We tell you all you need to know about cooking rump steak to perfection! What ingredients to cook steak in, how to cook rump steak with cooking times for rare, medium-rare, medium or well done.
How to cook rump steak?
Now if you want to get on with the recipe and a list of ingredients you will need, click the link below to jump straight to the recipe card.
Press the button below to show you the best way to cook rump steak.
Or stick around to read more tips for cooking rump steak.
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We also have advice for how to cook Cote de Boeuf or a Tomahawk Steak you may like to try next time
What is Rump Steak?
British Rump steak is a boneless cut of beef from the hindquarters of the cow. It is slightly cheaper than sirloin or fillet steak. But when cooked the right way it has a fantastic rich flavour.
What is Rump Steak called in America?
Rump steak is the same cut as what the Americans call Sirloin steak. The British Sirloin steak meanwhile is cut from the middle of the cow.
Rest steak before cooking
For best results, take the rump steak out of the fridge before cooking and rest the steak at room temperature between 30 minutes to 2 hours.
How to season steak?
Rump steak naturally has a great rich and meaty flavour so we don't overcomplicate it with extra flavours, a generous sprinkle of salt and coarsely ground black pepper on both sides is all you need to season the steak.
Cooking rump steak
It may seem easy to some but steak needs to be cooked correctly to achieve the desired doneness! First thing to consider, is what you are cooking the steak in.
What to cook steak in?
We use our cast iron pan, which is perfect for cooking steak as it can reach a high heat and maintain the heat. You could use a skillet, griddle or a heavy-based frying pan instead.
Ensure the oil is scorching hot before carefully placing the rump steak in the pan.
Rump steak cooking times
How long to cook rump steak depends on how you like it cooked and how thick the steak is cut. Use our handy chart below for your desired doneness, rare, medium-rare, medium or well done?
Ask the butcher to cut it 1 inch thick and follow the below times for how you like it cooked?
| How do you like your steak cooked? | 1-inch thick Rump Steak |
| Rare | 2 min (on each side) |
| Medium-Rare | 3 min (on each side) |
| Medium | 4 min (on each side) |
| Well done | 5+ min (on each side) |
If using thinner cut steak lower time. Or for thicker cut steak cook for longer.
Best way to cook rump steak?
Medium-rare is the best way to cook rump steak, 3 minutes on each side with fresh thyme and splashed with melted butter during cooking.
All the pictures you see here are cooked to our preference for medium-rare rump steak.
How long to rest a steak?
Remove steak from the pan and place onto a warm plate, cover with foil and rest for at least 8 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute through the steak.
Side dishes for steak
Steak can be served with so many things, the obvious is chips, fries, jacket potato or mashed potatoes, a nice side salad or vegetables and garlic bread.
We like to go all out with air-fried chips, air fryer garlic mushrooms and tomatoes cooked on a griddle.
Our miller and carter inspired homemade onion loaf, and not forgetting our amazing peppercorn sauce.
Sauces to serve with Steak
You could serve with some of our other sauce recipes too from peppercorn to mushroom sauce for steak.
Rump steak - medium rare
Ok, I know what you want to see, the inside of this rump steak cooked medium-rare. Well, here it is, perfectly succulent and juicy steak.
Do you realise how hard it was not to gobble it up so I could take these photos!
Here is the rump steak recipe card for you to make your own steak at home.
📖 Step by Step Recipe
How to Cook Rump Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
- 2 Rump steak (1 ½ inch thick) (room temperature) - Any size - Sirloin or Fillet can be used instead
- Salt & Pepper
- 4 tablespoon Butter
- 4 Thyme Sprigs
Instructions
- Preferably bring steak to room temperature before cooking.2 Rump steak (1 ½ inch thick) (room temperature)
- Season well on both sides with salt & pepper.Salt & Pepper
- Add oil to a pan and bring to hottest setting, allow oil to get hot before adding steak. Keep it set to the hot setting throughout cooking!Rump Steak cooking time on each side - Based on a 1-inch thick cut. Add more time for a thicker cut or less for a thinner cut.Rare - 2 min Medium Rare - 3 minutesMedium - 4 minutesWell done - 5+ minutes2 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
- After the first side has had the right cooking time, flip to the other side.
