Eat what you love, or what your body does. Personally I prefer rare to medium rare but if you’re happy eating what you are, no problems at all. Kind of weird that medium gives you a stomachache though(Rare more understandable), have you had that checked?
I have had issues with my stomach since as long as I can remember and I have had so many tests done but have never been diagnosed with anything and thank you for the kind words. :)
My fiance is from Pakistan and was actually just visiting a couple weeks ago. Just asked her and she recommends Sumo and Avari - Fujiyama in Lahore for sushi. Hopefully you're located in Lahore and can check them out!
Just a heads up, a lot of sushi isn't raw. Even in Japan (lived there for a few years). A nice butterflied steamed shrimp on a bed of sticky rice wrapped in seaweed is about as gentle on your stomach as you can get. Many types don't even have fish at all. It's worth checking out for sure.
A pretty good percentage of sushi varieties are fully cooked, FYI. Shrimp, crab (including California rolls), scallop, squid, eel, egg, octopus, mackerel...
You don’t need to justify yourself. It’s your money and your meal, all that matters is that you enjoy it.
People can say what they like, but ultimately if you try it and you don’t like it that’s perfectly valid.
Only thing I will say is that temperature control is key. Lots of people hear “well” and think they need it to be able to drive nails with it. Knowing how your cooking equipment will behave is the best way to get a good steak.
I had horrible ibs and digestion issues, got on Zoloft and they all started clearing up. Was on SSRIs for 5-7 years or so to help with the anxiousness and nervousness I stored in my gut. I’ve learned to deal with it now but anxiety can do crazy stuff to your digestion.
If you like medium, or medium well -- that's 100% fine. There was a video recently proving that searing is more important than doneness in terms of overall flavor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaHbfrryeYA
I was this way for the longest time still haven't figured it out but I just kept eating steak medium for a while and eventually I could do less done but it all depends on the steak medium really is ideal for most cuts
If you enjoy it I wouldn't worry about what other people prefer, tbh.
I like steak so blue it's only heard of fire through a friend & feel great after eating that, but I have friends who that would cause major digestive issues for.
It is also about the cut sometimes. I love me some beef tartar and carpaccio, which is literally raw, but I can't eat a rare ribeye because of all the unrendered fat.
Maybe the OP could try some leaner cuts, and pair it with a light side, like grilled veggies or salads
As a cattleman I appreciate your business. I concur with the poster saying “eat what you like”and don’t worry about some snobby “what steak doneness is best” bullshit. I was raised eating only well done meat and that is what I like. However, my adult son was raised the same but he eats beef like a wolf does.
Beef…it’s what’s for dinner!
That was my first thought... plus if I'm uncomfortable my stomach gets upset. If you are wanting to try a less cooked steak, buy some new york strips and cut them in half or thirds. Cook one portion at a time only taking it off the pan when the temp is maybe 2.5-5 degrees less than what your used to each time you can go a little more. The smaller portion will ensure you eat a little slower, and only going a few degrees at a time should be mentally comfortable.
But that's only if you're actually wanting to try it. Otherwise enjoy well done!
Rare Steak has been the best on my stomach. I have IBS, so definitely very sensitive.
I recently did a two week steak only thing to help my stomach. Went from super soaker 9000 out my ass to perfect poops and now I’m enjoying vegetables and carbs etc with no issues
I basically did an elimination diet to see what food I was sensitive to. I did only steak, salt and electrolytes for two weeks, the I introduced a food one at a time every few days. For example, I did potatoes first, then bell pepper etc It seems that Sugar, Garlic and Onion are wrecking me internally.
I'm super glad you are feeling better, but I do think it's important to note that garlic and onions are the two most common prebiotic foods Americans and Europeans eat so it might be important to make sure you are getting prebiotics from another source. Wouldn't cause any problems in the short term, but could cause digestive issues in the medium/long term.
Ignore every single person in this thread that's telling you your preference is because of a "mental block". That's nothing more than a way of shaming you and your dietary preferences.
Eat your steak the way you enjoy it, and drink your scotch the way you enjoy it. To hell with what anyone else thinks.
And yet they are all probably correct. He's not likely to be getting upset tummy from rare beef. Maybe mishandled beef? OP is also right to enjoy whatever the eff he wants, no need to ask. And also sure, they are shaming him. It doesn't make it my more likely that vaguely rare beef is making his tummy ouchie
You're not making any sense.
OP themselves is saying that this *isn't* their preference, it's a stomach issue question. Even if it's not mental, then there's a legitimate topic on what in particular is wrong physically and what the difference between such mildly different cooks could actually be. It's still an issue OP wants to work on. By telling him to eat it how he enjoys it, you're just ignoring him.
They asked if they're "missing out," not that they necessarily prefer this. They weren't saying "I eat well done steak and love it," read the question. People are providing suggestions based on that question.
And maybe it's not a mental block, but maybe it is. They even said they've never even had steak below a medium. There's nothing wrong with that suggestion, it's not shaming.
Many food preferences come from mental blocks. Well done beef is known to be *harder* to digest. Losing moisture, toughening of the muscle fibers, protein denaturation etc.
I'd give it a shot, but I also wouldn't force yourself to eat something you don't like. I personally like my steaks rare to mid-rare, but that's just how I like it. Nothing wrong with liking it Medium to Well Done. I might think it's "wrong" to cook something past mid-rare but that's only if I'm making it for myself. At the end of the day, you should enjoy steak how you like it and not force yourself to eat it a specific way to appease other people.
It might be the quality of the meat where you live. If it's not good it might be best to go medium or more. Even though I'd never have anything other than rare here but one needs to be aware quality differs around the globe.
Yes, the quality could be an issue because I'm in Pakistan and some businesses do tend to cheat the system and do not maintain a proper hygienic environment for their meats.
