Undercooked Steak: How To Know And Fix Undercooked Steak?
Nobody wants to eat an undercooked steak. So, with that being said, you should know when it is safe to cut into your steak and when it isn’t. An undercooked steak is more likely to have bacteria in it. The USDA recommends cooking beef steaks to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
When checking the doneness of your steak, use multiple methods, such as the visual test or cutting into it for a more accurate reading.
Cooking your steak is one of the most important steps in cooking a meal. But have you ever smoked a piece of meat? If so, you know that the internal temperature is not always accurate on the surface of the steak. The only way to know for sure if you’ve overcooked or undercooked your steak is by cutting it open and taking a peek inside.
So what do you do if your steak turns out to be overcooked? When steaks turn brown before they’re done on the inside, this is called “Maillard Reaction.” This reaction can happen even on low-temperature grills that are supposed to be used for indirect cooking. The good news is that there are ways to disguise overcooked meat, which will make it taste better and look more appetizing. Here are some tips for how to fix an undercooked steak, as well as how to know if your steak is cooked properly!
Why Is Undercooked Steak Bad?
An undercooked steak is more likely to have bacteria in it. This is because the steak’s temperature has not reached a high enough level to kill bacteria, so when you cut into it, you are also cutting into the bacteria. The USDA recommends cooking beef steaks to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Visual Test
The USDA recommends cooking beef steaks to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re using a meat thermometer, you should use the “touch test.” Touch the tip of the probe to your tongue. It should feel like warm butter on your tongue.
- If it feels cold, continue cooking until you can touch it to your tongue and it feels like warm butter.
- Cutting Into the Meat
If you want to know if your steak is cooked all the way through, cut into it with a knife for a more accurate reading.
- In addition to the visual test, cutting into it will tell you if there is still raw meat in the middle as well as how done it is.
Internal Temperature Test
There are a few methods to tell if your steak is done. One of them is by using an internal temperature test. The USDA recommends cooking beef steaks to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, and we talked about this before. The steak should be monitored with a meat thermometer and the meat should be cooked to the desired temperature.
Other Tests For Doneness
Poke Test
Poke your steak with a fork or knife and see if there’s any pink meat left on the inside of the steak. If there is, then give it a few more minutes before checking doneness again.
How To Fix An Undercooked Steak
If you have an undercooked steak, you can fix it easily. There are three steps to fixing an undercooked steak:
- Turn the oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Place the steak on a baking sheet or dish that is lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper
- Bake the steak for another 10-15 minutes, depending on thickness
- Remove from oven and enjoy
Cooking The Steak Longer
If you’ve cooked your steak and it’s still undercooked, the best thing to do is to cook it for a little bit longer. If you cut into your steak and it’s still pink in the middle, continuing to cook the steak will actually help it get more done and be less likely to have bacteria.
Adding some lemon juice
This is a great way to help the steak cook faster and more evenly on the outside. It will also give it a nice, tangy taste.
Add Some Salt And Pepper
Adding salt and pepper will both enhance the flavor of your steak and aid in cooking. The salt will make the steak more flavorful, but it will also help to break down any of those tough proteins that can make your mouth feel like you’ve been sucking on cotton balls. The pepper is also an essential ingredient. A little bit of pepper goes a long way, so don’t go overboard! A tablespoon or two should be plenty for seasoning your steak.
Cut Into It
You may think that cutting into your steak is going to dry it out more, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. If your steak is undercooked, cutting into it will allow more of those juices to flow out and onto the plate instead of staying in the meat itself. This process will also allow you to take a look at how red or brown your steak is inside before you eat it!
Add Some Salt And Pepper
If you’re cooking a steak that is undercooked, there are a couple of options. One way to fix an undercooked steak would be to add salt and pepper. This adds flavor to your meat and also helps bring out the natural juices. This will help improve the taste of your poorly cooked steak, but it doesn’t cook it any further.
Transfer The Steak To A hot pan
If you need to cook your steak for a little bit longer, transfer it to a hot pan. This will cause the steak to cook quicker and transfer heat more quickly.
Conclusion
The USDA recommends cooking beef to 145°F. If you want to be sure to avoid undercooked steak, you should take the steak’s internal temperature to verify that it has reached 145°F.
