ClockPlayEmailInstagramLinkSMSTwitterYouTubeWhatsAppXSearchClockRight ArrowArrow DownCaret downCaret upCaret leftCaret rightHamburger MenuPop OutThumbs upThumbs up buySpeechAudio onReplayPlusMinusSad smiley faceNo resultsSwapMoreYour grocery bagSuccessShop Tasty MerchYour Cart (empty)Your CartFacebookPinterestEmailPrintSmsTwitterWhatsappCommentTips Highlights
Skip to Content

Alton Brown's Weird Steak Hack Is Actually Genius

Mayo haters, look away.

Alton Brown — everybody's favorite food nerd — is known for his kooky-yet-genius cooking tips...

Food Network

Remember when he told us to cook meatballs in an egg carton? Or when he instructed us to cook popcorn in a metal bowl?

So when he posted a picture of a steak coated in mayonnaise on his Instagram page, people knew that he was onto something clever.

After some ~online research~, it turns out that cooking proteins with mayonnaise instead of oil is actually pretty common.

Food Network

For example, Chef Michael Cimarusti of Providence restaurant swears by brushing his fish fillets with mayo before throwing them onto the grill...

youtube.com

This is because a thin coating of mayonnaise can help prevent proteins (like steak or seafood) from sticking to a grill and promote even browning just like oil does. (You can see exactly how he does it here.)

And when you think about it, the hack is not actually that weird.

Getty Images

Mayonnaise is just eggs and oil, so using it as an oil replacement makes sense — and it can add extra flavor! According to The Daily Meal, "Since fat is flavor and mayonnaise is mostly made up of oil and egg yolks (both of which are fats), mayo translates to more flavor"

So whether you want to try something new, or you're just out of butter or oil and need a quick fix, try coating your streak in mayonnaise.

Getty Images

Just brush a thin layer on your steak or fish before cooking it — no need to add anything else to the pan. If you want to add spices, add them after you brush the mayo on. The mayo will help the spices stick better and create a nice crust.

Now that's some Good Eats! Thanks Alton!

Food Network

What's you favorite nerdy-but-brilliant Alton Brown cooking hack? Let us know in the comments!

Trending Recipes

Trending Recipes

More Tasty Guides

More Tasty Guides

    See all