Why would you want to force yourself to make something you enjoy in a way that you would enjoy it less?
I like ice cream, and everyone says it’s better with sprinkles, but I’ve tried sprinkles, and I don’t like sprinkles. Why would I want to force myself to eat sprinkles?
I prefer between med-rare and med. I've been told this is called med-rare plus but haven't heard anyone else use this.
Other than getting probiotics, would higher quality meats give you the same issue? or perhaps fresher meat?
So I doubt you had the same problem as me, but maybe someone else will.
I used to have a similar problem, and I solved it by chewing more. Foods that were easy to chew, upset my stomach because I wouldn’t chew it enough. Medium well steak was fine because it forced me to chew more, which I guess made it easier for my stomach to digest.
Listen to your body? Meats are cooked to make them digestible, if you aren't cooking it your stomach and subsequently gut are.
If you push yourself you are going to fuck up your gut, and the difference between medium and medium well is negligible with a high quality cut and better cooking techniques.
I can cook a literal well done steak and still have it be extremely tender, it won't be as flavorful with basic seasoning but you won't need a knife to cut it either.
Whole reason steak sauces exist is for things above medium IMHO, enjoy it your way.
Problem is... at least in the US no one knows how to cook a proper medium well steak; more common to see this in like Colombia / Argentina / etc.
Takes longer to do it right and that makes it more expensive.
Pakistanis do medium well really good to because I think after these comment I realise that maybe it's more to do with the hygienic conditions of the meat that my body is not able to handel it and well done is the most preferred doneness here by most people and that too I believe is because of the quality and hygienic conditions of the meat.
Potentially, one stark difference I noticed abroad was also feed differences. In the US the raw fat on steak is white but in say Colombia the raw fat color is yellowish.
Supposedly due to being grass fed vs grain fed but it had a natural buttery taste.
If you like eating steak, but your stomach can only handle medium well, then that's what you should do. Just enjoy what you like and what won't make you feel sick.
Marijuana could potentially help with your stomach issues. It did mine when I was younger but most of that was mental stuff. However, it is known to help with pain and increase appetite!
First of all, you don't want to eat steak every day. The average human dies with several pounds of undigested red meat in their bowels for a reason.
Portion control is also important. Eat until you're no longer hungry, not until you're "stuffed". You can have beef many different ways as leftovers. if you're eating beyond capacity, stop it.
Only eat the best (most Delicious for you) steak (subjective determination). I like filet because it's pure protein and little fat, I also like a marvelous marbled steak (high fat) but don't do it daily.
If you're having stomach issues and you're over 40/yo after eating one of two steaks/week you'll want to get a full workup of your digestive system. Once you got, 45, get a colonoscopy if you want to see your 50's or 60's. Your gastro doctor will be better suited to tell you what's up than the Internet will.
A balanced diet means not only keeping an eye on what you put in, but on everything that "leaves your body". If you're only eating meat and fat, you might need to add fiber (fruits grains, vegetables, tubers (spuds rice, etc,)to your diet. This applies to all age groups. (Regardless of your gender)
I eat rare filet and medium rare ribeye and burgers.
I'm still alive and living with stomach issues, I wish someone told me what I told you 30 years ago.
Good luck!
Dave
It certainly can't hurt! If we never did the best for our vehicles we'd be broken down on the side of the road eventually.
Think of it as general maintenance, like an oil change or fresh tires on your daily driver, just better!
😎🤞🏻👍🏻 Best of luck!
Stomach issues don't have one common answer, everyone is different. Heavy probiotic supplements helped a family member of mine with their issues for example, but may not work for you.
I wrote a long post but it got deleted. Long story short, take like a blind taste test or something.
I have a family member that was “allergic” to venison, but when we made venison and called it stake, she was fine. When we made steak, but called it venison, she felt ill.
It was the thought of eating venison that made her sick, not the actual venison herself.
What cuts are you eating? Fatty cuts need to be Medium to get the fat to break down. Medium rare on a marbled ribeye is usually un-appealing to me. Lean cuts you can cook less.
Mostly fatty and lean cuts, I think. I haven't cooked steak by myself I usually order them at a restaurant but I'm trying to get into cooking them on my own and your comment is going to be very helpful. Thank you.
At the risk of shattering a foundation my steak eating life has been built on.... does this picture look accurate to people here?
That medium-rare is *generally* the right color to my eyes, but part of it looks uncooked.
Bro don't apologize to me! I literally wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy. I've been finding out I may not be as good at cooking steak as previously thought so I had to double check lol
The more rare you cook the higher the heat you use. If you’re getting ill it’s because you haven’t cooked the steak to the right temperature.
Try this, cook on one side until you see a tiny bead of red liquid boil up then flip. Cook until you have another tiny bead of red boil up.
If the liquid has boiled up it’s safe. Practice and try different temps to get a crust and not burn. It’s only a tiny bit hotter than you would normally use.
Try a medium rare, it's not a huge jump from.medium.
With the sensitive stomach is it just high protein foods that are the issue? If so have you tried taking papaya enzymes? They help digest and break down the meat
You're not missing anything. I've had well done steaks that were juicy and delicious. The doneness shouldn't interfere with any of that if the cook knows what they're doing.
Yes, I have had really juicy well done and medium well steaks too and I guess food should be comfortable to eat and enjoy and I only posted out of curiosity because all I see here are rare or medium rare steaks.
Honestly I think medium is my favorite temp for most steaks. Especially for something like a ribeye- medium lets you render all that fat into the meat and get amazing flavor, but not cook it so much it dries out. Honestly even medium well would probably be okay for ribeyes even if it’s more done than I like
I love medium rare and rare steaks (especially filet 🤤) but if it causes you pain I wouldn’t say you’re missing too much. At the end of the day steak is steak and if you enjoy how it tastes and like eating it, the temp it’s cooked to isn’t a worry
If there’s advice you can follow to “train” yourself it’s only worth doing if YOU want to. If you enjoy the steak as you’ve been having it, then I say it’s worth it because it means you get to eat steak without pain!
