Last Updated on May 1, 2023 by Shari Mason
Regardless of how beautiful the steak or pork chops look, all the effort will be wasted if it’s not seasoned properly. So if you need more confidence in the kitchen, a store-bought steak rub might be just what you need.
Well, lucky you! We just tried many of the best store-bought steak seasoning packs to see which can improve our steaks.
If you are looking for the best steal rubs in the market, you may want to check out this list.
Top 12 Store-Bought Steak Seasonings
1. Lane’s Ancho Espresso Coffee Rub
Average Price: approx. $10 per 4 oz
Why We Love It: Lane’s Ancho Espresso Coffee Rub is a must-have for anyone who enjoys steak. We like its robust flavor and blend of spices, such as ancho chili, garlic, brown sugar, coriander, and bitter coffee flavors.
This steak rub goes beyond the standard approach to enhancing the flavor of prime cuts of beef.
Unlike other spices, it gives a bold flavor, but it suits our taste buds. Try this steak rub if you like a deep flavor or flavorful crust.
2. McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning
Average Price: around $12 per pack of 6
Why We Love It: This McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning is commonly used by home cooks. Their unique and delicious blend of steak rub gives a savory flavor to the steak or other meats.
This spice blend includes red pepper, onion, paprika, sunflower oil, and garlic spices. Besides, it’s gluten-free, Kosher, and MSG-free, so it is not overly salty.
3. Killer Hogs Barbecue Steak Rub
Average Price: around $15 per 11oz
Why We Love It: The primary reason why Killer Hogs Steak Rub is different from other seasonings is that it focuses on using open-air cooking methods.
This steak rub is ideal for smoked and grilled meats to add flavor. Also, this is one of the best store-bought steak rubs for its natural flavor.
If you like the best flavor for your BBQ, as we do, use Killer Hogs.
4. Kosmos Q Texas Beef BBQ Rub, Savory Garlic & Lemon Blend
Average Price: around $23 per 16 oz
Why We Love It: If you are looking for a savory alternative without the need for spice, this Kosmos Q BBQ Rub and lemon blend is just what you need.
It provides a unique combination of flavors that you will not find in other steak seasonings.
It is made with simple ingredients such as sugar, garlic, salt, and lemon. Adding sugar helps balance the citrus and gives it a savory flavor.
We suggest keeping this in your spice rack along with the Kosmos Q Texas Dry Rub.
5. Jacobsen Salt Co. Steak Seasoning
Average Price: around $10 per 2.4 oz
Why We Love It: This steak seasoning contains sea salt mixed with various spices and herbs, such as red pepper flakes, roasted garlic, paprika, parsley, and fennel seed.
The unique combo of these ingredients enhances the flavor of the steak and tenderizes it. This spice is a must-have if you are a fan of an artisanal steak rub.
6. Bolner’s Fiesta Uncle Chris’ Gourmet Steak Seasoning
Average Price: around $20 per 20oz
Why We Love It: This great steak seasoning adds a tasty flavor to your steak, making for a delicious meal. This is the first we’ve tried Bolner’s, and we’re surprised how it enhances the flavor of the steak.
“The only time to eat diet food is while you are waiting for the steak to cook.”
― Julia Child, American Cook
It does not contain modified cornstarch; other ingredients include garlic, onion, red bell pepper, and salt. The flavor penetrates the meat, giving it a long-lasting, great flavor.
7. Dos Gauchos Steak Rub
Average Price: around $15 per 2.75 oz
Why We Love It: This is a great choice for those looking for a more premium take on traditional seasoning. But you won’t use it as much since it is a rub. This Argentinian twist adds a bit of a spicy kick to the steak’s flavor (though it is not a spicy seasoning).
This rub is great for various kinds of meat, and it is gluten-free. It is made with natural spices and has a low salt content.
8. Weber Chicago Steak Seasoning
Average Price: around $27 per pack of 6
Why We Love It: Try the Weber steak seasoning if you like the (American) classic flavors. The secret blend of black, white, and whole peppercorns adds a unique flavor to this Chicago steak seasoning.
It has onion and garlic flavors, contributing to the overall flavor profile of this steak rub. Also, this Chicago Steak Seasoning uses natural flavors and no artificial flavors.
Besides, Weber Chicago steak seasoning enhances the flavor profiles of steak, giving it a more meat-like texture.
9. Elmo Steak House Seasoning
Average Price: around $6 per 5.75 oz
Why We Love It: This is one of the great steak rubs that can enhance the flavor of any food, including chicken, pork, steak, or other types of meat.
St. Elmo seasoning is made with Kosher salt, evaporated cane juice, celery, black pepper, minced garlic, onion, and paprika [1].
10. Kinder’s Organic Buttery Steakhouse Seasoning
Average Price: around $13 per pack of 2
Why We Love It: Kinder’s Organic buttery seasoning steak won’t disappoint regarding quality. This organic and delicious steak seasoning is perfect for any meat, imparting a real buttery flavor.
This classic steakhouse seasoning blend contains a combination of spices and salt. For steak lovers who want a little bit of butter flavor, try this Kinder’s steak seasoning.
11. Kosmos Q Dry Rub Texas Beef
Average Price: approx. $23 per 16 oz
Why We Love It: This Texas Beef Rub transforms steak’s fat into “beef butter.” It contains a unique blend of spices – with lemon and onion as the main flavors in this rub.
Kosmos Q offers premium rubs for various cuts of meat, such as Christmas ham and Thanksgiving turkeys.
You can also try their seasoning mixes which are free of sugar and are ideal for people on ketogenic diets [2].
12. 2 Gringos Chupacabra Steak Seasoning
Average Price: around $15 per 12 oz
Why We Love It: The 2 Gringros Chupacabra Steak Seasoning is made in Texas and is a savory blend that includes black pepper and spices, with dehydrated garlic [3] as a dominant content.
This is the best steak seasoning as it is versatile. It makes various cuts of meat, such as chicken, pork, and salmon, savory. You can also use this as a light sprinkle over salad.
FAQs
What do steakhouses use to season steaks?
Steakhouses typically use ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and other signature spices to season steaks.
What is the best seasoning for steak before grilling?
The best seasoning for steak before grilling is kosher salt [4] because its crystals will grab onto the meat. But if you opt for the best store-bought steak rub, we recommend 2 Gringo or McCormick Grill Mates.
In Conclusion
Steak rubs give delectable flavor to your tasty steak, turning that tender strip into a rich and satisfying meal. Give it enough time to absorb, and it will tenderize the meat, transforming it into a masterpiece.
If you are not a master at mixing spices, then you can rely on the best store-bought steak rubs to do the job. Try a blend created to capture the finest North American steak houses.
Or, branch out and develop your unique blend with different flavors.
References:
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/paprika
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499830/
- https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/dehydrated-garlic
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/different-types-of-salt
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