Steak Doneness Guide: Remove From Heat At This Temp!

Steak Doneness Guide: Remove From Heat At This Temp!

Ever wondered how to achieve the perfect steak, the one that melts in your mouth and leaves you craving more? The secret lies not just in the cut, but in mastering the art of temperature control, ensuring your steak is cooked to your precise preference, every single time.

Grilling a steak, a seemingly simple task, is actually an art form. It requires finesse, a keen understanding of heat, and the patience to monitor the internal temperature closely. There's a whole world of difference between a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak and a rubbery, overcooked one. Getting it right, however, unlocks a culinary experience that elevates a simple meal into a moment of pure pleasure. Ahead, we'll delve into the nuances of steak doneness, providing you with everything you need to know to become a steak aficionado.

The key to achieving steak perfection? Your trusty meat thermometer and the knowledge of internal temperatures. While the "touch test" can be helpful for seasoned cooks, a thermometer offers the most reliable and consistent results. Knowing the target temperature for each level of doneness is crucial. Remember, your "pull/remove from the heat" temperature will be below the final temp you're aiming for. This is because the meat continues to cook, or "carryover cook," as it rests. Knowing this allows for a margin of error, and ensures that you achieve the perfect doneness every time.

Let's break down the different levels of steak doneness, from the barely-seared blue rare to the fully cooked well done, and the temperatures associated with each:


Blue Rare:

  • Remove from heat at: 110F
  • Final internal temperature: 115F
  • This steak is barely seared on the outside and cool, red in the center.


Rare:

  • Remove from heat at: 120F
  • Final internal temperature: 125F
  • Light pink center.


Medium-Rare:

  • Remove from heat at: 125F
  • Final internal temperature: 130F
  • Warm red center.


Medium:

  • Remove from heat at: 130F
  • Final internal temperature: 135F
  • Pink center.


Medium-Well:

  • Remove from heat at: 140F
  • Final internal temperature: 150F
  • Mostly brown center with a hint of pink.


Well-Done:

  • Remove from heat at: 155F
  • Final internal temperature: 160-165F
  • Brown all the way through, no pink.

Remember, the cooking process doesnt end the moment you take the steak off the heat. Letting the steak rest for five to ten minutes before slicing is critical. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful piece of meat. If you cut into a steak too soon, those precious juices will run out, leaving you with a drier, less enjoyable experience.

The longer cooking time will make your steak slightly drier, and the bite less tender. The meat will be drier as water evaporates during the cooking process. And a well done steak will have no color left, will be very firm and much drier. Dont do this to your steak!

Here's how to determine the doneness of the steak. To determine the doneness of the steak, use your cooking thermometer to place it in the center thickest part of the steak until it reaches appropriate temperature. Be mindful that the steak keeps cooking after you remove it from the heat.

For those who prefer their flank steak cooked to medium well, the target internal temperature is between 150F and 155F. At this stage, the meat will be mostly brown or gray throughout with only a hint of pink in the center.

Cooking a steak to the perfect internal temperature can seem daunting, but can definitely can be done. This steak is cooked completely.

Once you get all the way to an internal temperature of 165 degrees or higher, the entire steak is well done, and is probably going to be tough. This level of doneness is often critiqued for being tough and dry due to the lack of moisture. In addition to the 6 classic steak temperatures, two other ways to prepare steak include tartare and the black and blue method.

Here is a table summarizing the doneness levels, including the "remove from heat" and final temperatures, along with a description of each:

Doneness Remove from Heat Temperature Final Internal Temperature Characteristics
Blue Rare 110F 115F Barely seared, cool, red center.
Rare 120F 125F Light pink center.
Medium-Rare 125F 130F Warm red center.
Medium 130F 135F Pink center.
Medium-Well 140F 150F Mostly brown center with a hint of pink.
Well-Done 155F 160-165F Brown all the way through, no pink.

When making steak, such as sirloin filet and teres major steak, cook based on the internal temperature vs. time. Remember, you dont want to overcook the meat, or else it can become chewy and dry.

To reiterate, your "pull/remove from the heat" temperature will be below the final temp youre aiming to serve the meat at as the temperature continues to rise as the meat rests. Cook the steak over a lower heat until the temperature reaches about 10 to 20 degrees below the target temperature, rest it and then sear over a high heat to create a crust and bring the internal temperature up.

Here's a further breakdown of what you can expect at each doneness level:


Medium Well Steak: Medium well steak is slightly pink inside, hot throughout the entire steak, and firm due to a significant loss of juices.


Well Done Steak: Once you get all the way to an internal temperature of 165 degrees or higher, the entire steak is well done, and is probably going to be tough.


To determine the doneness of the steak, use your cooking thermometer to place it in the center thickest part of the steak until it reaches appropriate temperature. Be mindful that the steak keeps cooking after you remove it from the heat. If you want to cook your steak to this level of doneness, make sure to stop cooking it when the temperature hits 155.

For grilling, at 450f, cook for 8 to 9 minutes per side. The meat is grey from edge to edge, the center is hot throughout the steak and the meat itself is visually reduced in size. Its definitely cooked and still showcases the flavor of the meat. Brown on the outside with a mostly brown center that is warm throughout.

The characteristics of flank steak. No pink is left in the middle, the meat is grey from edge to edge.

Cooking a steak can be tricky business. With many factors in play, from the cooking method to the thickness of the steak, it can be hard to tell when it reaches the perfect temperature.

Let's chat about well done: No pink is left in the middle. The meat is grey from edge to edge.

The recommended doneness for steak is 145f. However, some people prefer a steak that is even a bit more done, while others like a steak on the rare side.


Minimum internal temperatures for beef: Ground beef 160f (burgers, meatloaf, meatballs, uncooked beef sausage) desired doneness of beef.

Cooking a steak to the perfect internal temperature can seem daunting, but can definitely can be done.

Remember that, the longer cooker time will make your steak slightly drier and the bite less tender. This level of doneness is often critiqued for being tough and dry due to the lack of moisture.


Cooking to the target temperature: Turn the steak once, giving it 6 minutes and 30 seconds on each side.

Remember, All you'll need is a trusty meat thermometer and the printable steak doneness guide below


In a nutshell: Medium well steak will have a mostly brown center and firm texture. Medium well steak is slightly pink inside, hot throughout the entire steak, and firm due to a significant loss of juices.

There are different way to cook the steak, for example the black and blue method. Another way is to cook on the outside with a warm, light pink center.

Your goal is a light brown with a touch of pink in center. It's definitely cooked and still showcases the flavor of the meat. Brown on the outside with a mostly brown center that is warm throughout.

Now that you're equipped with the knowledge of internal temperatures and the carryover effect, you're well on your way to grilling steaks with confidence. Remember to always use a meat thermometer, be patient, and allow your steak to rest. With a little practice, you'll be serving up perfectly cooked steaks that will impress your friends and family.

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