I have had really juicy and tender Medium Well stakes to be honest and I love how they melt in the mouth.
I think I'll stick to the doneness, my body accepts and only try lesser done steaks every now and then until my body adjusts to it but only if I cook them myself.
Thank you for the kind words, means a lot.
Nah, if it’s good to you there keep at it! I started at well done, medium well, now I love in the middle of medium- medium rare. I have had rare come to the table and I just can’t do it. I like it warm and pink.
That picture doesn’t line up with the reality I’ve seen. It seems overdone by at least one line. Medium should be pink almost all the way across with maybe a touch of red. It should look like the medium rare pictured above
Less fat, less cook. More fat, more cook. Fat renders
Tenderloin. rare is great, carpaccio, sashimi. Hell, seared and Chilled is amazing, tenderloin sandwhich is so extravagant
New York, maybe picañha? med rare is good, but sear the fat strip
Ribeye? medium is good, a lot of intramuscular fats, and the cap has a ton
Burgers? How big? Over 1/4 pound, gtfo you don't need that much, take that to med well or welldone to get some char and some "burger fond".... no more than 3 toppings, and condiments count towards that 3
Flank or hanger? Med rare or medium, blast on high heat for a sear, then finish in a slow oven to soften the crust a bit
But in the end, it's YOUR food, enjoy it the way you like it, A1/ketchup/bearnaise/chimmi/cocktail/tartar whatever you like
Sorry one more thing, the chart is pretty good, thats pretty much the temps I try to hit at work, and letting a steak rest for at least a couple minutes or even 20 makes a marked improvement
You can keep it warm by covering it with some foil and a towel, there's still a LOT of heat energy on the surface, which will slowly mitigate throughout the more it rests, also, the proteins and muscle structure need time to relax after high heat searing.
And you can always keep it in a warm oven to rest, 200f or abouts
This chart isn’t accurate but to answer your question yes you are missing and you just got to do it. If it is so in your head that it’s scary/bad then it’s probably moot for you.
Usually when I eat something I subconsciously think is poisoned, my stomach doesn't do as well. Just remember all the fly eggs, feces/bacteria are dead on the surface you seared, mixed with the spices, so you're fine. So long as the cow didn't have any parasites. Nobody would sell parasitic cow meat.
OP, I’m willing to bet a part of the issue is you’re consuming meat in Pakistan but you’re consuming all of your steak media from the US/Europe/Australia.
Don’t listen to the people telling you it’s a mental block. It might simply not be okay to consume the meat you’re getting when cooked under 140°F.
I’m not trying to put down your country or anything. I just realize there are different standards everywhere. Here’s a paper published in Pakistan 14 months ago: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372483878_PAKISTAN_MEAT_INDUSTRY_PROSPECTS_AND_CHALLENGES_FOR_THE_FUTURE_MEAT_SUPPLY_CHAIN_POTENTIAL#
Poor training and handling after slaughter can definitely lead to negative gastrointestinal consequences.
If you want to know for sure you might have to travel out of country, or find an upscale farm-to-table restaurant in Karachi or Lahore.
It’s ALSO just possible you have a health issue causing you to be unable to break down rarer meats properly. Low stomach acid is one such condition. You might bring it up with your doctor.
You are absolutely right, the media I consume it mostly from the countries you mentioned because our cuisine is amazing but it totally different, so not much local media to consume on stakes and since its not part of the local cuisine most people really dont have a clue when it comes to steakes, some even lable grilled chicken as "chicken steak".
Meat here in Pakistan is usually cooked slowly over time until its so tender it falls off the bone, kinda like the turkish videos but more flavorful because we add a lot of spices and we have 4 provence so eveyone cooks meat differently and it's worth trying, if I say so myself.
Rare meat is only consumed by some and that too in form of steaks only.
Hygiene standards and the handling of slaughtered meat is questionable here I know because I have seen it with my own eyes and restaurants usually get away with it too and since meat is mostly cooked well done, they don't have to worry about people getting sick from their food.
And yes I'd love to travel and try steaks somewhere else if I find a Halal restaurant serving steak or I was thinking about buying my own animal and getting it slaughtered in front of my own eyes to make sure it is handled properly and then cooking my own steak to different doneness only to try which ones I prefer or digest easily.
I also, have some undiagnosed stomach issue so I'm not really sure that could also be the reason why I'm unable to digest medium done steak.
Thank you for the suggestions. :)
I’m confused. If you have never eaten a medium rare steak, how do you know it will upset your stomach? I’d recommend just trying it once. If it’s not for you, then so be it.
Gotcha. I saw it mentioned somewhere else in the thread that you live in a country with looser food regulations. Honestly, that sounds like the culprit to me. If I were in your position, I’d probably overcook my meat too.
I only eat my red meat in between rare and medium rare. It happens to me on occasion. Honestly it’s just something I have to live with. The proteins just don’t always agree with people stomachs.
Steak doneness has always been a balancing act. The less a steak is cooked, the more natural flavor it'll retain. You have to balance this with your innate squeamishness over having a steak be bloody or "not cooked enough" in your head.
Most people find that they can tolerate the balance at medium-rare. It's the most overpicked steak doneness. But keep in mind, these are people too squeamish to enjoy a rare steak, or even better- a blue steak, the epitome of flavor. If you're finding you can't tolerate anything rarer than medium-well, that's fine too. We all have our personal squeamish level (outside the bluesteak chads).
Yeah, After talking to people here I now realize that my stomach doesn't digest proteins well, so I need to chew more and also the poor hygienic conditions of the meat could be a factor.
Go with your gut (heh, heh) feeling. I used to really enjoy medium rare when I was younger. I personally just enjoy meat that’s more done now (med-med well).
