If you’re working with a lean cut of steak it’s important to know that grilling it requires careful attention: aside from the fat that a cut like a Porterhouse has lean steaks dry out quickly on the grill. Tri-tip comes from the sirloin and is known for its tenderness with a meaty flavor and a roughly triangular shape. That said it’s lean so it’s easier to accidentally grill it into a strip of leather if you’re not careful—don’t cook it past medium and you may want to keep it medium-rare or less for optimal tenderness.
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PERFECT TRI TIP ON THE GRILL (EASY STEAK RECIPE!) | SAM THE COOKING GUY
But the best tip for grilling a tri tip steak is to marinate it first as this adds fat and moisture to keep it from drying out on the grill. There’s no shortage of marinade recipes out there but generally you’ll want a good amount of oil – about half the marinade or even a little more. The oil can be neutral or flavored (like olive oil) depending on your preference. Then some acid like lemon juice (but for every two parts oil you don’t need more than one part acid) and seasonings like herbs chilies or garlic. Salt is key (of course this can be in the form of something like soy sauce) and some sources recommend a little sugar to help caramelize the meat on the grill.
Marinades benefit cuts of meat like tri tip steak in a number of ways. The salt helps the proteins in the meat retain their moisture and since this cut of meat doesn’t have a lot of fat to help it stay juicy that’s a big plus. Fat (that’s oil) helps keep your steak juicy but it also helps brown it as you cook it. The addition of flavorings—whether it’s spices garlic herbs or chili peppers—will help add another layer of flavor. Finally the acid in marinades is a bit of a controversial issue: some say it helps tenderize the meat (another boon for a cut of meat that can quickly become tough on the grill) but others say it can make the meat mushy. That said that’s probably only an issue if you’ve soaked your tri tip in an acidic marinade for too long.
That begs the question of how long you should marinate your steak—most sources agree that a few hours (or at least one) is good with some recommending up to 12 hours or even overnight. Be warned though: It’s possible to marinate steak for too long as this can break down the meat too much and ruin the texture—so don’t leave it out for days. Once your tri tip is sufficiently marinated you’re ready to grill it—but not for too long as you want it medium-done at most.
