BEEF GRILLING GUIDE Download Grilling Guide
The following cuts, thicknesses, weights, and grilling times are meant to be guidelines rather than hard and fast rules. Cooking times are affected by such factors as altitude, outside temperature, and desired doneness. A few rules of thumb: Grill patties and steaks 1 inch thick or less using the Direct Method for the time given on the chart or to desired doneness, turning once halfway through grilling time. Sear thick steaks over Direct High heat and finish grilling over Indirect Medium heat turning once halfway through grilling time. Grill roasts and thicker cuts using the Indirect Method for the time given on the chart, or until an instant-read thermometer registers the desired internal temperature. Cooking times for beef are to medium doneness unless otherwise noted. Let roasts, larger cuts of meat, and thick steaks rest 10 to 15 minutes before carving. The internal temperature of the meat will rise by 5 to 10 degrees during this time.
Cut of Meat | Thickness or Weight | Approximate Cooking Time |
Beef, ground | ¾” thick | 8 to 10 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once |
Filet mignon steak | ¾” thick | 4 to 6 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once |
1″ thick | 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1¼” thick | 8 to 10 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1½” thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 4 to 6 min indirect high heat | |
2″ thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 8 to 10 min indirect high heat | |
Flank steak | ¾” thick | 8 to 10 min direct medium heat (350° to 450°F), turning once |
Flat iron steak | 1″ thick | 8 to 10 min direct medium heat (350° to 450°F), turning once |
Hanger steak | 1″ thick | 8 to 10 min direct medium heat (350° to 450°F), turning once |
Hot dog | 4 oz | 5 to 7 min direct medium heat (350° to 450°F), turning once |
Kabob | 1″ cubes | 4 to 6 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once |
1½” cubes | 6 to 7 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
New York strip steak | ¾” thick | 4 to 6 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once |
1″ thick | 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1¼” thick | 8 to 10 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1½” thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 4 to 6 min indirect high heat | |
2″ thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 8 to 10 min indirect high heat | |
Porterhouse steak | ¾” thick | 4 to 6 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once |
1″ thick | 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1¼” thick | 8 to 10 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1½” thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 4 to 6 min indirect high heat | |
2″ thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 8 to 10 min indirect high heat | |
Rib eye steak | ¾” thick | 4 to 6 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once |
1″ thick | 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1¼” thick | 8 to 10 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1½” thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 4 to 6 min indirect high heat | |
2″ thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 8 to 10 min indirect high heat | |
Rib roast, boneless | 5–6 lb | 1¼ to 1¾ hours indirect medium heat (350° to 450°F) |
Rib roast, with bone | 5–6 lb | 1½ to 2 hours indirect medium heat (350° to 450°F) |
8 lb | sear 10 min direct medium heat (350° to 450°F), turning once; grill 2-1⁄3 to 3 hours indirect low heat (250° to 300°F) | |
Skirt steak | ½” thick | 4 to 6 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once |
Strip loin roast, boneless | 4–5 lb | sear 10 min direct medium heat (350° to 450°F), turning once; grill 40 to 50 min indirect medium heat |
T-bone steak | ¾” thick | 4 to 6 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once |
1″ thick | 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1¼” thick | 8 to 10 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once | |
1½” thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 4 to 6 min indirect high heat | |
2″ thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 8 to 10 min indirect high heat | |
Tenderloin, whole | 3½–4 lb | sear 15 min direct medium heat (350° to 450°F), turning a quarter turn every 4 min; grill 20 to 30 min indirect medium heat |
Top sirloin | 1½” thick | sear 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once; grill 4 to 6 min indirect high heat |
Tri-tip roast | 2–2½ lb | sear 10 min direct medium heat (350° to 450°F), turning once; grill 20 to 30 min indirect medium heat |
Veal rib chop | 1″ thick | 6 to 8 min direct high heat (450° to 550°F), turning once |