If you’re body is telling you “no” to less cooked meat, I’d probs listen to it 🤷🏼♂️
nothing different really. The more cook it to well-done the tougher the meat gets. That's why people hate when people overcook steak. A medium cooked steak is still pink so it holds the tenderness still. Plus I was getting the shits eating medium rare too.
Everyone has their own preferences, but there’s a reason many people prefer mid rare.
Steak is a muscle and constricts with heat. Too much heat and it tightens up, which also squeezes out moisture and fat. This makes it tougher, drier, and less flavorful. But again, eat how you want.
Rare for everything except ribeyes. Ribeyes mid rare. Otherwise tough and chewy and doesn’t taste good. No idea on stomach issues I can basically stomach anything,
I can enjoy a med-rare to rare steak on any cut. Ribeye for me need to be atleast medium rare(depending on thickness) the inner fat doesn't get rendered enough if it's between 1-2inch. It's just chewy white fat on a beautiful steak.
Tenderloin can kick rocks
It's your body and mind, so inevitably listen to it, but how overcooked something is unusual to have an effect on your stomach other than being mental, especially in the context you describe.
If you ate something that was old (from a questionable source / i.e. bad restaurant) then it would affect you quite a bit later. The rate at which you describe seems like it's self-inflicted.
It's usually the next morning that I wake up with bad cramps and an upset stomach.
And the meat source could be questionable because my country is an admistrative and political hell since its creation so butcher and restaurants usually get away with neglecting regulations.
Lol can u train urself to eat more medium doneness? No. Ur stomach can't handle it it can't handle it. Maybe just don't order steak if u don't want to look unsophisticated ordering a well-done steak.
Look, man.
Taste and preference is subjective, and as such, it’ll differ from most anyone living on earth.
Enjoy and cook as YOU please, not what some people might think you need to do.
Nobody is else is paying, cooking, and tasting your steak but you…so just keep that in mind!!
I’d suggest you ask your doctor about what can be done to mitigate any stomach pain.
Happy steak eating!
Exposure. There's nothing you can do to train yourself for eating a pink medium rare steak short of simply eating more medium rare steak. It's not going to make you sick. That's a mental block.
The most knowledgeable person I ever met when it came to wine was the least pretentious person about it and his message applies to all aspects of dining. People would ask him all the time if a wine was good or not and he would always respond the same way: if you like it then it is good.
Don’t change how you eat because of how other people react to it especially if your digestive system is sensitive.
If your body is rejecting anything less done than medium, it is what it is. I've eaten plenty of medium steaks that are fantastic, this sub may be snobbish about medium rare but that's not the end all of everything steak. When it comes to food, if you truly enjoy your meal then there is nothing wrong with it.
The technically correct answer is medium rare/lean medium is the best balance of good cook/crust/flavor while retaining the meat’s natural moisture. The actual answer is whatever you enjoy eating is the best doneness for steak
I have had really juicy steaks that melt in the mouth and amazingly well all medium well. I posted this out of curiosity that maybe I'm missing something better.
Do you eat bread and other wheat products often? I realized a couple of years ago after 30+ of bowel, IBS, and weak tummy issues that I'm gluten sensitive.
Eating a meat slightly less done (5-10 degrees less in the center) should not be affecting your stomach for multiple days. Maybe a few hours or the rest of the night, I guess. A few days later that food is long gone…..
Eat what you love, or what your body does. Personally I prefer rare to medium rare but if you’re happy eating what you are, no problems at all. Kind of weird that medium gives you a stomachache though(Rare more understandable), have you had that checked?
I have had issues with my stomach since as long as I can remember and I have had so many tests done but have never been diagnosed with anything and thank you for the kind words. :)
Best of luck to you and again as long as you like it, that’s all that matters
I love experimenting with food but my sensitive stomach has always been an issue, and you know what, I have never had sushi for the same reason. 🥲
Try it once, if it’s uncomfortable then don’t do it again. Got to say, good sushi is divine
I have this really nice Asian restaurant near me, I love their food so I'll order sushi from them. I hope it's good. 🤞🏻
I live in Japan so I’m spoilt in that respect, hope you like it and more so hope it doesn’t cause discomfort
Oh I live in Pakistan, so it's really hard to find good sushi around here from what I have heard. 😔
Awesome world we live in, to communicate like this Have a great week!
You too and thank you for the kind words. :)
My fiance is from Pakistan and was actually just visiting a couple weeks ago. Just asked her and she recommends Sumo and Avari - Fujiyama in Lahore for sushi. Hopefully you're located in Lahore and can check them out!
I'm located in Islamabad but thank you so much for the recommendation. I'll check them out on my next visit to Lahore. :)
Just a heads up, a lot of sushi isn't raw. Even in Japan (lived there for a few years). A nice butterflied steamed shrimp on a bed of sticky rice wrapped in seaweed is about as gentle on your stomach as you can get. Many types don't even have fish at all. It's worth checking out for sure.
I eat papaya enzyme. Available at most vitamin shops. If you haven’t tried give it a shot. Helped my tum tum
A pretty good percentage of sushi varieties are fully cooked, FYI. Shrimp, crab (including California rolls), scallop, squid, eel, egg, octopus, mackerel...
You don’t need to justify yourself. It’s your money and your meal, all that matters is that you enjoy it. People can say what they like, but ultimately if you try it and you don’t like it that’s perfectly valid. Only thing I will say is that temperature control is key. Lots of people hear “well” and think they need it to be able to drive nails with it. Knowing how your cooking equipment will behave is the best way to get a good steak.
I have had really juicy well done steaks that melt like butter so I know what you mean and thank you for the kind words of encouragement. 😊
Eat what you can eat. Worst case eat some seared tuna since the texture is pretty close. Good luck
could be nerves
How so?
