How Long Should You Smoke Steak?

Sliced smoked steak on board

Smoking steaks on a pellet grill or other smoker is a great way to add additional flavor. A pellet grill makes this process convenient, but any smoker will work. 

Smoking a steak at 225°F will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour for medium-rare or an internal temperature of 130-135°F. Another option is smoking over high heat by setting the pellet grill to 450°F and cooking for approximately 3.5 minutes per side or until the steak’s internal temperature is at your desired doneness.

What about smoking steaks at different temperatures, what steaks are the best for smoking, or do you flip your steak? The answers to these questions and more are answered below. 

How Long Should I Smoke My Steak? 

It all comes down to the internal temperature of your steak. Chef’s choice is medium rare for the best flavor, but cook it to your desired doneness. Look to the chart to help you decide which target temp you’d like to reach.

Temperature ranges for cooking steaks

After you decide on your final internal temperature, know that the cooking times will vary with the preparation, size, and shape of your steak. You can do the touch test to know when it’s ready, but the best and most accurate method is using an instant-read thermometer. Using one will give you precise internal temperatures so you know when to remove your steak from the grill. 

To properly use an instant-read thermometer, insert it through the steak side, ensuring the tip is in the center of the thickest part of the meat while preventing the tip from touching any bone or fat.

Remove steaks from the heat when the temperature is 5°F lower than your target temp. The meat will continue to cook for about another 5 degrees while resting. 

After determining how long your steaks will take to cook, follow a few simple steps to help them turn outstanding. 

First, Pick Your Steak 

The cut will determine how tender and juicy the steak can be. As expected, the more tender cuts are more expensive. Follow the chart below for a quick reference. However, you can turn less tender pieces of meat more tender by how you cook, season, and slice it. 

Chart showing most to least tender steak cuts

Second, Seasoning 

There are a lot of seasoning options available for your steak. Use anything from a famous brand’s rub, or coffee, create your own recipe, or simply use salt and pepper. There’s an endless array of options, so experiment and try something new. 

Thirdly, Cook Over Direct Heat

Place your steak in the middle of the bottom rack. If your pellet grill or smoker has the option to cook over an open flame, do it. Cooking over the hottest part of your grill will help give you a nice sear on the outside while heating the inside. 

Lastly, Remove and Rest 

Ensure you remove the steak when it is 5°F lower than your desired doneness. Now rest the meat for 10 minutes. This will allow the internal temperature to rise the rest of the way while allowing the juices to get reabsorbed. If you cut your steak immediately after removing it from the grill, you’ll lose a lot of liquid which will end up on your plate instead of in your meat. 

What Happens If You Smoke Steak?

Smoking a steak will do several things. First, it will get well tenderized as the collagen breaks down in the meat. Second, you are adding additional flavor through the smoke. Smoke in itself is an ingredient you are adding to the meat. Lastly, the melting fat is combined with the tenderized meat to create a juicy, melt-in-your-mouth bite of meat. 

How Long Does it Take Smoke a Steak at 225?

It will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour to smoke an average cut of steak to medium-rare. Smoking a steak at 225°F is my preferred option. However, searing the outside before smoking is best, so you get a crust and then finish smoking the steak until it reaches your desired doneness. 

How Long Does it Take Smoke a Steak at 300?

Place your seasoned steaks on the smoker’s rack and smoke for approximately 45 minutes to one hour, depending on your desired doneness. The timing is very similar to smoking at 225°F, given the temperatures are not far apart and the steak isn’t a large piece of meat. 

How Long Does it Take to Smoke a Steak at 250?

Preheating your smoker to 250°F before placing your steak on the center of the lower rack will cook it to a medium rare at almost the same time as smoking at 225°F or 275°F. Since steak doesn’t cook for long, times will vary depending on the cut of the steak rather than your smoker’s temperature. Smoking at 250°F will take the average steak about an hour to reach medium rare. 

How Long is Too Long Smoking Steak?

Smoking too long at low temperatures will dry the steak and make it tough. To avoid this, smoke the steaks at a temperature that’s at least 225°F and remove once the internal temperature reaches your desired doneness. If you want to sear your steaks, I highly recommend searing at the beginning. 

If you reverse sear, you sear the meat at the end of the cook and not the beginning. However, searing at the end can make it difficult not to go over your target internal temperature. This is why I begin by searing the steaks and then smoking. Removing the meat once it hits the right temperature is an easy process. 

Do You Flip Steak When Smoking?

It depends. In a pellet smoker, it’s a good idea to flip your steak since the fire is usually located in the center of the smoking chamber. If the firebox is located to one side and you place your steak on the opposite end, you may not need to flip. 

When smoking steaks in an off-set smoker, there’s no need to flip since the fire isn’t located directly below the meat. 

What Temp Should Steak Be Smoked?

The ideal temperature for smoking steak is between 225-250°F. This doesn’t count the sear you’ll do at a high temperature, but for the low and slow smoking of most steaks, you’ll aim for a temperature between 225 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit. 

What Temperature Do You Cook Steak on a Pellet Smoker?

For a thick-cut piece of steak, I like to set the pellet grill to at least 450°F. Cooking the steak for about 3 minutes per side will give me a great sear. I’ll then remove the steak from the smoker and lower the temperature to around 225°F. Now return the steak and smoke until the internal temperature reaches your desired doneness. This can take another 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the thickness of the steak. 

What Are The Best Steaks For Smoking?

For the best results, choose steaks cut on the thicker side. Around 1.5 inches is excellent. This gives you time to impart smoke flavor without overcooking the meat. These steak options include a New York strip, ribeye, or tenderloin. If the steak is too thin, such as a skirt or flank steak, it’ll be done quickly and retain less smoke flavor. This is okay, and I smoke thinner cuts of meat regularly, but I’ll cook for less time at a higher temperature. 

Conclusion

Smoking thick cuts of steaks like a New York strip or ribeye will take about 45 minutes to an hour for medium rare when smoking at around 225°F. The key is removing the steak about 5°F before your desired internal temperature. Times will vary, and an instant-read thermometer is the best way to ensure you hit your target doneness. 

Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your favorite Smoking Food Board!!

Slicked smoked steak on a cheese board

If you’re curious about smoking, check out these recipes for Tri-Tip and beef roast.

Bon Appétit

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