Preheat pan properly before adding oil & meat.

Heat the empty stainless steel pan over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes before adding oil. Test readiness with the Leidenfrost test: flick a few drops of water onto the surface. If they bead up and dance across the pan instead of evaporating instantly or sitting flat, the pan is at the right temperature. Add oil at this point -- it should shimmer and flow easily. Then add the meat. At Leidenfrost temperature, a thin vapor layer forms between the food and the metal, acting as a natural non-stick barrier. Skipping this step or adding oil to a cold pan is the most common cause of sticking.