GrillGrates Dominate 25th Annual World Championship Steak Cook-Off®

GrillGrate is excited to announce that all five money winners at the 25^th Annual World Championship Steak Cook-Off May 16-17^th grilled on GrillGrates. The 25^th annual competition saw 81 teams vying for the $4,000 grand prize, with prize money paid through 5^th place.

Smokehouse Rats of Boyd, Texas won this year’s contest, a $4000 check, and the Governor's Trophy.

“This is the fourth year in a row the winner has grilled on GrillGrates and the first time all five money winners used GrillGrates”. Even more exciting is the enthusiasm of the backyard griller who consistently share pictures and comments about grilling their best steak. GrillGrates have become synonymous with perfectly grilled steaks.

GrillGrate was proud to be a sponsor at this year's event. We prepared breakfast pizzas for the teams on the Grand Prize  Yoder Smoker that was given away to the winner of the Champions of Champions contest.

Steak grilling competitions have become a significant competitive sport with competitions paying sizable sums for that perfect steak. The SCA-The Steak Cook-Off Association was recently formed to help coordinate and standardize steak cook off events and judging. “Steak competitions are the next big thing in the world of grilling”.

Jazzie B and Shannon W were the Grand Prize winners!

The end of May also marked the end of our promotion with Meyer Natural Angus. We asked our fans and customers to submit their best pictures of grilled steaks into one of two categories- #GRATESTEAK for pics of gorgeous sear marks and #PERFECTCUT for pics of perfectly cooked steak interiors. Two winners were chosen along with two runners up. The grand prizes were $129 gift packs of steaks from Meyer and the runners up each received $75 in product from GrillGrate. 

Steak Grilling Tips from Steak Cookoff Pros and GrillGrate

photo courtesy of  "I Eat, I Shoot, I Post"

With the World Championship Steak Cookoff® right around the corner, GrillGrate today released steak grilling tips from several World Championship Steak winners and grilling experts. The patented GrillGrate has become synonymous with the perfect steak as the past three world champions all grilled on GrillGrates.

Every griller worth his salt and pepper is on a life-long quest to grill the perfect steak. To some it has even become a competitive sport, with steak competitions popping up all over the US and Canada offering big prize money to winners. Imagine winning $4,000 for the best steak – that’s the payout from the upcoming World Championship Steak Cookoff^® held every year in Magnolia, 
Arkansas on the third Saturday in May.

With the 25^th Anniversary World Championship Steak Cookoff right around the corner, GrillGrate LLC is excited to release steak grilling tips in conjunction with grilling experts and past championship grillers.

The experts and champions offer tips and advice for anyone who wants to grill like the pros:

1. John Enright, Corporate Ranch Chef for Meyer Natural Angus. “If you would like to set yourself apart from the rest of the field start with the best beef available. Better beef comes from animals that are naturally and humanely raised, with no steroids or antibiotics, on a wholesome diet. That adds up to tastier, higher quality beef. Consumers are asking for natural beef. It’s not a trend anymore it is a way of life. Ask for Meyer Natural Angus and start to set your meals apart from the norm.”

 2. Brett Gallaway, USA Cookteam 2011 World Champion: 
“You have to know your grill and meat temperatures. Grilling steaks happens hot and fast and requires precise timing. An instant read thermometer is a must. Grill steak to a target internal temperature and not by the clock. I use a laser thermometer to measure the cooking grate temperature too. I want the GrillGrate to be at least 600F.”





 3. Johnny Joseph, Milam Cook Team 2008 World Champion: 
“I wet my steaks with a special marinade first, then I put my rub on so it dissolves the rub and doesn't wash it off. The steaks go wet on the grill for a hot and fast grilling.”

4. Ernest Servantes, 2012 Food Network Chopped Grill Masters Champion: “You've got to have those killer diamond sear marks. Diamonds are a grills best friend. People eat with their eyes first and a perfectly seared steak sets off the senses. I lift and twist the steak before turning to get perfect diamond sear marks. Beautiful presentation sets the stage for that first cut.”






 5. Monte Brown, Trash Can Cookers 2013 World Champion: 
“I grill using a process called the reverse sear. First I cook the steak at 225F to slowly bring the internal temperature up, then I remove the steak and get the grill very hot for the final sear. Just a couple of minutes a side to sear and darken the outside. The steak will be medium to medium rare.”

Although these professionals and champions all use their own methods, one thing is certain: a perfectly grilled steak starts with GrillGrates.

The World Championship Steak Cook-off^® is the centerpiece of the Magnolia Blossom Festival held the third weekend in May in Magnolia, Arkansas. 2014 marks the 25^th anniversary of the steak cook-off. All previous winners have been invited back to compete in a Champion of Champions contest that will run concurrently with the 2014 contest.