A dry rub is a mixture of herbs and spices that coats the outside of your steak. How you apply a dry rub will be the difference between a delicious steak and a disastrous one.

The traditional method is to apply the dry rub before searing and cooking your steak. This method works best for a thinner coat of applied dry rub that lacks sugar.

Consider using the wet hand and dry hand method to avoid cross-contamination. You want one hand touching the steak and the other hand handling the spices and utensils.

The other common dry rub method is to apply the dry rub after searing the steak, which you'll want to do for thicker coats of dry rub that contain sugar.

For this method, sear your steak first, then cook it slightly before adding your dry rub. To prevent the rub from burning, cook your steak on medium or low heat.

Unlike the traditional method, you can't let the steaks marinate in the rub overnight — which helps the spice penetrate the meat for added flavor — with this method.