Believe it or not, cooking steaks on the stove can be just as good, if not better than, grilling them. The process is relatively simple, requiring only a few things and can be done in a matter of minutes. If you’re interested in learning how to cook steak on stovetops to get that perfect sear, then here’s a handy list of steak cooking tips!

1. Let the steak thaw. Never begin cooking with a cold, wet steak. Let it sit out for about half an hour, and dry off any excess water on it with a paper towel (this water will cause the steak to brown). After paper toweling it, season the steak with whatever spices you want, like garlic salt, and let it set.

2. According to Saveur, a premier cooking publication, large amounts of heat are key when cooking steaks on the stove. To achieve this, you’ll need either a cast-iron skillet or other heavy-duty pan that’ll retain heat evenly. Brush your pan or skillet with vegetable oil, and put it on the heat. It’ll be ready when you see wisps of smoke rising off of it.

3. Lifehacker, a personal efficiency site, says when cooking steaks on the stove to place the meat in the center of the pan, and let it cook for about five minutes. There’ll be a lot of smoke, so have the stove’s ventilation on high. Flip the steak, and let it cook again for another five minutes. This should yield a delicious, medium-rare steak.

4. Saveur says to use a knife to check the doneness of the steak: red for rare, and rosy-pink for medium-rare. When it’s nearly done, throw in a bit of Worcestershire sauce or butter to baste the steak.

5. Once done cooking steaks on the stove, let them sit for about five minutes, which will create a more luscious steak by allowing the juices to distribute.

There you have it! Cooking steaks on the stove is as simple as that! If you have any questions about cooking steaks on the stove, feel free to ask in the comments!