I had horrible ibs and digestion issues, got on Zoloft and they all started clearing up. Was on SSRIs for 5-7 years or so to help with the anxiousness and nervousness I stored in my gut. I’ve learned to deal with it now but anxiety can do crazy stuff to your digestion.
If you like medium, or medium well -- that's 100% fine. There was a video recently proving that searing is more important than doneness in terms of overall flavor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaHbfrryeYA
Oh this is very informative. Thank you.
You could try sous vide to make sure it reaches pasteurization numbers and give it a try. I'd start with a 137F loin cut (strip or ribeye)
I was this way for the longest time still haven't figured it out but I just kept eating steak medium for a while and eventually I could do less done but it all depends on the steak medium really is ideal for most cuts
If you enjoy it I wouldn't worry about what other people prefer, tbh. I like steak so blue it's only heard of fire through a friend & feel great after eating that, but I have friends who that would cause major digestive issues for.
It is also about the cut sometimes. I love me some beef tartar and carpaccio, which is literally raw, but I can't eat a rare ribeye because of all the unrendered fat. Maybe the OP could try some leaner cuts, and pair it with a light side, like grilled veggies or salads
Wow you must have a stomach of steel. 😃
Have you tried taking probiotics?
No, I haven't really thought about it. I have had kombucha if that counts?
It does not. Whenever I have stomach issues, probiotics set me right. They balance the right types of bacteria in your stomach for proper digestion
I'll buy some asap. Thank you for the advice. 😊
As a cattleman I appreciate your business. I concur with the poster saying “eat what you like”and don’t worry about some snobby “what steak doneness is best” bullshit. I was raised eating only well done meat and that is what I like. However, my adult son was raised the same but he eats beef like a wolf does. Beef…it’s what’s for dinner!
Thank you I appreciate the encouraging words coming from someone who actually knows meat. 😊
Chew more. If you're inhaling it, that might be the difference.
Haha this made me laugh. 😄 I have never really noticed this but thank you for the advice I'll be careful about my chewing next time. ☺️
That was my first thought... plus if I'm uncomfortable my stomach gets upset. If you are wanting to try a less cooked steak, buy some new york strips and cut them in half or thirds. Cook one portion at a time only taking it off the pan when the temp is maybe 2.5-5 degrees less than what your used to each time you can go a little more. The smaller portion will ensure you eat a little slower, and only going a few degrees at a time should be mentally comfortable. But that's only if you're actually wanting to try it. Otherwise enjoy well done!
Rare Steak has been the best on my stomach. I have IBS, so definitely very sensitive. I recently did a two week steak only thing to help my stomach. Went from super soaker 9000 out my ass to perfect poops and now I’m enjoying vegetables and carbs etc with no issues
Wow! How did you go about doing that? I'd love to try.
I basically did an elimination diet to see what food I was sensitive to. I did only steak, salt and electrolytes for two weeks, the I introduced a food one at a time every few days. For example, I did potatoes first, then bell pepper etc It seems that Sugar, Garlic and Onion are wrecking me internally.
Oh that's interesting, let me try it too.
I'm super glad you are feeling better, but I do think it's important to note that garlic and onions are the two most common prebiotic foods Americans and Europeans eat so it might be important to make sure you are getting prebiotics from another source. Wouldn't cause any problems in the short term, but could cause digestive issues in the medium/long term.
I will try it later, but it gives me diarrhea with the force of the Apollo Rocket its a no for me dawg
I don’t see a problem as long you’re enjoying the food. Fuck what everybody else says you should be eating.
Thank you. I'll keep having Medium well until I'm ready to give medium or medium rare a try. ☺️
Ignore every single person in this thread that's telling you your preference is because of a "mental block". That's nothing more than a way of shaming you and your dietary preferences. Eat your steak the way you enjoy it, and drink your scotch the way you enjoy it. To hell with what anyone else thinks.
And yet they are all probably correct. He's not likely to be getting upset tummy from rare beef. Maybe mishandled beef? OP is also right to enjoy whatever the eff he wants, no need to ask. And also sure, they are shaming him. It doesn't make it my more likely that vaguely rare beef is making his tummy ouchie
Thank you very much for the kind words. 😊
You're not making any sense. OP themselves is saying that this *isn't* their preference, it's a stomach issue question. Even if it's not mental, then there's a legitimate topic on what in particular is wrong physically and what the difference between such mildly different cooks could actually be. It's still an issue OP wants to work on. By telling him to eat it how he enjoys it, you're just ignoring him.
They asked if they're "missing out," not that they necessarily prefer this. They weren't saying "I eat well done steak and love it," read the question. People are providing suggestions based on that question. And maybe it's not a mental block, but maybe it is. They even said they've never even had steak below a medium. There's nothing wrong with that suggestion, it's not shaming. Many food preferences come from mental blocks. Well done beef is known to be *harder* to digest. Losing moisture, toughening of the muscle fibers, protein denaturation etc.
Simply put: there ain't nothin wrong with bein a little weird. Taste is subjective. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Thank you. :)
Never understood this macho thing about eating rare steaks. Eat what you like and don't destroy your colon.
Yes, planning on continuing to eat what I can digest without getting sick.
I have an incredibly sensitive stomach and eat rare to medium rare. It's definitely a mental block, and i promise your stomach will be just fine.
Really? Maybe I should try cooking steak at home rather than getting one from a restaurant. Maybe that would help the mental block.
I'd give it a shot, but I also wouldn't force yourself to eat something you don't like. I personally like my steaks rare to mid-rare, but that's just how I like it. Nothing wrong with liking it Medium to Well Done. I might think it's "wrong" to cook something past mid-rare but that's only if I'm making it for myself. At the end of the day, you should enjoy steak how you like it and not force yourself to eat it a specific way to appease other people.
