How to Cook Tri Tip on Gas Grill? 4 Easy Steps for Best Taste

Do you know that every 100 grams of a tri-tip roast contains 25.7 grams of protein, 221 kcal and only 12 grams of fat? The beef cut also has an abundance of other nutrients, including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, niacin and vitamin B6.

The gas grill is one of the most convenient pieces of equipment to cook tri-tip. Therefore, in this article, we are going to mention some quick and handy tips on how to cook tri-tip on a gas grill to bring out its best flavours.

1. What Is A Tri Tip?

Tri-tip is a beef cut from the bottom sirloin of a cow. The Tip of a tri-tip is usually a bit thinner than the rest of the body. Since it is derived from the tip of the sirloin and has a triangular shape, that is why it is named ‘Tri-Tip.’

For people whose taste buds are a fan of steak, this one is definitely a treat. It is a meat cut loved by people all across the globe. You can eat this beef roast as it is or make it into tri-tip steak, fajita, and many other dishes.

Sometimes, the tri-tip steak is also called the triangle steak or the California cut because of its popularity in California. The people of Santa Maria Valley love this beef roast so much that it is now given the name ‘Santa Maria steak‘ or the Newport steak.

Grilling tri-tip on a gas grill is an easy method, and it can be cooked using the reverse sear method.

2. Difference Between Sear And Reverse Sear Method

In the sear method, the meat is grilled directly on direct heat at a high temperature until a brown crust is formed.

In the reverse sear method, the meat is brought to almost up to its finishing temperature on the grill using indirect heat, and then it is given a finishing sear with direct heat on the grill.

Indirect heat cooking is the best for thicker cuts and when you want a more even level of doneness.

3. Special Facts About Tri Tip

The Tri-tip consists of the triangular portion tensor fasciae latae, which can be found on the bottom sirloin. The bottom sirloin tri-tip, or tri-tip, is located on the lower back region. It is a boneless cut.

Well-marbled tri-tips are suitable for grilling, roasting, and sauteing applications. You can also cut tri-tip roasts into thin slices and use them to make fajitas, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, etc., and serve as one of the best fillings.

4. How To Cook Tri Tip On Gas Grill In 4 Easy Steps?

Below, we have discussed a perfect recipe to cook tri-tip on a gas grill in four easy steps.

4.1 Ingredients

• Kosher salt/ garlic salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Ancho chilli powder
• Olive oil

4.2 Tools

• Smokebox – To give a smokey flavour to the meat
• Apple wood chips – To give a fruity and smokey flavour to the meat
• Meat probe/ digital meat thermometer/ instant-read thermometer – To maintain the internal temperature of the tri-tip
• Water pan – To keep the tri-tip nice and moist, as the propane grill makes the air dry.

4.3 Step-By-Step Method

Cooking a tri-tip on a gas grill is an easy process that involves a few repeated steps. It is a perfect recipe for an outdoor grill and barbeque parties.

4.3.1. Meat Rub And Marination

1. To make the rub for tri-tip, mix 2 tablespoons of Kosher salt, 4 tablespoons of black pepper, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of paprika, and 1 teaspoon of ancho chilli powder in a small bowl. You can also use a store-bought meat rub from your favourite local grocery store.
2. Place the tri-tip on a cutting board and pat it down with paper towels to remove extra moisture.
3. Give a light coat of olive oil on the meat; you can also add some soy sauce.
4. After this, coat it evenly with the meat rub on all sides and marinate it for a few minutes. You can also marinate it overnight to soak in the flavour more. Coating the tri-tip with olive oil before the dry rub helps adhere to the seasoning better.
5. While marinating your tri-tip with the dry rub, start your grill.

4.3.2. Preparing The Grill

1. Preheat the grill to 500 degrees F and clean the grill grates with a brush to remove grease and dirt.
2. Switch on all the burners at the highest and close the grill till it reaches 500 degrees F.
3. When the grill reaches 500 degrees F, turn the burners off.  Let it cool down while switching one dial on at medium heat.
4. Fill the woodbox with apple chips.
5. Turn one of the side burners to medium heat and put the woodbox inside the grill.
6. Close the lid until the temperature inside the grill reaches a minimum of 250 or 275 degrees F.

4.3.3 The Procedure

1. Put your marinated tri-tip on one side of the grill away from direct heat (i.e., the side that is switched off). Put a water pan on the other side of the grill to maintain moisture. Using a meat probe, maintain the internal temperature at 130 degrees F.
2. When the internal temperature reaches 125 degrees to 130 degrees, remove the meat from the grill and put it on the side.
3. Close the grill and switch on all the grills at high dial till the temperature inside the grill reaches 500 degrees.
4. Place the tri-tip back on the grill on direct heat once the temperature on the grill reaches 500 degrees.
5. Close the lid and give it a quick sear for around 1 minute and 30 seconds, then flip it. Press the tri-tip down from time to time so that it may cook evenly. Wait for another minute and a half and turn it over again.
6. Continue cooking until you get your desired doneness. The easiest way to do this is by using the finger test while it is on the grill.
7. When done, take out the tri-tip roast from the grill.
8. Place the tri-tip roast on a cutting board and cover it with aluminium foil for 20 minutes.

