How rare can you eat steak?

In this brief article, we are going to answer the question “how rare can you eat steak?”. We will also discuss how to safely prepare steak. In the end, we will discuss whether a rare steak makes you sick.

How rare can you eat steak?

You can eat medium-rare steak. Steak that has been grilled to medium-rare will have attained a core temperature that is fit for consumption.

A steak cooked to medium-rare has a heated, crimson core that overflows with a beefy taste. When the internal temperature of the beef reaches 130 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit, the proteins begin to degrade but do not entirely end. 

The outcome is a steak with the ideal balance of tenderness and meaty texture. Steaks cooked at such low temperatures retain their maximum juiciness because the internal fluid just cannot evaporate. 

The ideal method depends on the piece and your personal preference. It is safe to consume rare steak as long as there is no contamination or any bacteria. To avoid cross-contamination, wash your hands thoroughly and sanitize your cookware before cooking.

How to safely prepare steak?

The essential step in cooking any meal is to ensure that the cooking space is tidy and sanitized. The same holds for the culinary tools and other items you will be using.

Always wash your hands for at least 30 seconds with soap and hot water to avoid contamination and scrub off any bacteria that could contaminate your meal.  

The next step is to decide what seasonings and spices to use and whether to prepare the food in oil or butter.

For best results, the meat should be at room temperature before grilling. If you intend to marinate your meat before grilling, be sure to store it in the refrigerator. 

Meat should be stored below 41 degrees Fahrenheit till it is set to be grilled.

Heat your pan on medium-high flame. Let it warm up before adding the meat. Brush the meat with oil instead of putting oil in the frying pan to make your steak juicy.

Before applying oil, crush a beef broth cube and combine it with the oil to add flavor. The cooking time depends on the size and shape of the steak, and also your preferred cooking techniques.

The meat must only be turned once. This will aid in locking in the fluids and preventing dry meat.

After cooking the steak, it should not be left out for more than four hours. In case it is left out, bacteria will grow to deadly rates, and the meat should be discarded immediately.

How to tell when steak is done? 

Insert an instant-read thermometer through your steak to determine whether it is cooked or not. Simply insert the thermometer’s probe through the steak’s edge and into the thickest portion of the flesh. 

When you are cooking a steak with the bone still in it, you should be very careful not to touch the bone as it is hotter than the meat surrounding it. 

When inserted, slowly move the tip back and forth to locate the steak’s coldest area. When this part hits 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the steak is done. The steak’s temperature will increase by an extra five degrees as it sets.

Following are the steak doneness levels which will help you to decide which steak level is best for your taste buds:

Blue rare

When steaks are prepared at 115 degrees Fahrenheit to a blue rare state, just the exterior is browned, which means that the interior is almost entirely uncooked and raw.

Rare

The steak is grilled to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to have a rare steak. The middle of rare steaks are heated but blood red. Even while the steak’s exterior has a delicious taste and color, the fats within have not had enough time to dissolve.

Medium Rare

It is the most flavorful and juicy steak that can be grilled. At 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the steak’s fat has had a chance to dissolve, distributing buttery texture and taste, but not much moisture has disappeared. It results in a steak that is very soft, luscious, and juicy.

Medium

A steak cooked at 140 degrees Fahrenheit will result in medium steak. This steak will no longer have a red core but is pinkish overall.

Well done

At 160 degrees Fahrenheit, sufficient moisture (and fat) has either dissipated or drained out of the steak, causing it to become considerably stiffer and harder.

Can a rare steak make you sick?

No, a rare steak can not cause illness unless it is raw or uncooked. The risk of salmonella, E. coli, and other frightening illnesses connected with undercooked meat is minimal for any meat purchased from a trustworthy company. 

So consuming a medium or rare steak will not make you sick. Specifically, grilling a steak to a rare internal temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause these illnesses.

The United States Department of Agriculture advises against consuming or eating raw or undercooked meat. There may be dangerous microorganisms in undercooked meat.

Eating uncooked steak can lead to the absorption of the salmonella bacteria, which induces stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea with a watery consistency. The germs subsequently move from the gut to the bones, joints, and circulation.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we answered the question “how rare can you eat steak?”. We also discussed how to safely prepare steak. In the end, we discussed whether a rare steak makes you sick.

Reference

https://food52.com/blog/12895-the-easiest-way-to-tell-when-your-steak-is-done
https://prime-13.com/healthy-eat-rare-medium-rare-steak/

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!