An amazing steak dinner with a perfect touch of butter, garlic, and herbs seasoning sounds great but there is more than only one way to treat yourself with a delicious steak. Different people like their steak cooked differently.
Some prefer a completely done meat with sharp flavors while others prefer a distinct way of enjoying it. The difference in the flavors, juiciness, and textures is the result of different cooking temperatures given to a steak.
As you know, steak is one of the most popular eating items in the restaurants, but grilling steak is a little tricky. If the grill or grilling pan is too hot, the steak crust will be cooked deep brown, but it will remain raw in the center.
If the grill pan is not hot enough, the steak will overcook and might not be as tasty and juicy as it should be. In this stage, all in all it gets difficult to recognize if the steak is completely cooked inside and outside or not.
Whether you like your steak rare, medium or well done, this article is surely helpful to you in picking the perfectly cooked steak every time from a grilling pan.
Steak Temperature Guide
Cooking temperatures for steak are relatively the same across all cuts of beef. But the cooking time is different depending upon the thickness, size and type of steak. For this reason, all you need is a meat thermometer. It will be helpful when cooking steak because it provides the complete steak temperature guide.
In addition, the readings present on the chart helps you ensure that you’re not undercooking the steak, which can cause health issues, or overcooking, which dries out steak.
Whether you cook steak on the grill, in the oven, or in the cast-iron, measuring the temperature of steak is the best way to make your steak look impressive, and a yummy dish.
The general steak temperature chart will help you make a fantastic steak and you can apply it to any cut of steak, from a thick filet to a thin strip.
| Doneness | Remove from heat | Final internal temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Rare (cool red center) | 120°F (49°C) | 125°F (52°C) |
| Medium-rare (warm red center) | 130°F (54°C) | 135°F (57°C) |
| Medium (warm pink center) | 140°F (60°C) | 145°F (63°C) |
| Medium-well (pale pink center) | 145°F (63°C) | 150°F (66°C) |
| Well Done (little pink) | 155°F (68°C) | 160°F (71°C) |
Hence, you can see that the steak temperature chart is a visual representation of the information about the required temperatures for how long you want your steak to be cooked.
Different preferences of steak cooking, such as rare, medium-rare, medium, medium-well, and well done cooking degrees vary from one another.
Moreover, the temperature has a direct effect on the color changes, as the temperature is increasing,the color also more prominently changes.
It shows how much a customer wants his steak to be perfectly cooked, undercooked or in between ranges of rare cooking and well done cooking.
| Steak type | Temperature in Fahrenheit | Temperature in Celsius | Cooking time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra rare | 80 – 100 °F | 26 – 38 °C | 2 – 3 minutes |
| Rare | 120 – 125 °F | 49 – 51 °C | 3 – 4 minutes |
| Medium rare | 130 – 135 °F | 55 – 57 °C | 3½ – 4½ minutes |
| Medium | 140 – 145 °F | 60 – 63 °C | 4 – 5 minutes |
| Medium well | 150 – 155 °F | 65 – 69 °C | More than 5 minutes |
| Well done | 160 – 175 °F | 71 °C | 10 minutes or longer |
Steak Doneness Chart
Everyone has their own preferences and opinions about the correct degree of steak doneness ranging from rare cook to welldone.
The best way to check the degree of steak doneness is by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the middle of the steak. Grilling a steak is not a simple task, but there is actually some trick to getting it perfect.
In order to cook the meat properly, it’s crucial to take the steak to room temperature before it hits the grill or any other grilling source.
You should place the steak package on the counter for about 45 minutes. This endures the same temperature throughout the steak, which results in even cooking and burning the exterior.
| Steak type | Doneness | Internal temperature | Cooking time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flank steak | Pink, Soft & Juicy | 100 °C | 30 minutes |
| Skirt steak | Pinkish brown, tender & Juicy | 260 – 288 ° C | 2-3 minutes |
| T-bone steak | Rich golden-brown, Juicy & tender | 58 – 62 °C | 20 minutes |
| Ribeye steak | Golden color, tender & juicy flavor | 200 °C | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Sirloin steak | Golden color, enhanced flavor &Juicy | 200 °C | 25 minutes |
Tips to Make a Tender and Juicy Steak
Here are some tips that will help you make tender and juicy steak whether on the grill, oven or stove.
- For maximum tenderness, you should choose thicker steaks.
- Allow the steak to rest at room temperature for properly cooking.
- Don’t use the steak with moisture. Completely dry the steak before cooking to get a good sear.
- If you want tenderized meat, first marinate the tougher cuts before cooking.
- Try to cook the finish on direct high heat (450°F /232°C) and thick cuts on indirect heat (less than 275°F/135°C).
- For checking the internal temperature and overcooking, you should use an instant read thermometer.
- After grilling the steak, rest it in a foil for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the juices to retreat and give maximum tenderness and serve.
Conclusion
There is definitely nothing better than a yummy steak dinner, but understanding the different kinds of steak, and choosing the suitable steak cuts by tenderness, taste, and price is all confusing and part of its preparation.
Grilling a perfect steak according to your preference and accurate degree of doneness, is the first priority to consider.
The temperatures for each type of steak cut is the best way to cook your steak to perfection from rare to well done cooking.
For this reason, this steak temperature guide will answer all the questions raised in your mind about the steak and it’s cooking to help you cook the steak at the perfect temperature and get the doneness according to your choice.