4.3.4 Final Touch

1. After 20 minutes, remove the foil from the grilled tri-tip. Slice against the grains of the grilled tri-tip roast into thin slices. Serve immediately.
2. Serve it with a bowl of green salad and some salt and pepper on the side. You can also squeeze some lime juice on top of the tri-tip.

5. The Finger Test

The finger test is an easy and simple method used to check the doneness of the meat. It does not require any professional skill or a high-end cooking tool.

For the finger test, you have to put your finger on the tri-tip and feel the firmness of the tri-tip roast.

• If you press the base area of your thumb against the cooked meat and it gives a soft feel, then this indicates that the meat hasn’t cooked fully and that it is still raw.

• If you push your thumb and first finger together, the base of your thumb gets a little firmer; this firmness is similar to the rare doneness of the meat.

• Pushing the thumb and index finger together gives you the firmness of medium-rare meat.
• Pushing the thumb and middle finger will give you medium, well-cooked meat, and pushing the thumb and pinky together gives you a well-done steak.

6. How To Cut Tri Tip?

Even though it is one whole muscle, cutting a tri-tip can be tricky as the grain runs in two different directions.

The grain of the meat refers to the direction in which the muscle fibres are running. Cutting this grain of meat greatly affects how tender the meat is.

For a perfect tri-tip cut, the method to get a tender slice is to slice against the grain of the grilled tri-tip roast. This will give a nice and tender chew. It may give a light resistance, but all in all, it breaks easily and is soft to chew.

On the other hand, cutting the meat in the direction of the grain will give a majorly chewy bite like rubber and will be hard to break down.

The grain of the tri-tip starts from one corner and then spreads out to the rest, giving longer strands, and then rotates to shorter strands.

So, place the tri-tip on a cutting board and slice against the grain or start slicing the meat in a direction perpendicular to the grain.

The moment you reach the halfway mark, rotate it and slice the other half.

To obtain maximum tenderness, cut the tri-tip into thin slices, as this gives the perfect tender slice.

7. Gas Grill Vs Charcoal Grill

In simple terms, a gas grill is a grill that uses gas to cook food, while a charcoal grill uses charcoal to heat the grill.

For years, there have been many debates on which of these is a better appliance to cook beef cuts. So, if you are also confused, then you can check out the advantages and disadvantages below to pick your side.

7.1 Pros And Cons Of Using A Gas Grill

7.1.1 Pros

• Gas grills are more convenient.
• A majority of the grates present in the gas grill are made from stainless steel material, which makes it easier to clean.
• Controlling the temperature on a gas grill is also super easy because of the presence of a dial.
• Gas grills are versatile and may have additional features like sideburners, rotisserie, etc.

7.1.2 Cons

• Good-quality gas grills are sometimes more expensive than charcoal grills.
• Unless you opt for a travel-friendly gas grill, the portability of a gas grill is low because of its size.
• Removing or reconnecting the gas tanks can sometimes be a challenging task.
• Above all, a gas grill lacks heat for high heat searing compared to a charcoal grill.

7.2 Pros And Cons Of Using A Charcoal Grill

7.2.1 Pros

• Charcoal-grilled meats have a unique and distinct smoky charcoal flavour that comes naturally from cooking on charcoal. If you like this smoky flavour, then you can ditch the gas grill and choose the charcoal grill because gas grills don’t have the ability to replicate this exact same taste.
• Charcoal grills are also capable of high-temperature searing.

7.2.2 Cons

• Charcoal grills are hard to clean.
• They are a bit messier than gas grills.
• They take longer to heat up.

8. How To Store Tri-Tip Roast?

Tri-tip tastes the best if you serve it immediately after cooking. But for circumstances where it cannot be finished in one sitting, or you want to save it for later, here is how you can store it.

Take an airtight container, keep the tri-tip inside it, and seal it properly. The tri-tip can be stored in a fridge for about 3-5 days at most and can last in the freezer (under -18 degrees Celsius or below) for about 4-12 months. The tri-tip can be stored whether it is cut or uncut.

But a point to remember is that reheating the leftover tri-tip will continue to cook the meat further. Hence, it will no longer be medium rare or the doneness that you wanted initially.

So it is best to finish the tri-tip once served or cook it to a doneness that is a bit lower than the one you prefer.

In the End

Cooking tri-tip on a gas grill is an easy and convenient method that does not require much culinary training.

Above, we have mentioned an easy tri-tip roast recipe that results in a juicy, tender, and delicious meal perfect for a cookout or a barbeque to impress your friends and family.

So, embrace your inner master chef, experiment with different flavours and techniques, and elevate your cooking skills with your favourite gas grill today!