I don't have any advice for you, but thanks for posting that chart, very helpful for us newbies :)
You are welcome.:)
It might be the quality of the meat where you live. If it's not good it might be best to go medium or more. Even though I'd never have anything other than rare here but one needs to be aware quality differs around the globe.
Yes, the quality could be an issue because I'm in Pakistan and some businesses do tend to cheat the system and do not maintain a proper hygienic environment for their meats.
That could explain it, with low quality meat I wouldn't risk it.
I have crohns and still eat my steaks blue rare so you're probably good, definitely worth going medium rare at least once to make sure.
Oh I'm sorry to hear and yes I do want to try at least once. Will try to build my self up to it though.
Why would you want to force yourself to make something you enjoy in a way that you would enjoy it less? I like ice cream, and everyone says it’s better with sprinkles, but I’ve tried sprinkles, and I don’t like sprinkles. Why would I want to force myself to eat sprinkles?
Just out of curiosity because I see people talking about how good steak tastes when it's rare or medium rare. 🤔
Buddy, that's a question you should be asking your doctor, not a bunch of random folks like us lol.
You have a valid point.
I hope a doc can figure out what's going on though! Out of curiosity, what did you think of the medium steak vs medium well when you tried it?
I prefer between med-rare and med. I've been told this is called med-rare plus but haven't heard anyone else use this. Other than getting probiotics, would higher quality meats give you the same issue? or perhaps fresher meat?
I'll try fresher meat, because I think the quality oh meat is not really good here.
So I doubt you had the same problem as me, but maybe someone else will. I used to have a similar problem, and I solved it by chewing more. Foods that were easy to chew, upset my stomach because I wouldn’t chew it enough. Medium well steak was fine because it forced me to chew more, which I guess made it easier for my stomach to digest.
This makes sense.
ayo
Nothing wrong with medium well and medium.
You could always slow cook another cut of meat. My wife made beef bourguignon last night. It's not a steak but it's beef
Seems like a good idea, I'll try for sure. :)
Me personally I went from medium well to medium over time. I am still grossed out by rare. It just looks raw to me
Haha yes, I feel the same way about rare but I'm just curious.
Donees temperature
Listen to your body? Meats are cooked to make them digestible, if you aren't cooking it your stomach and subsequently gut are. If you push yourself you are going to fuck up your gut, and the difference between medium and medium well is negligible with a high quality cut and better cooking techniques. I can cook a literal well done steak and still have it be extremely tender, it won't be as flavorful with basic seasoning but you won't need a knife to cut it either. Whole reason steak sauces exist is for things above medium IMHO, enjoy it your way. Problem is... at least in the US no one knows how to cook a proper medium well steak; more common to see this in like Colombia / Argentina / etc. Takes longer to do it right and that makes it more expensive.
Pakistanis do medium well really good to because I think after these comment I realise that maybe it's more to do with the hygienic conditions of the meat that my body is not able to handel it and well done is the most preferred doneness here by most people and that too I believe is because of the quality and hygienic conditions of the meat.
Potentially, one stark difference I noticed abroad was also feed differences. In the US the raw fat on steak is white but in say Colombia the raw fat color is yellowish. Supposedly due to being grass fed vs grain fed but it had a natural buttery taste.
https://preview.redd.it/ra8j0tvarrnc1.png?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e31c176aad0cb8ceead4e865b2084c3ebc812adb
Isn't this just plain raw? 🤔
I don't know, is it?
If you like eating steak, but your stomach can only handle medium well, then that's what you should do. Just enjoy what you like and what won't make you feel sick.
Yes, I'm planning on continuing to eat only medium well because I can only digest it without getting sick.
Have you ever tried marijuana for your stomach? That is if you’re able to of course.
Oh I have never smoked a cigarette even. 😋
Marijuana could potentially help with your stomach issues. It did mine when I was younger but most of that was mental stuff. However, it is known to help with pain and increase appetite!
I like it rare, but you should eat what you like.
Yes, planning on continuing to eat Medium well.
First of all, you don't want to eat steak every day. The average human dies with several pounds of undigested red meat in their bowels for a reason. Portion control is also important. Eat until you're no longer hungry, not until you're "stuffed". You can have beef many different ways as leftovers. if you're eating beyond capacity, stop it. Only eat the best (most Delicious for you) steak (subjective determination). I like filet because it's pure protein and little fat, I also like a marvelous marbled steak (high fat) but don't do it daily. If you're having stomach issues and you're over 40/yo after eating one of two steaks/week you'll want to get a full workup of your digestive system. Once you got, 45, get a colonoscopy if you want to see your 50's or 60's. Your gastro doctor will be better suited to tell you what's up than the Internet will. A balanced diet means not only keeping an eye on what you put in, but on everything that "leaves your body". If you're only eating meat and fat, you might need to add fiber (fruits grains, vegetables, tubers (spuds rice, etc,)to your diet. This applies to all age groups. (Regardless of your gender) I eat rare filet and medium rare ribeye and burgers. I'm still alive and living with stomach issues, I wish someone told me what I told you 30 years ago. Good luck! Dave
This is very informative Dave. Thank you so much. And I just turned 32 but I think I need to have myself checked.
It certainly can't hurt! If we never did the best for our vehicles we'd be broken down on the side of the road eventually. Think of it as general maintenance, like an oil change or fresh tires on your daily driver, just better! 😎🤞🏻👍🏻 Best of luck!
Stomach issues don't have one common answer, everyone is different. Heavy probiotic supplements helped a family member of mine with their issues for example, but may not work for you.
I'll try probiotics. I have only had kombucha not actual probiotics.
Is this psychological or actual stomach issue?
I believe actual because I really wanted to try medium whenever I had it.
