Steak doneness hand test: does it work? How to do it

Steak is a popular cut of beef. In fact, it’s one of the most desired cuts of meat for many people. It’s rich in nutrients, including vitamin B12, zinc, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, amino

acids — the building blocks of protein (1, 2). It’s a common choice for backyard cookouts, being easy to throw on the grill on a weeknight whim. If you’ve ever ordered a steak at a

restaurant, you were likely asked how you wanted it cooked — rare, medium, or well-done? This article explains how the hand test can determine the doneness of a steak, why testing your steak

before you eat it matters, and other ways to tell when a steak is ready. How to test a steak with your hand The hand test gets its name because it involves using your finger to poke a

steak. Then, you compare its firmness with how your other hand feels. The method might sound confusing on paper, and it may take a few tries to get comfortable with. Still, when you don’t

have a thermometer available, it’s a simple way to measure the doneness of a steak. Here are step-by-step instructions for using the hand test on a piece of steak: * When you’re ready to

test a piece of steak, gently press down on the meat with your pointer or index finger. Poke a few areas to get a general idea of how soft or firm it is. * Open your other hand, extending

all your fingers but letting them relax. * Compare the feeling of the steak to the the flesh on the palm of your hand at the base of your thumb. When your hand is fully open, the flesh feels

soft and you might notice an indention when you press it. This is similar to how a piece of a rare or raw steak feels. * Gently press your index or pointer finger against your thumb, as if

you were making an “ok” sign with your hand. Notice how the flesh below your thumb is not quite as soft as it was when your hand was fully open. This matches how a medium-rare steaks should

feel. * The firmness of the flesh on your hand changes as you press different fingers gently against your thumb. As you progress from your index to pinky finger, the flesh becomes less soft

and more firm — just as a steak does as it cooks. * Once you’ve compared the texture of the steak to the feeling of your hand, use the table below to determine which level of doneness the

steak has been cooked to. FINGER TOUCHING THE THUMB STEAK DONENESS FEELING OF FLESH ON HAND TEMPERATURE OF STEAK COLOR OF STEAK OPEN HAND rare softest 125°F (52°C) bright red throughout

INDEX / POINT medium rare softer 135°F (57°C) bright red center MIDDLE medium soft 145°F (63°C) light pink throughout RING medium well firmer 150°F (66°C) light pink center PINKY well done

firmest 160°F (71°C) brown throughout > SUMMARY > To use the hand test on a piece of steak, compare the feeling of the > cooked meat to the flesh on your hand. A rare steak will be 

soft, > like the flesh on an open hand. A well-done steak is firm like the > flesh when you press your pinky finger to your thumb. Does the hand test really work? The hand test is a

well-known way to test the doneness of meats like beef steak and pork chops. Many home cooks and even professional chefs have used the method for years. Yet, truth be told, there’s been

little scientific evaluation of the method to date. In other words, it’s currently unclear how accurate it is. A recent small study in 26 Australians evaluated the hand test for determining

steak doneness. It found that the method’s accuracy was rather low, sitting at 36% (3). The hand test relies on subjective interpretation of the firmness of the steak and your hand. Thus, it

makes sense that it’s more prone to error than other methods, such as using an accurate meat thermometer. Still, many people find the hand test to be a simple, quick, and effective way to

measure the doneness of a steak. If you decide to use the hand test yourself, remember that it takes practice to feel comfortable and confident with the results. In the meantime, it might be

best to double-check the doneness of the meat using another method. > SUMMARY > Many chefs and home cooks swear by the hand test for steaks. > However, little research has examined

 the hand test to date, and it > may not be as accurate as some people believe it to be. Other ways to tell when steak is done If you’re not comfortable using the hand test or if you just

want to double-check yourself the first few times you try it, there are a few other ways you can measure the doneness of a steak. The safest, quickest, and most effective way to tell when a

steak is done is to use a meat thermometer to measure the temperature — as indicated in the table above. You can also cut into the steak and examine its color. The center of a rare steak is

pink or red in color, a well-done steak is brown throughout, and a medium steak is somewhere in between. > SUMMARY > Aside from the hand test, you can measure a steak by cutting it 

open > and looking at its color. A steak is red when rare, pink when > medium, and brown when well done. Using a meat thermometer is the > most accurate way to tell when a steak is 

done. Why steak doneness matters Many of us care about how cooked our steak is because we prefer the taste and texture of a certain degree of doneness. Yet, the main reason to pay close

attention to the degree of doneness of a steak — or of any meat for that matter — is to avoid contracting a foodborne illness. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends

cooking steak to a core temperature of at least 145°F (63°C), which equals medium doneness (4). Eating a steak cooked to a lower temperature, which can be the case with a rare or medium-rare

steak, can be risky for some people. If meat has been contaminated with a pathogen like _Escherichia coli_, it can cause illness if not properly cooked — particularly in people who are more

susceptible, like older adults, pregnant women, children, and those who are immunocompromised (5, 6, 7, 8). Still, most people who enjoy rare steaks will be fine. > SUMMARY > Knowing 

when a steak is done is not only important for taste and > texture, but it also lowers the risk of getting sick if the meat has > been contaminated with a pathogen like _E. coli_. The

bottom line Steak is a cut of beef that’s rich in many nutrients. This red meat is commonly served at backyard cookouts and sold in steakhouse restaurants. Most people have a preference as

to how they like their steak cooked. Some enjoy it rare, others prefer it well done, and many enjoy it cooked somewhere in between. When you cook a steak at home, the hand or touch test is

one way to measure when your steak is ready and cooked to your liking. If you decide to use the hand test, remember that it takes practice to get comfortable with and it relies on your own

subjective interpretation of the texture of the meat. It won’t be as safe or accurate as using a meat thermometer. JUST ONE THING _Try this today:_ Steak and beef are well-loved and an

integral part of culinary traditions around the world. Still, some worry about how eating meat impacts health and the environment. If you’re interested in this topic, check out our article

on whether meat can be incorporated into a healthy, pro-environment diet.