I think we have established in previous posts that there is no more manly meal than a big, juicy steak cooked to perfection. No matter what cut or type of steak we are talking about, it’s absolutely imperative that you know how you really like it. You probably always order your steak a certain way every time you go out to eat at a restaurant, but do you really know what you’re asking for?

Probably not.

The fact is that most guys don’t even know what a rare steak truly is supposed to be. When you order a rare steak, do you know what you are telling the cook? Or do you just know that you like your meat with a little red in the middle? This is not your backyard grill where you get to make the rules. There are really specifications to the degree of doneness when you order a steak. Especially at a steakhouse. I made this mistake myself when I was in my rookie season. So I decided to put this little guide together for all you rookies out there.

ways to order steak

How to Order a Steak

These are the various ways you can order a steak.  Read each and figure out which way you like it.

Blue

I bet you didn’t even know this was an option, did you? I definitely didn’t when I first saw it. This is more rare than rare (if that makes any sense). A blue steak is just warmed on the outside and the inside is still cool. The center is bright red and the steak almost feels raw. It’s only cooked for a minute or two on each side.

Rare

This is cooked slightly more than a blue steak. It is seared on the outside for a couple of minutes per site but it is still cool on the inside. Up to 120 degrees. It is still soft to the touch and almost feels raw on the inside.

Medium Rare

This is the most popular way to order a steak. You get the best of both worlds. You don’t feel like you’re necessarily eating a raw piece of meat, but you still get that red middle. The outside is seared a little bit longer giving it a thicker crust and locking in those succulent juices. The middle is cooked from 130 to 145 degrees.

Medium

This is just what it says, right in the middle. If you don’t want too much pink in your steak, but you don’t want to be chewing on leather, this is what you order. This is cooked to about 160 degrees.

Medium Well

These steaks are for those who want absolutely no pink in their meat. This steak has a very thick crust and is cooked all the way through.

Well Done

This is shoe leather. This steak looks like it’s been left on and forgotten about for half the night. I don’t know of anyone that prefers their meat this way, but I am thinking about doing a post on beef jerky and that may be right up your alley if you like your steak well done!

So there you have it, rookies. Now you know that when you go to a steakhouse, this is what you’re asking for. So what you thought was a perfect medium rare on your grill in your backyard is most likely at least a medium. And probably creeps up to a medium well once it sits for 5 minutes.

Have any horror stories about ordering steaks? Let me know in the comments below!

Buying steaks online?  Check out these places we’ve personally vetted!

 

Shield Yourself Now

Craig Tuttle is an entrepreneur currently living in Rochester, NY. He has two little girls under the age of three and a lovely wife. When not working on his man cave, Craig plays racquetball, cook, watches sports, smokes various meats, and plays guitar. He's also very into technology and MMA. He can be reached at Craig@ThingsMenBuy.com.

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