re: Steak cooking time

45 seconds just isnt long enough. Remind me who Alton Brown is? Is that the guy who just pirates Harold McGee's stuff on tv?

I think putting a steak in an oven on high heat (notice not broil setting) is just a way to insure a not very well cooked steak. I like using just the stovetop for two reasons:

1) it allows me to watch the meat closer and checks its doneness throughout the cooking process, rather than having to open an oven door and pull the steak out to do so.

2) Continually flipping and basting the steak allows a better crust and more even heat distribution throughout the meat.

Stupid was maybe too strong a word, I concede. Short sighted would have been better.