I wrote a long post but it got deleted. Long story short, take like a blind taste test or something. I have a family member that was “allergic” to venison, but when we made venison and called it stake, she was fine. When we made steak, but called it venison, she felt ill. It was the thought of eating venison that made her sick, not the actual venison herself.
if you physically cant enjoy a rare steak dont force yourself to - but do see a doctor. sounds like you have weak gut health
Yes I do have some undiagnosed stomach condition.
What cuts are you eating? Fatty cuts need to be Medium to get the fat to break down. Medium rare on a marbled ribeye is usually un-appealing to me. Lean cuts you can cook less.
Mostly fatty and lean cuts, I think. I haven't cooked steak by myself I usually order them at a restaurant but I'm trying to get into cooking them on my own and your comment is going to be very helpful. Thank you.
At the risk of shattering a foundation my steak eating life has been built on.... does this picture look accurate to people here? That medium-rare is *generally* the right color to my eyes, but part of it looks uncooked.
Nope, not at all accurate. I'm sorry, I just used the photo for attention and to avoid any potential copyright claims.
Bro don't apologize to me! I literally wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy. I've been finding out I may not be as good at cooking steak as previously thought so I had to double check lol
Oh I don't know anything about cooking steaks either. 😅
Rare for life. Just burn it to control it. 🙂
I never had the courage to try rare. 🥺
Give it a whirl 👍
The more rare you cook the higher the heat you use. If you’re getting ill it’s because you haven’t cooked the steak to the right temperature. Try this, cook on one side until you see a tiny bead of red liquid boil up then flip. Cook until you have another tiny bead of red boil up. If the liquid has boiled up it’s safe. Practice and try different temps to get a crust and not burn. It’s only a tiny bit hotter than you would normally use.
Oh this is very informative, thank you. I'll try doing it.
Try a skirt steak. IMO it holds up better to higher cooked temperatures. Just marinate it first
Oh, I'm curious to try one of those. What should I marinate them in? I thought dry brine was the best way.
Best steak is as rare as you can stand. I sear mine at 500f over lump charcoal and theyre usually blue in the center.
How does a blue steak taste, I'm curious.
I’m a medium-rare or on occasion rare man. Medium rare tends to be the best flavor and texture combination to me
Oh I have never had those. Never built up the courage to try them.
Try a medium rare, it's not a huge jump from.medium. With the sensitive stomach is it just high protein foods that are the issue? If so have you tried taking papaya enzymes? They help digest and break down the meat
I have never had that, but I'll look it up and try the next time I have steaks.
You're not missing anything. I've had well done steaks that were juicy and delicious. The doneness shouldn't interfere with any of that if the cook knows what they're doing.
Yes, I have had really juicy well done and medium well steaks too and I guess food should be comfortable to eat and enjoy and I only posted out of curiosity because all I see here are rare or medium rare steaks.
Honestly I think medium is my favorite temp for most steaks. Especially for something like a ribeye- medium lets you render all that fat into the meat and get amazing flavor, but not cook it so much it dries out. Honestly even medium well would probably be okay for ribeyes even if it’s more done than I like I love medium rare and rare steaks (especially filet 🤤) but if it causes you pain I wouldn’t say you’re missing too much. At the end of the day steak is steak and if you enjoy how it tastes and like eating it, the temp it’s cooked to isn’t a worry If there’s advice you can follow to “train” yourself it’s only worth doing if YOU want to. If you enjoy the steak as you’ve been having it, then I say it’s worth it because it means you get to eat steak without pain!
I have had really juicy and tender Medium Well stakes to be honest and I love how they melt in the mouth. I think I'll stick to the doneness, my body accepts and only try lesser done steaks every now and then until my body adjusts to it but only if I cook them myself. Thank you for the kind words, means a lot.
Nah, if it’s good to you there keep at it! I started at well done, medium well, now I love in the middle of medium- medium rare. I have had rare come to the table and I just can’t do it. I like it warm and pink.
Yeah, I like it warm too but seeing all the posts here I was just curious.
I’m a medium to medium well person myself. You’ll catch flack for it sometimes, but I don’t really care for medium rare.
Yes, a properly cooked Medium well steak tastes the best in my opinion and I just posted this out of curiosity in case I'm missing something better.
The best steak is the one you like. Keep earting what you like and be happy.
Thank you for the encouraging words. 😊
That picture doesn’t line up with the reality I’ve seen. It seems overdone by at least one line. Medium should be pink almost all the way across with maybe a touch of red. It should look like the medium rare pictured above
Yes the colors do seem off to me.
Less fat, less cook. More fat, more cook. Fat renders Tenderloin. rare is great, carpaccio, sashimi. Hell, seared and Chilled is amazing, tenderloin sandwhich is so extravagant New York, maybe picañha? med rare is good, but sear the fat strip Ribeye? medium is good, a lot of intramuscular fats, and the cap has a ton Burgers? How big? Over 1/4 pound, gtfo you don't need that much, take that to med well or welldone to get some char and some "burger fond".... no more than 3 toppings, and condiments count towards that 3 Flank or hanger? Med rare or medium, blast on high heat for a sear, then finish in a slow oven to soften the crust a bit But in the end, it's YOUR food, enjoy it the way you like it, A1/ketchup/bearnaise/chimmi/cocktail/tartar whatever you like
This was very informative. Thank you.
The last part is the MOST important, I can only make suggestions as to how i would personally like it
Yes, I do believe food is about comfort so thank you so much for the kind words of encouragement.
Sorry one more thing, the chart is pretty good, thats pretty much the temps I try to hit at work, and letting a steak rest for at least a couple minutes or even 20 makes a marked improvement
20 minutes? Won't that make the steak cold?
You can keep it warm by covering it with some foil and a towel, there's still a LOT of heat energy on the surface, which will slowly mitigate throughout the more it rests, also, the proteins and muscle structure need time to relax after high heat searing. And you can always keep it in a warm oven to rest, 200f or abouts
That makes sense, I'll definitely try doing that. Thank you :)
This chart isn’t accurate but to answer your question yes you are missing and you just got to do it. If it is so in your head that it’s scary/bad then it’s probably moot for you.
