What Is a Medium Rare Steak? Definition & Tips

Meaning 1：medium-rare steak (medium rare steak)

medium rare steak 🔊

/ˈmiːdiəm reər steɪk/

A steak cooked so that the inside is pink and warm, but the outside is browned.

medium-rare steak 🔊

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/ˈmiːdiəm reər steɪk/

A steak cooked so that the inside is pink, warm, and juicy, while the outside is browned and seared.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Medium means middle; rare means lightly cooked; steak is a cut of meat.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a pink center like a rosebud: not too raw, not too cooked.

📖 Example

I always order medium rare steak because it's juicy and tender. 🔊 I always order medium rare steak because it's juicy and tender.

🔗 Collocations

order medium rare steak – to request a steak cooked to medium doneness with a pink center

cook medium rare steak – to prepare a steak until the inside reaches about 130°F (54°C) with a warm pink center

medium rare steak temperature – the internal temperature range (130-135°F / 54-57°C) that yields a medium rare doneness

🔄 Synonyms

mid-rare (adj.) – a colloquial abbreviation for medium rare, commonly used in restaurant settings

pink (adj.) – describing the interior color of a medium rare steak

underdone (adj.) – cooked less than well-done, often used to describe a steak that is still pink inside

🚫 Antonyms

well-done (adj.) – a steak cooked thoroughly with no pink inside, opposite of medium rare

overcooked (adj.) – cooked beyond the desired doneness, resulting in dry and tough meat

charred (adj.) – burned on the outside, often indicating excessive cooking beyond medium rare

📖 Cultural Story

The doneness levels for steak, including 'medium rare,' became standardized in American steakhouses in the late 19th century. 'Rare' derives from Old English 'hrēran' (to stir or turn), referring to lightly cooked meat.