Cooking a good steak requires control, patience, and technique. However, arguably the most important factor is monitoring temperature. It’s what can turn a perfectly tender, juicy steak into a dry, rubbery one in the blink of an eye. Understanding the thresholds of temperature is key, and this guide will show you how to achieve the ideal steak cooking temperature for every taste, from blue, all the way to well done.
Why Cooking Temperature Matters for Steak
The internal temperature determines how your steak looks, tastes, and feels when you bite into it. There’s a reason that medium rare is the most common preference for steak lovers. It strikes the balance between beefy flavour and moist, tender mouthfeel.
A perfect medium rare only has a 3ºC window for success, something that simply can’t be accurately gauged just by touch or sight alone. A meat thermometer is essential for a perfectly cooked steak, ensuring you pull your steak from the heat at just the right moment.
Steak Doneness Levels Explained
Each level of doneness brings something different to the table, and there’s no single best temperature to cook steak. It all comes down to personal preference.
Blue:
Also known as ‘blue rare’, this refers to steak cooked to a temperature of 43–49ºC. The outside is nicely seared, but the centre is cool and bright red.
Rare:
The centre is still relatively cool, but is slightly more reddish-pink than a blue steak. A rare steak reads an internal temperature of 49–52ºC, and allows for a more developed sear, as it can be in the pan for longer.
Medium Rare:
Considered the ideal doneness by many, a medium rare steak’s temperature is 54–57ºC. With a warm centre and slightly crispy exterior, medium rare is popular for its balance of tenderness and flavour.
Medium:
A mostly pink centre with a hint of red, a steak cooked medium is between 60–63ºC. Still juicy, with slightly more chew.
Well Done:
The temperature for a well-done steak is anything 70ºC+. The interior is completely brown and will be firm and chewy.
What is the best temperature to cook steak?
For tender cuts like eye fillet, a blue to medium rare is often desired, as the steak is already extremely soft and tender, and the absence of marbling means there’s no worry of chewy, uncooked fat. For more marbled cuts like ribeye, a medium rare is common, allowing that fat to render into the meat and infuse the steak with a buttery, savoury flavour. While there isn’t a single best temperature to cook steak, you can determine the optimal doneness for a cut by considering these factors.
A Cut Above: How to Cook Steak to the Perfect Doneness
Preparation
Bringing your steak to room temperature before cooking is crucial to ensure an even cook throughout. For the perfect sear, first dry the surface thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture. For seasoning, a generous amount of salt and cracked pepper is more than enough, but feel free to experiment with a pinch of garlic powder, dried herbs, or your favourite dry rub.
Cooking Methods
Pan searing: A cast iron or stainless steel pan is best, as they hold heat better. Make sure the pan is ripping hot before laying the steak away from you. Once both sides have developed a deep sear, about 1–2 minutes per side, lower the heat to finish the inside.
Searing on the grill: Adds a smoky note and gives those classic grill marks. Similar to pan searing, cook 1–2 minutes per side on high heat, then turn the grill to low and continue cooking, using a meat thermometer to pull the steak when it’s a few degrees below your target temperature.
Coal grilling: For a smoky, charred finish, charcoal is the way to go. Use a two-zone setup with more coals on one side, making a high-heat and low-heat zone. Sear on the hot side for 1–2 minutes per side, then slide to the cooler zone to finish with indirect heat, again using a meat thermometer to monitor your internal temp.
Timing and Temperature
A steak’s temperature refers to the coolest part of the steak, which will usually be the thickest part. When using a meat thermometer, only press it about halfway in, and check the temperature in a few different places to ensure you’re getting an accurate reading.
Make sure you don’t flip too often, and don’t put too much pressure on the steak, as this will cause it to release moisture and dry out the steak. Let the pan do the work: the less you touch the steak, the better.
The Perfect Doneness Every Time at Hunter & Barrel
At Hunter & Barrel UAE, our steak is coal-grilled and cooked however you like it. Every steak is cooked with precision, finished with our signature basting, and served with sides and sauces that pair perfectly. Whether you like your steak blue or well done, we make sure it’s cooked right. Because a steak is only perfect when it’s to your liking, and that means nailing the temperature.
Ready to Taste the Difference?
Craving perfectly cooked steak? Visit Hunter & Barrel in the UAE, with restaurants in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It’s the perfect place for a night out, a long lunch, or a celebration with family and friends. Book your table now or explore the full menu.
