Cookng Techniques : Checking doneness of steak and resting

Checking a steak's doneness









An easy way to check for the doneness of a piece of steak is through the hand and earlobe method.

Hand Method :
This involves putting your thumb and one of your other fingers lightly together and checking the softness of the area of the palm just below the thumb to test for doneness:
- No fingers touching one another : Rare
- Index finger and thumb : Medium rare
- Middle finger and thumb : Medium
- Ring finger and thumb : Medium well
- Pinky and thumb: Well done (ie. rubber)

Ear Lobe Method:
A medium rare steak should be as soft as your earlobe.

Resting
It is essential to let a steak rest after cooking to ensure that it retains its juiciness. By letting the steak rest, you allow the juices of the steak to be reabsorbed into it. After cooking your steak, allow it to rest on a plate, tented (ie. loosely covered with aluminum foil), for about 3 to 5 minutes.