Cooking tri tip on the barbecue is an excellent way to achieve a delicious, tender, and juicy steak. Tri tip is a triangular cut of steak that comes from the bottom sirloin and has a deep flavor and robust texture. It is often served as a steak, but can also be cooked as an entire roast or cut into smaller pieces and used as kabobs. Depending on the size, one tri tip steak can feed between two and four people.
Gathering Your Ingredients
Before you start cooking, you’ll need to gather a few ingredients. First, you will need the tri tip steak itself. When selecting a tri tip, look for one that has a nice marbling of fat, which helps keep the meat tender and juicy. Another important ingredient is a good dry rub, which will help to flavor the steak and give it a nice crust when it is grilled. You can buy pre-made dry rubs at most grocery stores, or you can make your own. To make your own, combine equal parts of garlic powder, paprika, ground black pepper, and brown sugar. You can also add other spices as you like.
Preparing the Tri Tip
Once you have all of your ingredients, it’s time to prepare the tri tip for cooking. Start by patting the steak dry with paper towels, then rub the dry rub into both sides of the steak. Cover the steak with plastic wrap and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or overnight if you can. This will help the dry rub to flavor the steak and also help to tenderize it.
Setting Up the Grill
When you’re ready to cook the tri tip, it’s time to fire up the grill. Start by preheating the grill to high heat (about 450-500°F). Once the grill is hot, reduce the heat to medium-high (about 350-400°F). This will give the steak a nice crust without burning it.
Cooking the Tri Tip
Once the grill is hot, place the steak on the grill and close the lid. Let the steak cook for about 5 minutes without flipping it. After 5 minutes, open the lid and flip the steak. Close the lid again and let the steak cook for another 5 minutes. After 10 minutes of cooking, open the lid and check the steak. It should be slightly charred on the outside, but still pink and juicy on the inside. If it needs more time, close the lid and cook for a few more minutes.
Resting the Tri Tip
Once the steak is finished cooking, remove it from the grill and place it on a cutting board. Let the steak rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the steak, making it even more juicy and tender.
Serving the Tri Tip
After the steak has rested, it’s time to slice it and serve. The best way to slice the tri tip is to start at the thickest part and work your way out, making sure to cut against the grain. This will ensure that the steak is nice and tender. Serve the steak with your favorite sides and enjoy!
Conclusion
Cooking tri tip on the grill is an excellent way to achieve a delicious and juicy steak. With a few simple ingredients and some basic grilling techniques, you can create a delicious meal that everyone will enjoy. So, fire up the grill and get cooking!