Doneness in steak is a personal preference, with everyone having their own idea of how they want their steak cooked. Pro chefs use a genius cooking hack to check the status of the beef without the need for a meat thermometer. By using a simple trick, you can test steak doneness without any equipment and nail it every time. This method works under the broiler, on a hot grill, skillet, or griddle, making it versatile and easy for home cooks to use.
Understanding the transformation that steak undergoes as it cooks to higher temperatures is crucial to achieving the perfect doneness. By learning to check for doneness by feel, you can avoid ruining a perfectly good piece of meat by overcooking it. As the steak cooks longer, the meat becomes firmer, which can result in a tougher texture if cooked for too long. By using the fleshy base of your thumb as a point of comparison in the resistance of the steak when poked, you can gauge the doneness without the need for a thermometer.
The technique for testing doneness involves gently poking the fleshy base of your thumb with the forefinger of your opposite hand. The level of resistance you feel when jabbed in the center of the meat can help determine the doneness of the steak. By comparing the tension in your thumb to various fingers, you can identify the doneness level of the steak, whether it is medium rare, medium, medium well, or well done. This method provides a consistent point of comparison for practicing how to assess the doneness of steak.
When it comes to cooking steak, professional chefs often prefer searing the steak and then using indirect heat to bring it up to the desired doneness. By searing the steak hard and then finishing it in the oven with indirect heat, you can achieve a juicy and perfectly cooked piece of meat. The method of using indirect heat allows the steak to cook evenly and retain its juices, resulting in a flavorful and tender steak. Consulting various recipes for time and temperature recommendations can help you achieve the best results when cooking steak.
Overall, learning to test the doneness of steak by feel is a valuable skill for home cooks who want to achieve perfect results every time. By using the simple trick of comparing the tension in your thumb to various fingers, you can easily gauge the doneness level of the steak without the need for expensive gadgets or tools. With practice and patience, you can become adept at cooking steak to your desired level of doneness, whether you prefer it rare, medium rare, medium, medium well, or well done.
