How To Cook A Steak

Steak is a favorite all over the Untied States and in many other parts of the world as well. It is certainly a favorite in our house too. But what is the best way to cook a steak? What is the best temperature and level of doneness to enjoy it? Well, those are questions we will never have definitive answers for. The level of doneness is a very personal decision, and varies for everyone. And where you live also plays a role in determining how to cook a steak.

That being said, however, most steak masters and chefs will say a beautiful medium-rare is the best way to enjoy a good steak. If you were to ask a professional chef how they would want their steak to be cooked, nine times out of ten they would tell you medium-rare is the way to go. Medium rare steaks are red only in the very middle of the steak. The rest should be various shades of pink, with the outer edges browned. Cooking a steak medium-rare lets the natural beef flavor come out without being too cooked. The result is a steak that’s tender, juicy, and full of rich flavor. When you cook a steak to medium-rare the internal temperature is hot enough to allow excess moisture to escape through vapor or steam, keeping your steak juicy and flavorful. Medium or well-done steak not only exceeds the just right zone of protein balance, but it also causes moisture to evaporate from your meat, making the meat tough and dry.

My dad was an Aussie, and most Aussies, or at least when he was growing up, liked their steaks well done. To me, that is like eating shoe leather. YUCK! I, on the other hand, like it nice and rare; not quite still mooing, but close. Based on the above chart, a perfect steak for me is somewhere between 2-3. For Larry, it is more between 3-4. My friend Leslie prefers her steaks au bleu, or number 1 on the chart. But regardless of the temperature you like your steak, the best way to eat it and enjoy it is to eat it one bite at a time. 🙂

Here are some different cuts of beef and where they come from. Different cuts of beef also determine how to cook the meat. Different cuts lend themselves to different cooking methods, cooking times and temperatures.

Where’s the beef? Now you know. If you a steak eater, and have questions, hopefully this has helped a little.

Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe and stay well. ‘Til next time.

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Author: ajeanneinthekitchen

I have worked in the restaurant and catering industry for over 35 years. I attended 2 culinary schools in Southern California, and have a degree in culinary arts from the Southern California School of Culinary Arts, as well as a few other degrees in other areas. I love to cook and I love to feed people.

12 thoughts on “How To Cook A Steak”

  1. Hi Jeanne, this is a great guide to buying and cooking steak. I’m from Oz too and when my cousin from Adelaide visits me over here and we go to a restaurant she orders her steak well done, like your dad — too tough for the Americanized me. I’m a medium, still juicy etc. I usually eat steak out because I’m a pretty hopeless cooker. The Outback Steahhouse serves up a pretty good chunk of beef, do you agree?

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      1. Adelaide — but ADL and Oz for that matter are no longer the place I grew up in — as in many countries extreme leftist politicians have ruined it, but you know that as well as me.

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      2. Unfortunately, this is very true. We had thought about moving to OZ quite awhile ago, because I could get dual citizenship. But because of how expensive it is and the extreme Left/Socialist policies, we said NO WAY!

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  3. Looks like our household cooks steak the same way yours does. While I don’t find it particularly hard to cook it, a couple of months ago, I decided to get a wireless, Bluetooth thermometer and we LOVE it. You put it in the steak, set up the temp on the phone and it tells you when it’s done. It works really well!

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