How to Tell a Medium-Rare Steak

Medium-rare steaks may contain pink or red juices after you prepare them.

Most chefs and restaurants prefer to serve medium-rare steak because it remains juicy and flavorful. Telling when a steak reaches a medium-rare doneness level may require practice.Knowing the signs of a medium-rare steak can help to prevent undercooking or overcooking the meat. Use more than one technique to help you determine when you need to remove the steak from its heat source. Most medium-rare steaks only require two to three minutes of cooking time on each side over direct heat.

Things You'll Need

• Meat thermometer
• Knife

Instructions

1. Insert a clean meat thermometer into the thickest part of the cooked steak. Avoid touching the bone because it can give you a false reading.

2. Inspect the temperature of the steak. A medium-rare steak has an internal temperature between 130 degrees Fahrenheit to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Create a small slit in the center of the steak with a knife. Examine the interior color of the meat. The steak will remain warm with a hint of red in the center and the majority of the steak will appear pink.

4. Examine the sides of the steak. A medium-rare steak will appear browned and slightly charred.

5. Touch the surface of the steak. The majority of the steak will feel firm but the middle remains soft and spongy.

Tips & Warnings

• Feeling the soft and spongy texture of a raw steak before you cook it can help you to determine the desired doneness. Season the steak before you cook it to allow the flavors to cook into the meat.

• Always wash your hands after handling a raw steak to prevent the risk of a food-borne illness.

• Avoid relying solely on time to determine the doneness level of a steak because the time can change due to the size of the steak and the heat source.

References

• The Kitchn; How to Tell When Your Steak Is Done; Emma Christensen; March 2008
• University of California San Diego: How to Determine When a Steak Is Cooked
• The Accidental Scientist: Science of Cooking: Ask the Inquisitive Cooks How Can You Tell When a Steak Is Done?
• Taste of Texas: Steak Doneness Temperature Chart