Oyster Steak Recipe (How to Make It Flavorful & Juicy)

Oyster steak got its name because its outline looks like an oyster. It’s also called a spider steak for its fat striations that look like a spider web. Each cow only has two oyster steaks, so this cut is a real treat.

Oyster steak is one of my favorite beef cuts. I’ve been cooking it at least once a week for years. It’s a highly tender piece, so I had to perfect the methods to avoid overcooking it.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Quick Summary

Recipe Overview

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Number of Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 2 oyster steaks
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of pepper

Mushroom sauce ingredients:

• 3 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 240g brown mushrooms
• A pinch of salt
• 3 garlic cloves
• 4 thyme sprigs

Instructions

1. Take the oyster steak out of the fridge half an hour to an hour before cooking to allow it to reach room temperature.
2. Pat the steak with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
4. Put a cast-iron skillet on the stove on high heat and add oil.
5. Rub the steak with salt and pepper on both sides.
6. Once the pan is screaming hot, place the steaks in with tongs. You should hear a sizzle.
7. Wait for one to two minutes until the meat develops a crust, and flip so the other side has a golden crust as well.
8. Once steaks have a nice crust, place them in the oven. Cook the steaks in the oven until they reach a temperature of 135 degrees for rare or 145 for medium-rare. It should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
9. Let the oyster steak rest after cooking for 10 minutes before serving.

Mushroom sauce instructions:

• Heat 1 ½ tablespoon of butter and olive oil in a large pan.
• Fry half the mushrooms in the pan.
• Cook the other half of the mushrooms in 1 ½ tablespoon of butter.
• Mix all mushrooms together and mix chopped garlic and thyme.
• Cook for 2 minutes

Recipe Notes

Here’s what to keep in mind when cooking an oyster steak:

• Use a meat thermometer — USDA recommends that a beef cut should have an internal temperature of 145 degrees when cooked medium-rare  [1]. The easiest way to check this is to use a meat thermometer. This way, you won’t end up with undercooked or overcooked steak.
• Use avocado or olive oil — You want an oil with a high smoke point.
• Let the steak rest — Your oyster steak should rest for 5 to 10 minutes after cooking, so the juices evenly distribute.
• Cutting the steak — Cut the steak into large chunks if you want to make kabobs or strips for fajitas.
• Don’t use a fork — Avoid using a fork to handle the steak because a fork will leave puncture holes which will cause the steak to lose juices.
• Don’t leave the steak outside for too long before cooking — Avoid leaving the oyster steak outside for longer than an hour before cooking because you risk bacteria growing on the surface.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 145g
• Total Carbs: 0
• Protein: 20g
• Fat: 6g
• Fiber: 0
• Net Carbs: 0

3 Ways of Cooking Oyster Steak

You can cook oyster steak in several other ways apart from in the oven.

1. Grill

1. Preheat to high heat and try to get the grill grates close to the high flame.
2. Trim fat and membranes off the top of the steak and season the oyster steak with salt and pepper.
3. Once there’s a layer of glowing embers, it’s time to start grilling.
4. Place the oyster steak on the grill and cook for 4 minutes. Then turn using tongs and cook for another four minutes.
5. Remove the steaks, cut against the grain, and serve.

Allen Bixby, head chef of No Take Out, recommends cooking it quickly over hot mesquite coals to give you the simplest beef flavor to enjoy.

He warns not to  overcook this because this type of steak switches to chewy fast.

It also does quite well with a chimichurri sauce, or even  quick honey-soy basting right after it leaves the heat.

2. Broil

1. Preheat the broiler to 450 degrees.
2. Season the steak.
3. Place the steak on a broiler pan or a baking sheet.
4. Place the steak in the broiler and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side.

3. Pan Sear

1. Preheat the cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
2. Season the steak.
3. Place the steak in the skillet and cook for 3 minutes.
4. Flip the steak with tongs and cook for another 3 minutes.

Related Articles:

• How to Cook Shell Steak?
• How to Cook Top Round Steak?
• How to Cook Petite Sirloin Steak?

Side Dishes to Serve With Oyster Steak

There are several sides you can serve with oyster steak:

• Steamed rice
• Sesame seeds
• Sauteed onions
• Mushroom sauce
• Steak sauce
• Baked potato
• Mashed potatoes
• Asian greens, steamed or grilled

FAQs

References:

1. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food