Cook a Steak Like a MasterChef Using a Steak Temperature Chart

Cooking steak is an art. The steak may be any cut, such as a Filet Mignon, a New York strip, or a T-bone. But often, even a slight temperature miss can make the steak lose its exotic flavour. To achieve a tasty steak, a few tips and nuances are needed regarding not only the ingredients but also the time and temperature at which it is cooked. Using the steak temperature chart and the best meat thermometer would give the best results.

What is a Steak Temperature Chart?

Before cooking a steak, one should know that there are several ways to cook it, ranging from rare to well done. The temperature at which the meat is cooked determines how it is cooked. The prescribed temperatures for the different stages of cooking a steak are known as a “steak temperature chart”. First, one should decide the temperature at which the steak will be cooked. The next step is to check that the steak is cooked to the desired temperature. For that, a meat thermometer would be of great help to anyone, be they a beginner or an expert. Because judging the doneness of the steak by its colour or its smell would often spoil the dish.

Steak Temperature Chart

Around the world, steak is served in different styles depending on how it’s cooked. Of course, uncooked raw steaks are also served in a French-style tartare with shoestring fries and in a Belgian toast cannibal with mayonnaise, lemon juice, and egg yolk, and there are so many varieties there.For cooking the steak, the following steak temperature chart will be the best guide.

Type	Temperature	Colour
Blue	110°F (43°C)	Red in the centre, remaining cool
Rare	120° to 130°F (49° to 54°C)	Warm red centre
Medium-rare	130° to 145°F (54° to 63°C)	Lighter red
Medium	145° to 160°F (63° to 71°C)	Faded red
Well done	160° to 170°F (71° to 77°C)	Gray-brown

One should keep in mind that, according to the USDA, cooking meat below 145°F (63°C)is not safe. The cooking medium is also an important factor. When cooking on a stove, grill, or oven, the rate at which the heat is applied to the steak may vary. An instant-read meat thermometer is a safe way to check the steak’s exact temperature.You can stick a meat temperature chart magnet on the refrigerator or grill, to check the target temperature at any time.

Cook like a MasterChef

There are a few small but important factors that determine the class of any meal. The ingredients, the recipe, and the timing may all be the same. Even then, there could be a great difference in taste. It’s the subtle nuances that make the results magical. Let’s look at some important things to keep in mind before cooking a steak.

The very first step in cooking a steak is thawing, which means bringing the steak to room temperature. To get better results, always refrigerate the meat overnight rather than freezing it if you plan to cook the steak the next day. If you missed it, then the shortcut is to put the vacuum-packed steak in water at room temperature for at least half an hour. It would bring the steak to room temperature.

The next step is to season the steak. There are a number of seasonings available on the market. One can use any of them. The simple yet tasty one is to rub sea salt and fresh pepper. Using cooking or olive oil would add flavour. At least half an hour must be allowed after seasoning so the seasoning can penetrate the steaks.

If the meat is going to be cooked on a grill, preheat the grill, and it would be good to coat the grill grates with oil. If it’s cooked in a pan on the stove, make sure the pan is well-heated before adding the steaks. It would prevent the tasty outer layer from getting stuck in the grill grates.

Choosing a well-marbled steak would be tastier, as the fat in the meat that gives the marble look would melt when cooked, resulting in a juicy, tasty steak.

When slightly more than half the steak is done, flip the steak to the next side. Allow the steak to cook on both sides. But flipping often is not advised.

Often, opening the grill lid reduces the heat, so it should not be done.

The most important thing is to check the steak’s temperature with a meat thermometer or BBQ thermometer, as you prefer.

Cooking the steak according to the temperature chart will yield the desired result. The temperature difference between different types of cooked steak, like rare, medium, etc., is only a few degrees. So, using an instant-read meat thermometer would be very precise for measuring temperature changes.

But yet another important thing regarding the temperature is the resting time to be given to the steak. A cooked steak would continue to get heated up even after being taken out of the fire. So, always take the steaks out of the fire a few degrees before they reach the desired temperature. For instance, if one wishes to cook the steak medium, take it to around 150 to 155°F (66° to 68°C), and it will reach 160°F (71°C).

Allowing 10 to 15 minutes of resting time would allow the juices in the steak to spread throughout the steak and give it an exotic taste. So, cut the steak after it has had proper resting time.

The leftover steak must be handled, taking into account the temperature danger zones, and preserved accordingly.

Following all these tips and cooking the steak to the temperature on the steak temperature chart using a meat thermometer, even a beginner can cook a steak like a MasterChef.