Others say salting it right before cooking is best. You're eating the whole steak. But you aren't. Many chefs recommend this benchmark as a good guide for pre-seasoning meat. Season your steak with about ¾ - 1 teaspoon of salt per pound, applying on both sides. Gourmet Seasoning Blends, Bourbon BBQ, Chile Lime, Porterhouse Steak, Tuscan Dipping, Discounts, Recipes, avail Whole Foods or Shop Online, Support Heifer Intl. The seasoning on the surface has to be enough to properly season each bite. Since you obviously cannot "salt to taste," it's sometimes hard to know how much salt is enough. Salt your steak at least 40 minutes before you cook it. When to Salt the Steak . Some chefs like to salt a steak well in advance of cooking, even up to 24 hours in advance. When to apply the salt is a common seasoning question.