How To Simply Cook And Check Steak For Doneness

How Long To Cook

Unless you’re a vegetarian, chances are you enjoy a nice juicy steak. Doneness on a steak is how thoroughly a steak is cooked according to color and juiciness. But how do you know how long to cook the steak? It all has to do with the inside temperature of the steak. You can simply use a meat thermometer. Let me start by saying that the USDA recommends an inside temperature of at least 145 °F for steaks to avoid foodborne diseases. The steak must also sit for 3-5 minutes. Many people will argue that medium rare provides the most flavor. This doneness is right below the 145 °F mark. Let’s go over each term and temperatures.

Rare: 120 to 125 degrees F
Medium Rare: 130 to 135 degrees F
Medium: 140 to 145 degrees F
Medium Well: 150 to 155 degrees F
Well Done: 160 degrees F and above

Here is how each term should look from top to bottom:

How Else Can You Tell

If you are out at a restaurant it is unlikely you’ll be carrying a meat thermometer. Besides the appearance of the steak, you can check doneness using the “finger test”. The finger test is easy to remember and it goes in sequence starting with well done. You basically put each of your fingers touching the fingertip of your thumb starting with your little finger and ending with your index. You then touch the fleshy area under your thumb. That’s how each term should feel like. Here is how to do it.