Tuna is most readily recognized as the chunk meat sold in a can, but tuna is also found in grocery fish departments and on restaurant menus as a flavorful steak. Tuna steak is usually priced mid-range because of its high availability. Tuna steak has a moderate flavor and a firm texture that makes it easy to cook and eat. Tuna grills well because the meat is firm enough, even if it gets stuck on the metal grates.
Step 1
Place the tuna in a marinade prior to grilling it -- either a purchased vinaigrette or homemade. The longer tuna marinates, the more flavor it will absorb through this process. For best results, marinate the fish overnight.
Step 2
Preheat the barbecue grill to medium heat on a gas or charcoal grill, or high heat on an indoor grill.
Step 3
Season the tuna, if desired, based on your personal preferences. Several seasonings and herbs that pair well with fish, particularly tuna, include lemon juice, basil, salt and pepper.
Step 4
Place the tuna on the grill and cook 4 to 6 minutes on each side for every inch of thickness, flipping once with a spatula. If you prefer your tuna to be medium-rare or rare, reduce the cook time by 1 or 2 minutes on each side. Seared, rare tuna needs to be cooked for about a minute on each side.
Step 5
Remove the tuna when its exterior flakes easily when scratched by a utensil. If you prefer, use a meat thermometer to check the meat's temperature. The USDA recommends fish be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F to help prevent foodborne illness.
Tips and Warnings
- When preparing raw or rare tuna, you can reduce the risk of foodborne illness by using sushi-grade tuna. This is the highest grade of fish available and though it comes at a higher cost, it presents the lowest risk of foodborne illness in comparison with other grades of tuna. Ask for sushi-grade tuna at your grocery store or local market, or visit a fish and seafood shop. Although the Food and Drug Administration recommends fish products be fully cooked, it suggests using previously frozen fish when consuming meat that is raw or undercooked -- freezing will kill some of the contaminants that can cause foodborne illness. Searing meat -- the process of cooking meat at a high heat for about one minute on each side -- helps trap juices and moisture in the steak, increasing its overall tenderness and juiciness.
Things You'll Need
- Marinade (optional)
- Seasonings
- Grilling spatula
- Meat thermometer
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