Different types and cuts of meat vary in thickness and so cooking times.
When you cut into that juicy steak – you may wonder if it is properly cooked – all the way through.
You may have “driven” the BBQ or cooked on the grill loads of times, it can still be hard to tell if your meat is properly cooked all the way through.
If you take the meat off the grill and then put it back on you can affect the texture and possibly overcook it.
Here are a few ways that you can tell if your meat is thoroughly cooked and ready to eat.
Finger Test
The finger test is a method that some grillers love to use to test how well-done meat is.
RAW
With your hand relaxed, pinch the flesh just below your thumb; this should be how raw meat feels to the touch.
MEDIUM RARE
Touch your thumb to your middle finger and pinch the same area; this is what medium-rare meat feels like.
MEDIUM
Touch your thumb to your ring finger and pinch the same area; that’s what medium-cooked meat feels like.
WELL DONE
Touch your thumb to your little finger, that area of flesh feels like well-done meat.
Meat Thermometer Test
Using a meat thermometer is the best way to be sure your meat is cooked all the way through, but you have to make sure you’re using it correctly. Insert the point of the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. If there’s a bone in the meat, make sure the point of the thermometer isn’t touching the bone because that won’t offer an accurate reading.
Clear Juice Test
One of the best methods for testing chicken is to poke it or cut into it and observe the color of juice inside. If the juices are remotely red or pink, it needs to be cooked longer. However, if the juices run clear, it’s probably done or close to being done. Remember to test with a thermometer when it gets to the clear juice point just to be on the safe side.
Size Test
Your steak might have changed to a lovely brown color with the perfect char marks, but that doesn’t mean it’s cooked through on the inside. However, observing the size of your meat can be helpful. If it has started to look smaller, this means that the inside is cooking and shrinking. If it hasn’t changed size at all, it’s probably still underdone on the inside. Be careful of overcooking it, though. If it has changed size considerably, it might have been cooking too long.