FAQs
Use the touch method. Touch the meat quickly with a finger when it is cooking to see how done it is. If it feels the same as the part of an open palm of your hand below your thumb, it is rare. Close your thumb and index finger and press the meat part below your thumb.
How to cook steak on grill without a thermometer? ›
Use the touch method. Touch the meat quickly with a finger when it is cooking to see how done it is. If it feels the same as the part of an open palm of your hand below your thumb, it is rare. Close your thumb and index finger and press the meat part below your thumb.
How can you tell how well a steak is cooked without a thermometer? ›
The Poke Test
By comparing the tension in the fleshy part of your hand at the base of your thumb with the tension you feel as you press your index finger into the center of the cut of meat, you can guesstimate how much it has been cooked.
What to do if I don't have a meat thermometer? ›
If you don't have a meat thermometer, there are three visual checks that must done. Pierce the thickest part of the meat with a fork or skewer and check that: The juices run clear. It is piping hot all the way through (it should be steaming)
Do you need a thermometer to cook steak? ›
Using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure safety and determine “doneness” of meat.
Do you grill a steak directly over the flame? ›
We want two zones: direct heat and indirect heat. Put the steaks on the indirect heat side (the side with the unlit burners) and cook until an internal temperature of your liking. Remove the steaks and boost all burners to 500ºF degrees.
How hot should the grill be for steak? ›
Brush your cooking grates clean and adjust your grill for direct, high heat. The best temperature for steaks is 450°F to 500°F. 4. Put your steaks on the grill, close the lid, and set your timer for 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of your steak.
How do I make sure my steak is fully cooked? ›
Depending on your desired level of doneness, your steak needs to reach a specified internal temperature:
- Rare: 120°–125°
- Medium Rare: 130°–135°
- Medium: 140°–145°
- Medium Well: 150°–155°
- Well Done: 160°–165°
For a medium-rare steak (130°F to 135°F): 9 to 10 minutes on the grill, flipping halfway. For a medium steak (135°F to 140°F): 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway. For a medium-well steak (140°F to 150°F): 11 to 12, flipping halfway.
How many minutes to cook a rare steak? ›
As a rule of thumb (for a steak 22mm thick) – cook 2 minutes each side for rare, 3-4 mins each side for medium-rare and 4-6 mins each side for medium.
There's a simple, surefire way to check your steak's temperature without cutting into the meat, and all you need is your hand. Feel the palm of your hand, just below your thumb. It's a little soft and fleshy. This is what raw steak should feel like when you touch it.
What can you do if you don't have a thermometer? ›
Checking for a fever without a thermometer
- Touching the forehead. Touching a person's forehead with the back of the hand is a common method of telling whether or not they have a fever. ...
- Looking for flushing in the cheeks. ...
- Pinching the hand. ...
- Checking urine color. ...
- Looking for other symptoms.
Now touch your thumb to your middle finger: The meat is medium rare if it feels like that. Next, connect your ring finger and your thumb: If the meat feels like the fleshy part of your palm now, it's medium. Finally, join your pinky and thumb: The meat is well done if it feels like that.
How to cook medium-rare steak on grill without thermometer? ›
Place the tips of your thumb and middle finger slightly against each other. Use your hand to press the muscle below your thumb. When your steak feels similarly elastic, it is medium rare.
Do you need a thermometer to grill? ›
A thermometer is needed to monitor the air temperature in the smoker or grill to be sure the heat stays between 225 °F (107.2°C) and 300 °F (148.8°C) throughout the cooking process.
