When you sit down to order a filling, juicy cut of meat from a fine restaurant or a steakhouse, you might be overwhelmed by the options at first glance. Your steak menu will show varieties like NY strip, T-bone, ribeye and more. Your waiter will ask you how you want your meat cooked. Medium? Rare? Well-done?
When it comes to the perfect steak, there are many options. But what do all those meat terms really mean, and how do you choose? From degrees of doneness to the difference between cuts of meat, here's everything you need to know about steak.
When a waiter asks how you want your steak cooked, he or she is referring to the degree of the cut's doneness. When meat is raw, it is pink, juicy and soft to the touch. As it cooks, however, it undergoes an oxidation and protein denaturation process that makes the meat turn brown and become firmer. If it's overcooked, the meat can become tough, but when it's cooked properly, it can be various degrees of color and juiciness. These gradations in the cooked state of the steak are its "doneness." These are the most typical degrees of doneness for a steak:
While some restaurants will serve steaks extra-rare or overcooked, these gradations of doneness are your best options for a delicious steak.
As opposed to the degree to which your meat is cooked, the cut of the steak refers to the portion of the cow the meat comes from. While all those fancy terms can seem intimidating, each has a specific flavor and best way to be cooked, so once you're familiar with the cuts, you can figure out which is your favorite and know what to order in the future. Here are the four most typical, premium steak cuts:
All this reading about steak has probably sparked your appetite — now that you have a firm grasp on meat terminology, it's time to try out your knowledge by ordering a steak yourself! Stop by Forklift & Palate, located in the Spooky Nook Sports complex, for the freshest flavors in meat and more. Whether you drop in for lunch or bring your date or family for dinner, you're sure to find your perfect steak and other delicious dishes to satisfy all your cravings. Browse our menus today. We can't wait to see you order that steak!