When you order a steak at your favorite restaurant, you’ll need to make a decision about how cooked you want your meat. Your selection will determine how long the meat is prepared, the way that it tastes, and even the color. Below, learn what you should know about selecting the right temperature for your steak.

5 Common Steak Temperatures 

1. Rare

Rare steaks are those that reach a temperature of 120° to 130° Fahrenheit when cooked. Nearly raw when served, the finished product is soft and just slightly warm in the center, with a gently charred exterior finish and a hint of browning along the sides. You can tell steak is rare when the center is bright red. It’s a more practical choice for less fatty steaks, like filet mignon, and is cooked for five minutes on one side and about three on the other.

2. Medium-Rare

Steaks that reach between 130° to 135° Fahrenheit are medium-rare. Unlike rare meat’s deep red center, the middle of this steak is a warmer and richer red tone. The crust is brown, while the fat in the meat contributes to a marbleized finish and a more buttery flavor. It will yield meat that’s firm yet a little bit spongy in the center. For a truly juicy steak, this is the right choice. It’s cooked for five minutes on one side and four when turned.

3. Medium

Cooked between 140° and 150° Fahrenheit, the medium steak has a true pink hue in the center and feels firmer overall because it cooks for a longer period. The pinkish tone may also have hints of brown in the mix, along with brownish sides and a charred top. This level is generally drier and not as tender and is prepared for at least six minutes on one side before flipping for four minutes on the other.

4. Medium-Well

If you prefer something that’s firmer and with far less color than other doneness levels, then you should ask the restaurant about preparing a medium-well steak between 155° and 165° Fahrenheit. You’ll detect a touch of pink in the center, with an overall charred, darkish brown surface. To the touch, a medium-well steak feels stiff, dry, and sturdy, with just a hint of softness in the center. It’s usually prepared for about seven minutes on one side, and five on the other.

5. Well-Done

A well-done steak is cooked to about 170° Fahrenheit. As a result of the extra heat, it cooks thoroughly until there’s almost no moisture or fat content remaining. This yields a particularly dry cut of meat that feels tough to the touch. There’s no pink on a well-done steak, and it should be brown on both sides. Restaurants usually cook them for about 10 minutes on each side to reach the optimal temperature.
 

If you’re craving steak in Atlanta, GA, turn to Gilly’s Sports Bar. This restaurant offers happy hours, karaoke, and trivia, and they have a variety of steak specials to appeal to meat lovers. Stop by on Thirsty Thursday for steak night, or visit anytime to take advantage of their drink specials. Visit the website to browse the menu, or call (770) 817-2789 to place an order.