Grilled tuna steak is a fantastic dish for seafood lovers, offering a delicious and satisfying alternative to traditional beef steaks. With its meaty texture and rich, savory flavor, tuna steak can be the highlight of any meal, whether it’s a casual weeknight dinner or a special occasion barbecue. 

Here are 5 essential steps to help you grill the perfect tuna steak every time.

Step 1: Choose the Right Tuna Steak

The first and essential process of grilling ideal tuna steak involves the fish's fundamental preparation–the tuna cut's choice. To get the best results possible, yellowfin (ahi tuna) or bluefin tuna should be chosen for this recipe. These varieties are relatively hard in texture, red-colored, and can be well grilled.

• Look for Fresh, Sushi-Grade Tuna: Raw tuna should be bright in color and oil, and the textures should be tight and smooth. Do not buy fish that looks less shiny or has a very pungent smell.
• Pick the Right Thickness: Select cuts that are at least 1-1.5 inches thick and try to avoid Supermarket ‘primal’ cuts. Thick steaks do not quickly turn tough when grilling, and they can easily obtain a delightful grill char on the outside while remaining tender on the inside.

This step guarantees you begin with a good piece of quality fish, which is essential if you want good results.

Step 2: Marinate or Season Your Tuna Steak

As with the preparation of BBQ chicken, marination makes tuna tastier and more succulent when retained in the griller. As little as a marinade to your tuna steak can greatly influence the taste and tenderness of the fish once grilled. 

A simple yet tasty marinade that you can try is olive oil, airplane soy sauce, lemon juice, minced garlic, and your preferred choice of Thyme or rosemary. That is about 15-20 minutes so that the fish absorbs the flavors but does not get overwhelmed by the disgusting flavors. 

For a basic procedure, the substitute of a dry marinade of sea salt cracked black pepper, and crushed garlic will suffice and produce brown and crisp skin. Regardless of which is your preferred method, marinating or using a dry marinade, this stage must be balanced as it determines the quality of your tuna steak.

Step 3: Preheat the Grill and Prepare the Tuna

Preparation is key to getting the perfect sear on your tuna steak. Follow these steps to ensure your grill is ready and the tuna is prepped for cooking.

• Preheat the Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high (400-450°F). A hot grill ensures that the tuna steak sears quickly and doesn’t stick to the grates.
• Oil the Grates: Brush the grill grates with high-smoke-point oil like avocado oil. This prevents the tuna from sticking and helps achieve a nice, even sear.
• Pat the Tuna Dry: Use paper towels to pat the tuna steak dry before grilling. This step is crucial for a proper sear and prevents the tuna from steaming on the grill.

Proper preheating and preparation set you up for success and help create that delicious crust outside the tuna steak.

Step 4: Grill the Tuna Steak to Perfection

Tuna steak is meant to be grilled over high heat to ensure that it is sufficiently cooked and juicy. Tuna is best served slightly pink in the middle and has a crispy first layer of skin well cooked. To achieve this, it is recommended that the tuna steak be placed on a hot grilling surface and should be flipped for only 1.5 to 2 minutes maximum. Only flip the steak sometimes because a steak needs a single sear on each side for it to cook properly.

To measure the internal temperature, people can try using the ThermoPro Twin TempSpike Truly Wireless Meat Thermometer in the preparation course for correct estimation. With this cooking thermometer, you can track your tuna steak’s temperature from up to 500ft away. You don’t have to walk back and forth the kitchen, but can focus on more things. For medium rare tuna steaks, you should cook it on the grill to an internal temperature of about 130-140° F.

When you want your tuna to be a little more done than that, add a minute extra to the cooking time on each side; of course, don’t go overboard with this since your tuna will become dry and chewy. 

This will make sure the exterior is nicely crisp while the inside part remains soft and well-moistened.

Step 5: Rest and Serve with Delicious Accompaniments

After grilling, it’s important to let the tuna steak rest. This redistributes the juices, making the steak more flavourful and tender.

• Let It Rest: Allow the tuna steak to rest for 3-5 minutes after grilling. This step helps retain the moisture and makes the steak easier to slice.
• Slice Against the Grain: Cut the tuna against the grain into thin slices. This technique ensures a tender bite with every piece.
• Pair with Tasty Sides: Serve the tuna steak with fresh sides like a crisp salad, grilled vegetables, or zesty citrus salsa. For an added touch of flavor, try topping it with Cowboy Butter Steak Pinwheels, a delicious blend of herbs and butter that melts over the hot steak, enhancing its taste.

By resting and serving your tuna steak with complementary sides, you create a well-rounded and delicious meal that showcases the flavors of the grilled tuna.

Conclusion

Tuna steak can be a very exciting meal to grill at home for a very simple preparation. As a result, if you are going to follow all five steps aimed at choosing the sort of meat’s cut, possessing marinade or seasoning, heating the grill, grilling, and serving the meat with the proper additional side dishes, you will get the dish that could be served in the restaurant. With these tips revised in mind and even just a little practice, you will master the simple art of grilling a tuna steak, and you’ll be rewarded with a delicious, healthy meal.