If there’s one thing synonymous with America, it’s steak. Steak is a staple of the American diet, and you’ve been eating it for ages.
Steak is one of the most recognizable foods in the world. It’s also one of the most versatile: you can eat it at any hour of the day, and it’s delicious whether you’re eating out or cooking at home.
The word “steak” comes from the Old Norse word “steik,” meaning “roast.” Steaks are cuts of meat from cows, pigs, sheep, or game animals like deer or venison sliced into smaller pieces and grilled or broiled. They’re usually served with some gravy or A1 sauce—and a side dish like vegetables or potatoes.
You can cook a steak in many ways. Some people like theirs rare, others like them medium well, and some even prefer their meat well done.
The main difference between raw and rare steak is that it is cooked less than rare, so it’s not as cooked. Raw meat has not been cooked, while rare meat is slightly red in the middle even after it has been cooked.
Keep reading to learn more about steak and its cooking methods.
What Is A Steak?
Steaks are cuts of meat that come from the skeletal muscles of an animal. There are different kinds of steak: strip, ribeye, T-bone, sirloin, and tenderloin.
The most common steak you’ll find at restaurants is beef, which comes from the cow’s loin muscle.
Steaks are typically grilled or sautéed—not fried, like chicken. They can be served with anything from sauce to veggies, though they are usually served by themselves.
There are tons of different kinds of steaks, here is the breakdown of these types for you here:
- Filet mignon: one of the fattiest cuts of meat there is. It’s tender and delicious! This one is best cooked medium rare.
- Strip steak is a smaller version of filet mignon that’s often cut into cubes and used in stir fry or other dishes where you want a texture contrast to balance things like rice or noodles. It’s good cooked medium rare as well!
- Sirloin (or flank): this one tends to be pretty chewy when cooked well done, but it makes a perfect cut for cheap burgers if you’re looking for something cheap and tasty! You can also get some great flavor by marinating sirloin before cooking it—try adding garlic, black pepper, salt, and lemon juice!
- Ribeye: this cut is famous for its marbling.
What Is Meant By Raw Steak?
Raw steak is a term for any steak that has not been cooked, and it’s usually used to describe steaks that are served rare.
A raw steak comprises a tough muscle called the “tenderloin,” which runs along the back of the cow and is covered in fat. In addition to being cut into individual steaks, tenderloin can also be roasted as a whole.
What Is Meant By A Rare Steak?
A rare steak is a steak that has not been cooked for very long, so it’s still pink in the middle. It’s also sometimes referred to as a “bloody” steak because it has so much blood!
Steaks are considered rare if they are cooked between 113 and 121 degrees Fahrenheit, considered “blue” or “pink” in color. The meat will be red on the outside and translucent, and very red in the center.
Rare vs. Raw Steak: Know The Difference
The main difference between a raw and rare steak is that the former is not cooked while the latter is cooked at a low temperature.
Raw steak is not cooked, so it is typically seasoned with salt and pepper before being served. It is also called “blue” steak because it has a dark red, almost purple color. Raw steaks are eaten by themselves or other foods like rice and veggies.
Rare steaks are typically cooked for about three minutes on each side and then served immediately. Rare steaks have a slightly pink color when you cut into them. They taste delicious when served with your favorite sauce or salsa.
Apart from that:
- Raw steak is often served as part of a salad, while rare steak is usually sliced and served independently.
- Raw steaks are typically eaten with a fork, while rare steaks are frequently eaten with your hands.
- Raw steaks are often made from beef, while rare steaks can be made from almost anything (lobster, chicken, etc.).
- Raw steaks tend to be served cold, while rare steaks are typically served hot.
- The temperature at which rare steaks are cooked is 135 degrees Fahrenheit (or more), while raw steak is uncooked.
- Raw meat is less tender than rare meat because it hasn’t been exposed to high heat yet—this makes it easier for your body to break down the muscle fibers in raw meat.
For an easy understanding of these differences, look at this table.
| Raw Steak | Rare Steak |
| It’s uncooked meat. | It’s slightly cooked meat. |
| It is tender. | It’s pretty tough due to its exposure to heat. |
| It’s mostly served cold. | It’s mostly served hot. |
| It’s not exposed to any heat. | It’s cooked to the temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit. |
Here is a video clip explaining a few terms related to steaks.
Is Rare Steak Considered Raw?
Rare steak is not considered raw.
Raw meat refers to meat that has not been cooked; it is not safe to eat in most cases, as it may contain harmful bacteria such as E. coli or salmonella.
Rare steak is typically cooked for a concise amount of time and does not reach high enough temperatures to kill bacteria that may be present in the meat.
Can You Eat 100% Raw Steak?
Raw meat is more likely to contain harmful bacteria than cooked meat. Even if you’re buying top-quality steak from a reputable butcher, there’s a possibility that something went wrong in the processing, which could make you sick.
Why Is A Rare Steak Not Bloody?
A rare steak is not bloody because it has not been cooked enough to release the blood within the muscle fibers.
When meat is cooked for a longer period, the liquid inside the muscle fibers breaks down faster.
When cooking a rare steak, you take your meat from raw to “ready” by letting it heat up slowly at a low temperature. This allows your blood to cook out of the meat so that you don’t get any blood on your plate.
Is Rare Blue Steak Safe?
Blue rare steak is generally safe.
While rare blue steak may seem strange, it’s just cooked to a temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the meat appear blueish and cold to the touch.
Is Rare Steak Chewy?
Rare steak can be chewy.
Rare steak is cooked briefly, so the meat is still very raw. If it’s not cooked long enough, it will be chewy.
If you’re worried about chewing your steak too much, you can cook it medium or well.
Bottom Line
- Steak is one of the staple and most favorite food items in America. It’s obtained from different animals, especially cows, steers, and chickens.
- There are many different types of steaks depending upon the part of the animal from which they’re obtained.
- Steaks are also divided into different types based on the temperature at which they’re cooked.
- Raw steak and rare steaks are names for two different types of steaks. Raw steak is the one that’s not cooked and is served cold and bloody.
- Rare steak is the one that’s cooked to a certain extent so that its outer layer is slightly brown. However, it’s pink and tender at the center.
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