Do You Oil The Meat Or The Pan When Cooking Steak?

When cooking steak, chefs are often faced with the question of whether to oil the steak or the pan itself. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, even among pros.

Proponents of steak-oiling over pan-oiling maintain that it makes for a less greasy meal and creates less smoke. But there are certainly chefs who advocate for the opposite.

Paula Deen oils the pan, as does Richard Blais. Gordon Ramsay oils both. Chef Jonathan Bautista told Chowhound, "I keep the steak as dry as possible prior to hitting the pan."

Oiling the pan instead of the steak can allow for better control of how much oil ends up in your dish. It also helps prevent sticking and encourages a nice, even brown crust.