperature helps retain the meat juices. When the steak is later seared, the moisture remains, resulting in a tender and flavourful steak.

This method has grown in popularity due to its reliability and the elevated eating experience.

Grass-fed or grain-fed beef?

There are several key differences between grain-fed and grass-fed beef, encompassing rearing practices, nutrition, flavour profiles, and even environmental impact.

Rearing Practices and Diet

Grass-Fed Beef:

Cattle are raised predominantly on pasture. They graze on a natural diet of grass throughout their lives. This method is more reflective of the animal’s natural behaviour and tends to involve more extensive, sometimes free-range, farming practices.

Grain-Fed Beef:

Cattle usually spend the majority of their life grazing on pasture in their early months. However, in many cases, they are later moved to feedlots, where they are finished on an energy-dense diet primarily composed of grains (such as corn or soy). This accelerated feeding process is designed to promote rapid weight gain and increased marbling within the meat.

Nutritional Profile

Grass-Fed:

Leaner Meat: Grass-fed beef generally has lower overall fat content, resulting in a leaner profile.

Favourable Fatty Acids: It tends to have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), along with a better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.

Grain-Fed:

More Marbling: The grain-based diet promotes intramuscular fat development, leading to a richer marbling which can enhance tenderness and flavour.

Higher Caloric Content: The increased fat also means that grain-fed beef may be higher in calories and saturated fat compared to its grass-fed counterpart.

Flavour and Texture

Grass-Fed:

Beef raised on grass often has an earthy flavour that reflects the natural diet of the animal.

Texture: Because the meat is leaner, it can be slightly tougher if not cooked properly. Techniques to ensure optimum tenderness, include slow cooking or sous vide.

Grain-Fed:

Thanks to enhanced marbling from the grain diet, grain-fed beef usually comes out more tender with a rich, buttery flavour that appeals to many who are accustomed to the American style of beef.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

Grass-Fed:

Sustainability: When managed responsibly (for example, through rotational grazing), grass-fed systems can support soil health and ecosystem diversity.

Animal Welfare: Often, the practices associated with grass-fed beef focus on natural grazing behaviours, which some consumers feel is more humane.

Grain-Fed:

Resource Intensity: Feedlot operations may involve higher concentrations of animals, potentially leading to environmental challenges such as faeces management and greater resource inputs.

Efficiency versus welfare: While these systems are designed for efficient production, they sometimes raise concerns regarding animal welfare and ecological impact.

Cost and Market Availability

Grass-Fed:

Premium Pricing: Because grass-fed beef typically requires longer periods to reach market weight and can be subject to less intensive farming methods, it often comes with a higher price tag.

Grain-Fed:

Cost-Effective: The accelerated growth and production efficiency generally allow for more cost-effective production, making grain-fed beef more widely available and often more affordable.

Summary Comparison

Aspect	Grass-Fed Beef	Grain-Fed Beef
Diet and rearing	Natural pasture diet; free-range grazing	Early pasture then finished on grain feed
Fat content	Leaner, lower overall fat	Higher marbling and intramuscular fat
Nutritional Benefits	Higher omega-3, CLA, and vitamins	Rich in fat-soluble flavour; higher calories
Flavour and texture	Earthier, occasionally gamey; may be tougher	Tender, buttery taste with consistent texture
Environmental Impact	Potentially more sustainable with proper grazing practices	More intensive production, potential environmental downsides
Cost	Generally premium-priced	Typically, more economical

Beyond the Basics

In Adelaide, many local farmers emphasise sustainable and ethical practices that mirror the grass-fed system, providing not just great flavour but a connection to more traditional farming.

Different cuts from these methods can require slightly different cooking techniques. For instance, the leaner nature of grass-fed beef often benefits from slower cooking at lower temperatures, while grain-fed cuts are versatile and frequently shine with quick, high-heat sears.

Other thoughts

The steak was great. I really like gnawing on the bone too.

Photographs

This is a gallery of photographs. Click on one and scroll through the rest of them.

A few weeks ago, I bought a piece of scotch fillet from my butcher. It was labelled “economy” and priced at AUD 29.99 per kilogram. I understand that, for many people, this remains unaffordable.

Jump to the recipe.

I visited my butcher last weekend and saw some bulk scotch fillet steak on display. This meat was not “economy.” It was priced at AUD 49.99 per kilogram.

The question is, “Is this steak that much better?”

The short answer is YES. The more expensive meat was labelled as South Australian Coorong Black Angus. This is the best steak I’ve ever eaten.

Coorong Black Angus

The Coorong Black Angus breed holds a distinguished place among premium beef cattle. It is renowned not only for its exceptional meat quality but also for its deep connection with the unique natural environment of the Coorong region in South Australia.

A Legacy of Excellence

At its core, the Black Angus breed is celebrated globally for its ability to produce tender, well-marbled beef—enhanced by selective breeding in the Coorong. While Black Angus cattle trace their origins to Scotland, Australian breeders saw an opportunity in the Coorong’s distinct landscape and climate. Through an effort to adapt and refine the breed, they have crafted an animal that marries classic genetic traits with local flavour. The result is beef that appeals, marked by succulent texture, robust flavour, and a balance between fat and muscle.