- Add butter and fresh thyme into the pan. Once the butter has melted in the pan time for the same as before for the desired doneness.Rare - 2 min Medium Rare - 3 minutesMedium - 4 minutesWell done - 5+ minutes4 tablespoon Butter, 4 Thyme Sprigs
- During this final cooking time use a spoon to continuously coat the steak with the melted butter whilst it is cooking.
- Remove from pan and place steak on a warmed plate to allow it to rest for at least 8 minutes. Enough time to make our easy peppercorn sauce to go with it!
Video
Nutrition
The winning shot with the peppercorn sauce drizzled over the top.
Looking for other steak sauces? Try our Red Wine Jus or our Seafood Boil Sauce (a garlic and butter dip which also tastes great with steak)
We hope this recipe helps you achieve restaurant-quality steak cooked just the way you like at home!
More Steak Recipes
Here are a few more steak recipe ideas.
Please let us know how you got on and what you like to serve with your steak?
Agnieszka says
This is a great tutorial. I can't wait to try making steak this way!
Kay says
Thank you so much, Agnieszka
Glad you liked the step by step guide and enjoy cooking steak this way, it's perfect 🙂
Kayla DiMaggio says
Love this tutorial! I am not a big cooker of meat so I can always use a good tutorial! Mine turned out great!
Kay says
Thanks, Kayla
Really pleased you liked our tutorial and your steak came out great 🙂
Amy Nash says
Loved your tips, especially since I wasn't as familiar with this cut of meat! It actually was deliciously tender and so nice for a lovely Sunday dinner!
Kay says
Thank you, Amy
Glad you liked the tips on cooking steak and it made your Sunday dinner great 🙂
Kate says
My steak turned out amazing, thanks to your tips. I can't wait to make this again.
Kay says
Thanks, Kate
So pleased your steak came out amazing 🙂
Jacqueline Debono says
Steak and chips with a pepper sauce is one of my favourite treats. I also use a cast iron pan to cook steak. It works so much better than anything else! Your sauce looks amazing. Coming back to get the recipe for that!
Kay says
Thanks, Jacqueline
Steak and chips is a great diner for any day of the week and the peppercorn sauce just tops it all of, it's mouthwatering 🙂
Hope you enjoy your steak!!
Alex says
I definitely need to follow your directions! I am fantastic at overcooking and killing steak. Your tips are great!
Erin says
Oooh, I need to try this! In Germany, we also have Rumpsteak and I never knew what to do with it. Now I do! 🥳
Kay says
Thank you, Erin
Hope you enjoy the way we cook our steak 🙂
Let us know your thoughts?
Sara LaFountain says
I have never tried to make a rump roast. Thanks for sharing this step by step recipe.
Kay says
Thanks, Sara
Hope you enjoy your Rump steak and the step by step guide helps you out 🙂
Priya Maha says
Just looking at the images on this page is making me hungry. The steak looks so delicious. And thank you for the tips on cooking time for the different levels of doneness!
Kay says
Thank you, Priya
Pleased to hear the tips with cooking times for rump steak helped 🙂
Enjoy your steak!!
Linda says
Really enjoy this recipe - so easy and flavorful inn every bite
Kay says
Thank you so much, Linda
Glad you liked your rump steak 🙂
Marie says
I don't often cook steak at home, so when I do, I need detailed instructions and clever tips, which is exactly how you laid out your post! Thanks so much for allowing me to make the most of this delicious beef cut.
Kay says
Our pleasure Marie
So pleased we help you cook a good rump steak 🙂
Enjoy!!
Tammy says
A great breakdown on cooking beef. I too like a simple seasoning when it comes to steak. Looks absolutely delicious!
Kay says
Thanks, Tammy for the comment and rating!!
The simple seasoning is always the best 🙂
Lauren Michael Harris says
I wasn't sure what a rump steak is, as we have a roast we call a rump roast here, but now I get it - sirloin! This is a super helpful post for how to cook steak on the stove top - looking forward to that peppercorn sauce recipe too!
Kay says
Thanks, Lauren
Really pleased to hear you found our rump steak post helpful and I'm sure you will love the peppercorn sauce its lush 🙂
Leslie says
I cannot get over how easy this is! I love how easily you explained this as well. So helpful!
Kay says
Thank you, Leslie
Glad the blog came in handy and hope you enjoy your rump steak 🙂