There's something special about a smoked steak's rich, natural flavor cooked the way you like it. It's that infused smoky flavor and a tenderness that can’t be replicated that will make you fall in love with the process of smoking steak.
If you are looking for the best-smoked steaks, they tend to be on the thicker side, about 1½ inches. Some of the most popular cuts of meat for smoking include Ribeye, Sirloin, T-Bone, Beef Tips and Medallions and most Beef Roasts.
Two primary types of smokers are an Electric Smoker or a Pellet Grill Smoker. At the same time, both options allow you to set the temperate and let your steak cook. Pellet grills offer a wider range of temperatures, as they can get much hotter than many Electric Smokers.
They work differently though, as an Electric Smoker creates heat electrically, you can intensify the flavor of your meat by periodically adding some wood chips or wood pellets. In comparison, a Pellet Grill lights the wood pellets on fire by heating an electric rod — the heat and smoke from those wood pellets cook your food and give it that desirable smoky flavor.
In general, a temperature around 200°F to 250°F is best for smoking your steak. However, knowing how long to smoke your steak will depend on a variety of things, like the cut of meat, thickness of the cut, quality of the smoker, smoke it creates and smoke retention, wind, and more. We recommend using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to reach your preferred doneness.
Wood pellets are an ideal fuel source for both Pellet Grills and Electric Smokers. Some flavor-enhancing hardwoods used to make wood pellets include mesquite, hickory, apple, cherry, and pecan. You can use wood chips of similar hardwood that come in varying shapes and sizes but be careful to only use them in an Electric Smoker (NOT a Pellet Grill). Now it’s time to fire up your smoker and enjoy the smoking process. Smoke and sear your steak to enjoy the juiciest, most tender steaks! If you know what specific cut of steak you are cooking, visit our How to Cook Steaks page and select the cut of steak for more specific instructions!
How to Cook Steak in A Smoker
How to Cook Steak in A Smoker
To begin, fire up your smoker and preheat it to 225°F
Season steaks as desired
Place your steaks in the smoker
Place your well-seasoned steak onto the grates of your smoker, close the lid, and smoke the meat until the steaks reach about 10°F below the desired internal doneness temperature. Temperatures are as follows:
- Rare: 115°F
- Medium-Rare: 125°F
- Medium: 135°F
- Medium-Well: 145°F
Next, preheat a skillet or grill to high heat
Place the steaks on the grill or in the skillet and sear them for approximately 2 minutes on each side
Remove steaks from the skillet/ grill and allow them to rest for 5–10 minutes, covering lightly with foil
The temperature of the meat will continue to rise about 5°F during this time (this is called "carryover cooking").
Resting steak is important because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface; if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your steak. Allowing your steak to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful.
Check the final degree of doneness
Steak Cooking Times in A Smoker
For steak cooking times in a Smoker, a temperature of 200°F to 250°F is generally best for smoking your steak. Select your favorite way to smoke your meat and follow the recommended steak cooking times for the best results. We recommend using a meat thermometer and the Measuring Doneness Chart below for perfect steak doneness. Additionally, you can find cut specific steak cooking recommendations for each cut on our How To Cook Steaks page.
Measuring the Doneness of Steaks in A Smoker
Remove steaks from the skillet after searing when your steak reaches approximately 5°F less than your final desired internal temperature listed below. The center will continue to warm as the steak rests..
Recipes for Cooking Smoked Steaks
Looking for a recipe, seasoning, or rub for cooking steaks in the Smoker? Check out our most popular recipes below, or click Steak Recipes.