The Coorong Black Angus is favoured among chefs, steak enthusiasts, and sustainable agriculture advocates. Its popularity is driven by taste and tenderness, as well as the story behind its production—a narrative of respect for natural cycles, traditional practices, and innovative stewardship of the land.

Home of the Finest Herds

The Coorong region of South Australia is the heartland of this breed. Stretching along a unique coastal wetland and saltwater estuarine ecosystem, the area offers natural pastures that contain active ingredients for these cattle’s lives. Family-operated farms have maintained a relationship with the land, nurturing herds in expansive, low-stress environments where natural behaviours flourish.

Many of the best herds are farmed around the fringes of the Coorong National Park and adjacent coastal lands. In these microenvironments, the blend of native grasses, nutrient-rich soils, and the interplay between freshwater and saltwater runoff creates good-quality pastures. These areas are intentionally preserved and managed to ensure that the cattle have uninterrupted access to a natural diet, to develop the marbling and flavour that many cherish.

The Power of Environment

The remarkable quality of the Coorong Black Angus beef is inseparable from its environmental setting. Several factors contribute to elevating the meat quality:

Nutrient-Dense Pastures:

The Coorong’s native grasses and forbs thrive on mineral-rich soils augmented by fresh coastal breezes and the unique saline influences of the nearby ocean. When cattle graze on such flora, their diet boosts muscle development and fat distribution, yielding beef of superior marbling and tenderness.

Natural Free-Range Lifestyle:

Far removed from the stressors of confined feeding operations, Coorong Black Angus cattle live in spacious, free-range conditions. Lower stress levels correlate with better hormonal balance and a slower, more natural rate of muscle growth. This calm environment is fundamental to developing the intricate flavour profiles that premium beef is known for.

Balanced Climate:

The Coorong region enjoys a moderate climate with gentle seasonal variations. Neither too extreme in summer nor harsh in winter, this climate helps ensure that cattle maintain steady growth rates and consistent fat deposition. Moreover, the relative predictability of weather patterns contributes to a sustainable farming model where environmental stress does not impede health or meat quality.

Sustainable Farming Practices:

Farmers in the Coorong have embraced traditional techniques alongside modern innovations. Methods such as rotational grazing, conservation of native vegetation, and careful water management protect the land and preserve its natural character. These practices safeguard the ecosystem and enrich the quality of the beef produced, as cattle absorb the full spectrum of natural nutrients provided by a healthy landscape.

Beyond the Steak: Cultural and Economic Significance

The combination of heritage, environment, and animal husbandry imbues the Coorong Black Angus with a cultural richness. Consumers appreciate not only the quality of the meat but also the story of sustainable success. The economic ripple effect of these premium herds has supported local farming communities, preserved natural resources, and enhanced the reputation of Australian beef.

This unique synergy of the natural environment and traditional practices reinforces why the Coorong Black Angus is a testament to the art and science of quality beef production. These cattle remind us that genetics and the environment can produce delicious and ethically sound results.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re a steak enthusiast, an environmentalist, or someone intrigued by the story of the Coorong Black Angus, this meat is amazing.

It is expensive, though. Unfortunately, the majority will never be able to afford meat like this.

Recipe

Ingredients

• Steak
• Salt

Equipment

• Vacuum sealer
• Water bath
• Precision cooker
• Gas torch
• Barbecue grill (Weber Q+)

Instructions

1. Visit your butcher and be prepared for the price shock.
2. Ask your butcher to slice the meat to your preferred thickness. I requested slices that are 3 cm (1.2 inches) thick. This thickness ensures the steak cooks evenly and sears properly without losing its edge-to-edge doneness. Additionally, it’s the right size for a single meal (for me).
3. Dry brine the slices for one or two nights.
4. Place the steaks into bags and vacuum seal them.
5. Cook the steaks for 3 hours at 57 °C (135 °F).
6. Set one steak aside and place the rest of the cooked steaks in the refrigerator for meals later in the week.
7. Turn on the barbecue grill to heat the cooking surface.
8. After removing the steak from the bag, you might notice that the meat is easily deformed and the muscle fibres may separate due to gravity. This indicates how tender the meat will be when masticated.
9. Dry the steak with absorbent kitchen paper.
10. Place the steak on the hot barbecue grill and sear the upper surface with a gas torch.
11. Turn the steak over and sear the other side.
12. Place the steak onto a cutting board.
13. Slice the meat.
14. Arrange the meat.
15. Serve the meat.
16. Eat the meat.

Thoughts on the meal

This is the best steak I’ve ever eaten. It’s far better than any steak I’ve eaten in a restaurant. I reckon in a restaurant, this steak cooked like this would be four or five times the price I paid. These steaks average about 400 grams and would cost $20/steak. I’ve been in some very expensive restaurants with a 250 to 350-gram steak costing between $80 and $100.

I don’t like going out. I don’t like eating out. The best solution for me is buying meat from my butcher, cooking it the way I want, and then enjoying it in the peace and quiet of my home.

Photographs

This is a gallery of photographs taken from three meals. Click on one image and scroll through the rest of them.

What’s the best steak you’ve ever eaten?