How to Tell When Steak Is Medium-Rare

The most fool-proof way to know for sure that your steak is in the medium-rare range is to use an instant-read thermometer . Sure, you could follow a time-and-temperature chart based on the thickness of the steak, or use the touch-test method (the center of the steak should feel like the space between your thumb and forefinger). But a thermometer allows you to know—not guess—that your steak has reached the medium-rare range.