How to Order Your Steak: Rare vs. Well Done

When you order a steak, your server will always ask you how you want it cooked. This is because how well a steak is cooked can have an impact on the flavor and how juicy the steak is.

Rare Steak

A rare steak is cooked on either side for only one minute. The outside of the steak will be cooked, but the entire center of the steak will be red and cool in temperature. A rare steak is, compared to the other options, barely cooked at all. This is the juiciest option for a steak. The longer a steak is cooked, the more the juices are cooked away.

Who Should Order a Rare Steak?

The rarer the steak, the juicier it will be. If you really like a juicy steak, a rare steak is the best option.

Medium Rare Steak

A medium rare steak has a firm outside, but the inside of the steak, while warm, will be pink to red and juicy. To make a medium rare steak, the chef would cook the steak for two minutes on each side.

Who Should Order a Medium Rare Steak?

If you like the juiciness and tenderness of a rare steak throughout most of the steak while maintaining a firm exterior, a medium rare steak is the right choice for you.

Medium Steak

A medium steak will have been cooked on each side for three minutes by the chef. When you cut into it, the steak would have a grayish-brown color on the outside with a clear band of pink in the middle.

Who Should Order a Medium Steak?

Medium is for those who like the best of both worlds. The outside of the steak will be cooked well, but the inside is rare and juicy.

Medium Well Steak

A medium well steak is mostly grayish-brown on the inside and will have just the smallest amount of pink. To achieve this, the chef cooks the steak for four minutes on each side.

Who Should Order a Medium Well Steak?

If you like your steak juicy, but also don’t want any blood, then a medium well steak is the right option for you.

Well-Done Steak

A well-done steak is the most thoroughly cooked of all the steak options. The chef cooks the steak for five minutes on each side so that it’s charred on the outside. Inside, the steak is a grayish-brown color. A well-done steak should have no pink at all.

Who Should Order a Well-Done Steak?

Those who don’t like any pink at all should order their steak well-done. However, a well-done steak isn’t as juicy as other options.

Which Type of Steak Is Best?

None of the above ways to cook a steak is better than any of the others. Which one is right for you depends on your personal preference. In Europe, especially in France, the preference is generally for rarer steaks. In the United States, more people order steak medium well or well done than in Europe, but rarer steaks are also popular. The less cooked a steak is, the juicier it is and the better it retains seasonings. The more cooked a steak is, the firmer and warmer it will be.

Next time you’re at Christner’s, try one of our delicious USDA Prime steaks. If you’re not sure how you’d like it cooked, start with a rarer steak. A rare steak can always be cooked more, while a well-done steak can’t be uncooked.

For informational purposes only.