How To Cook Pork Steak

If you’ve heard of this cut of pork, or seen it at the meat counter and weren’t sure what to do with it, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog I’ll teach you how to cook pork steak like a pro.

It’s really easy to cook pork steak, not as easy to cook tender pork steaks. So, we’ll dive into the technique and some tips that make this an amazing pork steak recipe.

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What Is a Pork Steak? 

You’d think a pork steak would be a steak cut from a hog from the same place you’d cut a steak from a steer right? That would make sense but it’s not accurate.

Instead, a pork steak is a cross cut of the pork shoulder. In fact, they are often referred to as pork shoulder steaks. These steaks are very popular in the St. Louis area, which is where I was introduced to them many years ago.

Can You Cook Pork Steak In The Oven?

Absolutely, and I have done so many times. I prefer the smokey flavor that’s infused into the pork when it’s cooked on a smoker or grill, but the oven is also fine.

Want to use the oven, but still want that smokey flavor? Try some of the tips and BBQ rub I use in this blog about cooking smokey pork butt in the oven.

At the end of the day, the pork is the start of the show here. While the smoke compliments the flavor of the pork, it’s not necessary to make a great pork steak.

How To Make Pork Steaks Tender

Because the steak is cut from a very tough working muscle in the shoulder of the hog, it’s a tough piece of meat. But, it can be made to be extremely tender using the right technique.

The muscle and connective tissue need to be broken down in order for the steak to be tender. This is a function of both time and temperature. So, while there are a few ways to accomplish this, I like to go with the low and slow cooking method.

You’ll find these steaks to be juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. Like many of my recipes, this is an outstanding way to feed a bunch of people for less than a bunch of money. And, they are delicious!

Tips For Cooking

Temperature: I like to cook pork steaks to an internal temperature of roughly 200°F for almost a fall apart texture. Others prefer them to be cooked to around 170°F, for a little more chew. Choose what you like.
Cooking Time: The time will vary greatly based on thickness of the steaks. Times in this blog are for steaks that are 11/4″ thick, thinner steaks will cook much faster.
Seasoning: This is a thick cut of meat, and it can take a liberal amount of seasoning, don’t be shy with it.
Wrapping: While I don’t wrap pork steaks, the cooking time can be cut down significantly by wrapping them tightly in aluminum foil once they reach an internal temperature of 145°F.

Tap Images Below For Perfect Pork Steak Sides

How To Cook Pork Steaks

Serves: 10 | Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 2-3 hours

Ingredients:
4-5 thick cut pork steaks
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1/2 cup BBQ rub, or your favorite rub
1 cup, sweet BBQ sauce, or your favorite BBQ sauce

Step 1: Light your grill and set it up for two-zone cooking, maintain temperature at 285° F. Add one or two chunks of apple or pecan wood to the hot coals to establish a nice clean smoke.

Step 2: While the grill is preheating, set the pork out and allow it to temper at room temperature. Evenly coat the steaks with a thin layer of yellow mustard, then season the pork with BBQ seasoning, ensuring all sides are covered.

Step 3: When the grill is preheated, place the pork steaks on the grill grate over indirect heat. Close the lid and allow them to smoke till they reach an internal temperature of 190° F. About 3 hours depending on the thickness of the steaks.

Step 4: Glaze the steaks with BBQ sauce, close the lid and allow them to cook for an additional 15 minutes, just long enough for the sauce to set and get tacky.  

Step 5: Remove from grill, serve the pork steaks hot with some pickled red onions and smoked baked beans.