What Makes Medium Rare Steak Temp Perfect

Steak Temperature 101

It’s not just a personal preference that deems medium rare the best temperature and doneness for steak — it’s science.  Allow me to unpack this assertion...  

A medium rare steak is cooked to an internal temperature of 135°F — a temp that creates an optimal breakdown of proteins. A medium rare steak will have a seared exterior and a juicy and warm red center, less slippery than a rare bite and less stiff than a leathery, well-done steak.

In other words, medium rare delivers that delicious, tender, melt-in-your-mouth bite we all seek.

If you want to nerd out on the science, we tell you more about Myosin and Actin in the post. Now let's talk about how to achieve this perfection.

The ideal medium-rare steak temperature is 135 degrees. The window for medium-rare steak doneness is 130-137 degrees.

TEMPERATURE

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To cook a steak medium-rare, target 3:30 minutes per side at 450 degrees, whether by grill, broiler, pan, etc. This is general guidance for a steak 1-1.25″ thick. Use a meat thermometer to determine when 130 degrees is reached and then let rest for 10 minutes.

COOKING TIME

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If you don't have a meat thermometer, use the finger test: start by relaxing your hand and touch your middle finger to your thumb. With your other hand, poke the fleshy part under your thumb. That's what a medium-rare steak feels like when you poke it. (Please don't cut into the steak to check!)

TESTING DONENESS

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