Relax Your Hand
– Relax your hand and feel the fleshy area at the base of your thumb. This gives you a sense of how raw steak feels — soft and spongy.
Rare Steak
– Lightly press the steak with your finger. A rare steak should feel very soft and give easily, like the fleshy part at the base of your thumb when your hand is relaxed.
Medium-Rare Steak
– Gently press your index finger to your thumb and feel the base of your thumb. The steak should have some resistance but still feel soft, similar to this.
Medium Steak
– Press your middle finger to your thumb and feel the base of your thumb. A medium steak should feel firmer with a slight bounce, like this position.
Medium-Well Steak
– Press your ring finger to your thumb. The base of your thumb will feel firmer now, similar to how a medium-well steak should feel.
Well-Done Steak
– Press your pinky finger to your thumb. The base of your thumb will feel very firm, just like a well-done steak.
Rest the Steak
– After touching the steak, remove it from the heat and let it rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and gives you a better idea of doneness.
Nathan's Famous: Iconic for their New York-style franks, especially popular during the annual hot dog eating contest.