How can you tell how well a steak is cooked without poking inside?

Question

I heard that when you cut a steak to look inside, you loose all the juices and you dry it out. Are there other ways you can tell?

btw, I am cooking the steaks in an all gas oven.

Thanks.

Answer 1

We just did a big party where the guests all wanted 10-12oz steaks all cooked to about medium well. Not sure of the size steaks you're working with, but there are two other ways other than firmness to check how done it is without a thermometer.

Method 1:
When you're testing firmness, you're pressing on it anyway, some juice will escape no matter what you do.
Look at the Juice, if it's
still red/blood - It's rare
Light pink- M/R
brown- medium
brown/clear swirl- M/W
Clear - well done

Not totally fool proof, but if you just want it to a safe level, if it's not bleeding, it's usually done.

Method 2:
Pick the steak up with 2 pairs of tongs, or clean gloved hands.
Grip it like a book and push up from the bottom with your finger tips if the top separates and you can see red, you can tell the level of doneness by how red that is, or if it doesn't give, then it's well done.

Answer 2

Don't cut the steak. The easiest way and the way the restaurants do it. First make sure the steak is at room temperature. Second you only want to use Salt and Pepper. You need a pan that is oven safe Heat the pan on the stove till it is hot. Place the steak in the pan and sear both sides of the steak. Place steak that is in the pan still in a 380 degree oven and cook for 15 minutes. This will allow the steak to cook thoroughly without drying out.. Checking for doneness. You can either use a thermometer, or the best way is by touch. The firmer the steak is, the more cooked it is. A well done steak should be very firm to the touch. Make a fist, and the part between your thumb and your pointer finger. Fell that, then feel your steak, and when the feel about the same your steak is well done.

Answer 3

you can tell by the "hand test" - i learned this in a restaurant i worked at.

take your hand and close your fingers, making a loose fist. now press the space between your thumb and first finger. you will press the steak with your finger and compare it to the feel of the space on your fist.

loose fist (no pressure at all) should feel like a rare steak
close fist completely should feel like a medium steak
tight fist should feel like a well done steak

this method is pretty fool-proof, I've never gone wrong using it.
you can cut the steak slightly, though if you're worried. make a small incision in the largest steak in the very middle. just insert your knife and put the knife back at an angle to see the inside of the steak. don't puncture the steak all the way through. you will lose a bit of juice, but not too much, this way.

Answer 4

It takes a while to learn, but you can tell how done a steak is by how firm it is.

Poke the steak before you put it on the grill. that is the softest it gets.

When the steak is well done, it is hard and firm.

With alot of practice you can tell the temperature just by touch.

Answer 5

Time the cooking of each side, based upon the thickness

The Omaha Steak website has a great chart for steak grilling, to get it the doneness you prefer.

Answer 6

Hi
Get one of those metal thermometers with the probe on the end. Take your steak and stick the thermo in about half way. If the temperature is 60 degrees celsius ( i dont know what it is in F) the steak is cooked about right.

Answer 7

Unless you stick a thermometer in the meat, you can't tell. Yes, you lose SOME of the juices, but it isn't like popping a water balloon. You cut it, some juice comes out. You see how well it is done, and cook it a little longer, and it is still plenty juicy.

Answer 8

Just push on it with a spatual or your hand/fingers.. if it is soft it is rare and then it will begine to get more firm as it cooks... you want to feel it a bit more firm than soft and then it should be perfect. about the firmness of the middle of your relaxed palm when pushed on by your opposite thumb.

Youa re right, if you peirce the outside it will dry out and all the juicy goodness will go away.

Answer 9

You can tell by how firm the meat is. A MW to WD steak will be very firm when you push on it. The softer the meat, the rarer it is.

Answer 10

Simply press the meat with your knuckle. The firmer it is the more well-done it is. I know it's hot but it only takes a 1/2 a sec... After a little you'll get better at judgments 'twinx the bounce and the temp(R,MR,M,MW,WD) Good Luck