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Monday 5 August 2013

Ordering A Steak

By Lori Buenavista


Any juicy steak, prepared perfectly makes a delicious, gratifying meal. But do you realize how to order a steak? All steaks aren't created equal-there's a major difference between cuts and cooking solutions. Discover how to differentiate from a steak which will be delicious and one that may cause you to feel uninspired.

Cuts of Steak

Steak is available in a range of cuts, which means that it's taken from various parts of the beef. Cuts vary in tenderness, flavor and cost.

Steaks are generally prepared in one of 3 ways:

1) Broiled

2) Grilled

3) Braised

The technique of cooking can vary, depending on the cut. The less tender the cut, the more likely it is to be braised rather than broiled or grilled. Less tender cuts are also more likely to be marinated.

How Do You Like That Cooked?

When the server questions how you'd prefer your steak prepared, she's expecting you to select from one of the following: rare, medium rare, medium, medium well and well done. Word on the road is that culinary chefs hate it whenever you order a steak prepared "Well-done." Why? Because you're ordering a really costly cut of beef, and a gifted chef prides himself on serving the perfect steak. A steak that is prepared to perfection: Is delicious, without overwhelming herbs, has a nice "bite"-not too chewy, though not mushy, is succulent, not dry, has the exact internal temperature requested.

Rare Steak

Once you order your steak rare, it needs to have the following characteristics: warm in the middle, internal temperature of 120 to 130 degrees F, bright red at the center, soft to feel, and evenly browned on the surface. Rare steak is grilled at a lower temperature than advised by food health and safety experts, who point out that steak should be prepared to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.

Medium Rare Steak

Medium rare steak is: warm in the center, internal temperature of 130 to 135 degrees F, dark pink in the middle, evenly brown on top, firm on top and soft on the inside.

Medium Steak

Medium steak is normally prepared to U.S. Food Safety Standards, and must show up: very warm in the middle, internal temperature of 140 to 150 degrees F, some mild pink in the middle, dark, rich brown externally, firm at first glance and slightly less firm inside.

Medium Well Steak

A lot of steaks which might be grilled medium well start to become tough. They will be: hot in between, internal temperature of 155 to 165 degrees F, merely a hint of pink in the center, darkish brown with charring on the outside, firm all over and with just a small give on the inside.

Well Steak

Steaks that happen to be cooked "well" are generally pretty chewy and tough-even the very best chef can't get most steaks to show out very edible when prepared this hot. Well steaks must be: hot in the middle, internal temperature of 170 F. or higher, browned throughout, including the center, dark brown with charring externally but not burned.




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