How to Reverse Sear a Steak in a Masterbuilt Gravity Fed Smoker: Step-by-Step

Reverse sear steaks and baked potatoes cooked on a Masterbuilt Gravity Feed Smoker, served on a wooden board with sour cream and chives.

There’s nothing quite like the taste of a perfectly cooked steak, and with the right technique, you can achieve that melt in your mouth experience right in your backyard. Reverse searing a steak in the Masterbuilt Gravity Fed Smoker gives you the perfect balance of smokey flavour and a crispy, charred crust. Whether you're using ribeyes or your favourite cut, this method makes it easy to create a restaurant quality meal with minimal effort. Ready to turn your steak game up a notch? Let’s dive in.

 

The Story Behind This Cook

We’ve all been there, burning the outside of your steak while trying to get the inside just right. Well, reverse searing is the answer to that age old problem. The beauty of using the Masterbuilt Gravity Fed Smoker is that it allows you to cook your steak slowly, keeping it tender and juicy, before finishing it off with a quick, high heat sear. In this recipe, we’ll also throw in some jacket potatoes to make the meal even more satisfying.

What makes this method great? You get all the flavour from the charcoal and wood chunks while having control over the temperature to ensure your steak is cooked to perfection. Let’s break it down, step by step, to get you the ideal steak that will leave your guests talking for weeks.

 

What You’ll Need

  • Masterbuilt Gravity Fed Smoker
  • Steak: Ribeye (or your favourite cut)
  • Binder: Olive oil
  • Seasoning: Bovine Espresso Rub (or your preferred seasoning)
  • Jacket Potatoes
  • Charcoal: Lump charcoal for steady heat
  • Wood Chunks: Optional, for extra smokiness (e.g., hickory, mesquite)
  • Meat Probe: (Optional for checking internal temperature)
  • Tongs and Heat-Resistant Gloves: For handling hot food
  • Weights: (Optional for extra sear pressure)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1.Prep the Steak and Potatoes
 

  • Start by washing the jacket potatoes and poking holes in them with a fork. Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and season with salt.
  • Rub the steak with a thin layer of olive oil. Then, season the steak generously with your Bovine Espresso rub (or any other rub you like). The key here is to apply the rub from a higher distance to ensure even coverage.

Fresh potatoes being prepared on a wooden chopping board for Smoking

Raw ribeye steaks on a wooden board with Espresso brisket and steak rub seasoning.

 

2. Prepare the Masterbuilt Gravity Fed Smoker

3. Cook the Steak & Potatoes

  • Place the seasoned steak and jacket potatoes on the smoker grill. Let the potatoes cook for the next 1-1.5 hours, or until they’re soft when pierced with a fork. For the steak, aim for an internal temperature of 120°F (49°C) for a perfect medium rare.Placing seasoned steak on a Masterbuilt Gravity Feed Smoker grill with whole potatoes cooking on the upper rack.

4. Rest the Steak

  • Once the steak hits the desired temperature, carefully remove it from the smoker and let it rest while you prepare the grill for the searing step.
     

5. Increase the Temperature

etting up a Masterbuilt Gravity Feed Smoker to 360°F for grilling and smoking with foil-wrapped food on the side hopper.

6. Reverse Sear the Steak
 

  • Place your steak back onto the smoker grill, directly over the hot coals, to get a good sear. Use tongs to flip the steak every 30 seconds to get an even crust. Optional: Lay some weights on the steak to press it down for an even better sear.
  • Sear the steak for about 3-5 minutes per side, depending on how crispy you like your crust.

Searing a tomahawk steak on a Masterbuilt Gravity Feed Smoker using a Flaming Coals grill press.

7. Serve and Enjoy

  • Once you have the perfect sear, remove the steak from the grill and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Slice and serve with those golden jacket potatoes for the ultimate meal.

Reverse sear tomahawk steaks served with baked potatoes topped with sour cream, cheese and chives on a wooden board.

Cameron enjoying a taste test of reverse sear tomahawk steak cooked on a Masterbuilt smoker at BBQ Spit Rotisseries.

 

 

Download your free smoking Recipe Guide

Tips & Tricks

  • Want more smoky flavour? Experiment with different wood chunks like cherry or apple to give your steak a unique twist.
  • Can’t find Bovine Espresso rub? No worries, use any BBQ rub with a mix of brown sugar, salt, and a touch of chili for a similar flavour profile. Need a new rub? Check out our range of rubs here.
  • Don’t have a meat probe? You can also check the steak's doneness by feel. Press the centre of the steak; soft means rare, firm means well done.
  • Make it a feast: Pair this with a fresh salad or grilled veggies for a complete meal.

What’s Next?

Ready to elevate your steak game and become the hero of your next backyard BBQ? Get yourself a Masterbuilt Gravity Fed Smoker and start cooking like a pro. We’ve got all the gear you need to make your BBQs legendary.

 Shop Now and Fire Up Your BBQ Skills.

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Here’s to your next legendary BBQ. With the right smoker and a little patience, you’ll be cooking like a pro in no time!

 

Author Name

by: Sasha Halabi