Is It Safe to Eat Rare Steak?

Eating rare steak is a contentious topic, with some people enjoying the unique flavour and texture that it offers, while others worry about the potential risks of eating beef that hasn’t been cooked all the way through. So, is it safe to eat rare steak? This article will explore this question in depth on what rare steak is, the food safety guidelines and food-science facts around this subject.

Disclaimer: You should always refer to your local or provincial/state health unit’s recommendation on safe meat temperatures.

What is Rare Steak?

Rare steak is a steak that is cooked to a temperature of 130ºF. Its exterior will be browned, while its core is tender and vibrant red.

Some prefer it cooked even less to achieve a blue rare steak. This is a steak that is cooked to a temperature of 125ºF. Its interior will be a vibrant red and a cool interior.

Is Rare Steak Popular?

To uncover the appeal of rare steak, we researched the current studies on this topic. Rare steaks seem to be more popular than we thought!

When Canadians were asked, “how do you like your steak cooked?”, it was found that 8% preferred rare steak.

Americans were asked the same question and the response was 2% preferred blue rare, while 11% preferred rare.

So while it isn’t recommended by many health officials, a portion of the population still enjoys a rare steak.

Should You Eat Rare Steak?

Before we discuss whether you should eat rare steak, we want to cover safety first.

You should always follow your local health unit’s recommendations on safe meat temperatures. If you stray from their recommendations, you do so at your own risk.

If you choose to consume rare steak, we have laid out some information on food safety and food science.

Let’s start with this quote from health officials about beef:

“Officials say the internal temperature of a steak, or other solid cut of meat, is not a significant health concern because harmful bacteria that may be present would normally only be on the surface of the meat, and would be eliminated even if cooked “rare.””

Let’s break this down.

They mention that harmful bacteria could be on the surface of the meat, however it is destroyed with cooking. That means when you sear your steak you are eliminating the surface bacteria.

Knowing this, you should make sure you sear ALL outer surfaces of your steak. It’s critical to not only sear the bottom and top but also the sides of your steak, particularly if you’re choosing to prepare a rare steak.

They use the term “solid cut of meat”. So this means steaks and roasts. This statement does not apply to ground beef or burger patties because the meat has been processed and it has exposed much of the surface area to the air (and potential bacteria).

You’ll also want to be sure that nothing has penetrated your beef. Some vendors use mechanical tenderization. This is when blades or needles are inserted into the meat to break down tough fibres making them more tender and easier to chew. This process however could bring bacteria to the center of the steak.

If you are unsure if mechanical tenderization was used, cook it as though it was ground beef for safety.

Handling of Beef

This should go without saying, but you want to make sure you get your steak from a reputable source. How the meat is handled and stored all play a role in making sure your steak is safe to eat.

Once the steak is in your hands, you want to make sure you consider the proper storage, handling and cooking as well.

This starts with transporting the steak home in a food-safe manner. Let’s not let that steak sit in a hot car for hours! Bring a cooler and ice packs to maintain the ideal temperature.

Once you are home, store the steak in the fridge at a temperature between 0 – 4ºF. Make sure your steak is not exposed to other raw meats or juices to prevent contamination with bacteria.

When cooking and handling your meats, keep your hands and work area clean.

Pay attention to the expiry dates and cook (or freeze) your steaks before they spoil.

Doneness Temperature of Rare Steak

When you are ready to cook your steak, use a thermometer and check the internal temperature of the steak. Here is a temperature doneness chart:

Final Thoughts

While rare steak isn’t typically recommended by health officials, there is a sizeable portion of Canadians and Americans that do enjoy rare steak. As with preparing any steak or beef, make sure to use a reputable source for your meats, and follow proper guidelines when it comes to cooking, storage and handling the steak.