Grillin’ Temperatures for Steak

Lesson

You’ve invested time (and money) in getting the perfect steak, so now we’ll make sure you know how to tell when it’s done cooking. The best way? Take its temperature.

To read the temperature of a piece of meat, you’ll need a good instant-read meat thermometer. This is especially important for thick steaks where the middle may be 10° lower than the outside of the meat.

To get a reading, insert the meat thermometer horizontally into the steak so that the part of the thermometer that reads temperature is in the middle of the steak. Make sure it’s not in a pocket of fat or touching the bone. The bone transmits heat, so the reading will be false if the thermometer is touching the bone or is too close to it.

You can also use an oven-proof thermometer, which you insert into the meat before you put it on the grill, and leave in until the meat is done. All you have to do is raise the grill lid and peek in to see the temperature inside the meat.

How would you like that cooked?

Everyone likes their steak cooked differently—medium-rare, well done, rare. Follow this chart to find the temperature for the type of steak you like. These guidelines are good for roasts, loins, and tenderloins.

Rare Below 145°F — bright red in the center, pink beyond

Medium-rare 145°F — pink in the center, slightly brown beyond

Medium 160°F — light pink in the center, brown beyond

Well Done 170°F — uniformly brown (NOT RECOMMENDED)

Always start out with your steaks at room temperature.

The secret to cooking it just right

What is the secret to getting a perfectly cooked steak? First, always start out with your steaks at room temperature. But most importantly: remove it from the grill when it reaches approximately 10° less than the temperature you’re aiming for. So, if you want a steak that’s medium, remove it when the temperature reaches 150°F. Letting the meat rest, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes will allow the temperature to rise that final 10° and reach your desired level of doneness.

For more information on this topic, see our lesson on Cook Temperature vs. Cook Time.