The center of a medium-rare steak is red and warm (unlike a rare steak, which is still cool in the center). A steak cooked to medium-rare will feel like the base of your thumb when you touch your middle finger and thumb together. Medium-RareĪ medium-rare steak is cooked to 135 degrees F (57 degrees C). The center of a rare steak is red, and still cool. A steak cooked to rare will feel like the base of your thumb when you touch your index finger and thumb together. RareĪ rare steak is cooked to 125 degrees F (52 degrees C). The internal temperature of the meat will continue to rise as it rests, bringing it up to the perfect temperature when you’re ready to eat it. You’ll want to take your steaks off the heat when they are 3-5 degrees lower than your target temperature. This is considered medium “doneness” in a steak.
The USDA recommends that beef be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), with a 3 minute rest. If you don’t have a meat thermometer handy, you can get a good approximation of the final temperature by using your hand. Nobody likes that!) This probe thermometer has cables that are heat-resistant, making it perfect for cooking on the grill. (Poking multiple holes in the steak like that will allow the natural moisture to leak out, and could leave you with a dry steak. These long cords mean that you can insert the thermometer before you begin cooking, and just leave it in place until the steak reaches the right temperature, instead of guessing or inserting and removing an instant-read thermometer multiple times until you get it right. I prefer the probe-style thermometers with a long cord that plugs into a base. Of course the best tool to make sure that you cook a steak to the perfect temperature is a meat thermometer. You can cook a steak to whatever “doneness” you want, and even cook different steaks to different temperatures! Maybe you like steak cooked medium, but someone else in your family likes steak rare, or even well done.
Medium rare steak temperature how to#
You know when you’re looking forward to that perfect steak dinner, just to find out that you accidentally over- or under-cooked your steak? Never again! These are the best tips for how to cook the perfect steak!Ĭooking the perfect steak is all about getting the temperature right – for you.