The Lesser-Known Steakhouse Method Often Used For That Crispy, Caramelized Crust

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The Lesser-Known Steakhouse Method Often Used For That Crispy, Caramelized Crust By Bobby Lewis Oct. 31, 2025 7:39 pm EST

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One of the best parts of a restaurant-quality steak is the crisp, delicious crust that locks in so much flavor. But if you've ever tried to recreate this at home, your efforts may have fallen short regardless of what techniques or pans you used. The reason for that might be an unusual piece of equipment typically only found in professional kitchens.

It's common for restaurants to use traditional broilers for steaks, where the meat is cooked by superheating the surrounding air. However, some steakhouses like Ruth's Chris, The Palm, and Morton's use infrared broilers instead. These also provide intense heat, but the m