How to Grill Sirloin

If you are like us, no cookout is complete without a perfectly grilled sirloin. This versatile cut of meat provides intense meaty flavor along with a rich texture. It’s pretty common for people to struggle with grilling sirloins, but we have some tips that will revolutionize your grill sessions. It turns out that the key to how to grill sirloin steak is simply having the right tools and a bit of patience. Here’s what you need to know.

Is Sirloin Good for Grilling?

Before getting into all the details of how to grill sirloin steak perfectly, it is helpful to learn a little about the steak itself. The sirloin is a cut taken from the subprimal posterior which essentially means it’s on the lower back of the cow. The top part of the sirloin is the tenderest and most sought after piece, while the bottom sirloin is larger and meatier. The sirloin is a lean cut of beef with a fair amount of flavor. It’s not quite as tender or juicy as cuts like the ribeye. However, it is still a good choice for grilling.

Perks of the sirloin include:

• The lean meat is lower in calories.
• It is budget friendly while still being high enough quality for grilling.
• You can cook it at a variety of temperatures without ruining the meat.
• This heavily exercised muscle is packed with flavor.
• Due to the size of the steaks, they’re the perfect single-person portion.
• The meat stands up well to a marinade.
• This versatile steak works for everything from fajitas to kebabs.
• Do You Need to Marinade Sirloin?

Do You Need to Marinade Sirloin?

You do not necessarily need to marinade sirloin. Like any other high-quality steak, just sprinkling it with salt and pepper before placing it on a grill is enough to produce stellar flavor. However, since the meat is a little sturdier than delicate cuts like fillets, a marinade won’t hurt it. Instead, a marinade can help boost the flavor and tenderness without breaking down the meat. A good marinade for sirloin should always include salt, oil, and flavoring ingredients.

Since sirloin is so versatile, it is easy to experiment. A classic steakhouse style marinade usually includes a blend of worcestershire, dijon, garlic, and vegetable oil. You can also try a tasty Korean inspired marinade with garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and soy, or a Mexican marinade with lime, chilies, and cilantro.

How to Grill Sirloin Steak on Gas Grill?

Gas grills are an easy option when you are new to grilling because they are a little simpler to work with. Here is how to get a delicious sirloin on a gas grill.

1. Salt or marinade your meat at least 40 minutes before placing the sirloin on the grill. This gives the salt time to work its way into the middle of the meat, seasoning the steak throughout.
2. Heat your grill on high heat, and brush your steaks lightly with oil.
3. Once the grill comes to temperature, place the steaks on the grill.
4. Flip steaks over every three minutes, and check the temperature regularly.
5. Remove the steaks from your grill once your desired temperature is reached.
6. Allow the steaks to rest for at least five to ten minutes, and then enjoy.

How to Grill Sirloin Steak on Charcoal Grill?

The key to a good sirloin steak on a charcoal grill is starting off on low heat and finishing on high. This develops a deep sear while leaving the interior tender. Follow these steps for the best possible results.

1. As always, start by seasoning your meat 40 minutes in advance. Whether you’re trying to learn how to grill a sirloin tip steak on a gas grill or a charcoal grill, an early sprinkle of salt has a huge impact on flavor.
2. While you let your meat sit, light your charcoal. Ideally, avoid using lighter fluid to light up the coal because it can give a chemical taste to the meat. Instead, bunch up some paper and surround it with a pyramid of coals. Light the paper and give it a few minutes to start burning. To simplify this process, you can use a chimney to heat up the coal.
3. Once the coals are coated in gray ash, arrange them on one side of the grill and put your cooking grate in place. Cover the grill and give it at least five minutes to preheat.
4. Add any final seasoning to your sirloin and oil your grilling grate. Place your sirloin on the cooler side of the grate. Cover it, but leave all vents open. Flip your steak every few minutes until the steaks register 105 degrees Fahrenheit. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Move the steak to the hotter side of the grill. Flip every 30 seconds until a nice sear has developed and the steaks have reached your desired level of doneness. This will take about two minutes.
6. Remove your steaks from the grill and let them rest for 10 minutes.
7. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Grilling Sirloin Medium Rare at 130 Degrees Fahrenheit

Finding the perfect sirloin level of doneness is all about finding the right temperature. Despite all the food bloggers claiming rare steak is the only way to go, we find that sirloin doneness is a matter of persona; preference. Follow this chart to find your perfect steak.

• Blue: A temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a light sear on the outside, but the majority of the steak is still cold, firm, and chewy.
• Rare: A temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The center is still fully red, and possibly slightly cool. Your steak will be full of juiciness and extremely tender.
• Medium Rare: A temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Our personal favorite for sirloin, a medium rare steak has a deep sear on the outside. The interior is still red, but it is warm.
• Medium: A temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This steak is still tender while being mostly cooked. The center will be pink, but not red.
• Medium Well: A temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit. When you know how to grill sirloin steak medium well, the majority of the steak is brown with a small strip of pink in the center.
• Well Done:A temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Your steak is entirely brown with no hint of pink. This tends to dry out a steak and make it tough. However, a good quality sirloin will still have flavor at this point, even if no chef recommends well done.

How to Check Sirloin Doneness

Once you figure out how to manage grill temperature, your main challenge is really just knowing when your steaks have reached your preferred level of doneness. A lot of grill masters recommend things like just poking your sirloin. However, this involves a lot of guesswork, and you risk cooking your steak past the point of no return. Another alternative is cutting open your sirloin and peaking inside. However, the problem with this method for testing sirloin doneness is that it lets a lot of delicious juice and flavor leak out.

The best option is a digital meat thermometer. These thermometers take all the guesswork out of grilling steaks. When shopping for a thermometer for grilling, you need an instant-read thermometer. Instant read options like the ThermoPro meat thermometers tell you the temperature as soon as you stick the probe in the meat, so it won’t overcook while you wait to read the display. They are also heat resistant, so you can use them on the grill without damaging them.

Personally, we  love the ThermoPro TP20 Wireless thermometer. It comes with a probe you stick in your steak, and then a monitor you can carry around with you. This makes it easy to check the temperature of the steak while relaxing in a lawn chair or fixing a side in the kitchen.

One important thing to keep in mind with sirloin steaks above an inch in thickness is that temperature will rise after you pull them off the grill. This happens because heat from the outside will travel to the interior of the steak, cooking it a bit more while your meat rests. You need to take it off the grill when your ThermoPro reads five degrees cooler than your ultimate target temperature.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, making tasty sirloin steaks is all about cooking them to the right temperature. Marinades and seasonings are nice, but a sirloin is a nice enough cut of meat that you do not need to get fancy with it. All you really need for excellent sirloin steaks is a ThermoPro meat thermometer. It allows you to remove them from the grill exactly when they’re done, so you do not risk overcooking or undercooking them. As long as you pay close attention to your steaks and keep grill temperatures steady, you end up with delicious steaks every time. Try it for yourself and let me know how it goes!