How long does it take to fry a tri-tip steak?

To pan fry a tri-tip steak in a heavy bottomed pan such as a cast iron skillet, it takes approximately five minutes per side, or nine to 10 minutes, to cook the steak to a medium-rare temperature. To reach a higher internal temperature, it takes a few minutes longer.

Typically, cast iron skillets are recommended for pan cooking tri-tip steaks, as cast iron gets very hot and the heat is distributed evenly in the pan. Tri-tip is one of the tougher cuts of beef, so it is generally cooked on high heat quickly to keep the meat tender and juicy.