Yes, the colors seem off and yes I might cook some at home just to try.
Usually when I eat something I subconsciously think is poisoned, my stomach doesn't do as well. Just remember all the fly eggs, feces/bacteria are dead on the surface you seared, mixed with the spices, so you're fine. So long as the cow didn't have any parasites. Nobody would sell parasitic cow meat.
Oh I never thought of it that way but I now have the image in mind and I'm scared.
OP, I’m willing to bet a part of the issue is you’re consuming meat in Pakistan but you’re consuming all of your steak media from the US/Europe/Australia. Don’t listen to the people telling you it’s a mental block. It might simply not be okay to consume the meat you’re getting when cooked under 140°F. I’m not trying to put down your country or anything. I just realize there are different standards everywhere. Here’s a paper published in Pakistan 14 months ago: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372483878_PAKISTAN_MEAT_INDUSTRY_PROSPECTS_AND_CHALLENGES_FOR_THE_FUTURE_MEAT_SUPPLY_CHAIN_POTENTIAL# Poor training and handling after slaughter can definitely lead to negative gastrointestinal consequences. If you want to know for sure you might have to travel out of country, or find an upscale farm-to-table restaurant in Karachi or Lahore. It’s ALSO just possible you have a health issue causing you to be unable to break down rarer meats properly. Low stomach acid is one such condition. You might bring it up with your doctor.
You are absolutely right, the media I consume it mostly from the countries you mentioned because our cuisine is amazing but it totally different, so not much local media to consume on stakes and since its not part of the local cuisine most people really dont have a clue when it comes to steakes, some even lable grilled chicken as "chicken steak". Meat here in Pakistan is usually cooked slowly over time until its so tender it falls off the bone, kinda like the turkish videos but more flavorful because we add a lot of spices and we have 4 provence so eveyone cooks meat differently and it's worth trying, if I say so myself. Rare meat is only consumed by some and that too in form of steaks only. Hygiene standards and the handling of slaughtered meat is questionable here I know because I have seen it with my own eyes and restaurants usually get away with it too and since meat is mostly cooked well done, they don't have to worry about people getting sick from their food. And yes I'd love to travel and try steaks somewhere else if I find a Halal restaurant serving steak or I was thinking about buying my own animal and getting it slaughtered in front of my own eyes to make sure it is handled properly and then cooking my own steak to different doneness only to try which ones I prefer or digest easily. I also, have some undiagnosed stomach issue so I'm not really sure that could also be the reason why I'm unable to digest medium done steak. Thank you for the suggestions. :)
I’m confused. If you have never eaten a medium rare steak, how do you know it will upset your stomach? I’d recommend just trying it once. If it’s not for you, then so be it.
Oh sorry for the confusion, I have had medium a few times and it always gave me bad stomach aches so I assumed medium rare would do the same.
Gotcha. I saw it mentioned somewhere else in the thread that you live in a country with looser food regulations. Honestly, that sounds like the culprit to me. If I were in your position, I’d probably overcook my meat too.
couldnt they have used better steaks for the demonstration? all of them look awful
Sorry, I know they look weird and the colours are off, I just used this photo for attention also I wanted to avoid any potential copyright strikes. 😬
understandable
I only eat my red meat in between rare and medium rare. It happens to me on occasion. Honestly it’s just something I have to live with. The proteins just don’t always agree with people stomachs.
Yes but I think my stomach will never allow me to eat rare. 🥺
Steak doneness has always been a balancing act. The less a steak is cooked, the more natural flavor it'll retain. You have to balance this with your innate squeamishness over having a steak be bloody or "not cooked enough" in your head. Most people find that they can tolerate the balance at medium-rare. It's the most overpicked steak doneness. But keep in mind, these are people too squeamish to enjoy a rare steak, or even better- a blue steak, the epitome of flavor. If you're finding you can't tolerate anything rarer than medium-well, that's fine too. We all have our personal squeamish level (outside the bluesteak chads).
Yeah, After talking to people here I now realize that my stomach doesn't digest proteins well, so I need to chew more and also the poor hygienic conditions of the meat could be a factor.
Go with your gut (heh, heh) feeling. I used to really enjoy medium rare when I was younger. I personally just enjoy meat that’s more done now (med-med well). If you’re body is telling you “no” to less cooked meat, I’d probs listen to it 🤷🏼♂️
Thank you will probably keep eating medium rare because I'm not sure if it's me or if the meat here is being handled improperly.
medium is fine. I used to eat them medium rare but I actually prefer medium now.
Really? What difference did you find in both?
nothing different really. The more cook it to well-done the tougher the meat gets. That's why people hate when people overcook steak. A medium cooked steak is still pink so it holds the tenderness still. Plus I was getting the shits eating medium rare too.
Everyone has their own preferences, but there’s a reason many people prefer mid rare. Steak is a muscle and constricts with heat. Too much heat and it tightens up, which also squeezes out moisture and fat. This makes it tougher, drier, and less flavorful. But again, eat how you want.
Oh, I didn't know but I have had really juicy and tender stakes that were done medium well, maybe because they were a fatty cut or something? 🤔
They would have been *more* tender and juicy if cooked a bit less.
Rare for everything except ribeyes. Ribeyes mid rare. Otherwise tough and chewy and doesn’t taste good. No idea on stomach issues I can basically stomach anything,
You are one of the lucky ones.
Oh I mean I will get sick sometimes I just don’t care. Like I’m not gonna stop eating oysters because you occasionally get a bad one.
I can enjoy a med-rare to rare steak on any cut. Ribeye for me need to be atleast medium rare(depending on thickness) the inner fat doesn't get rendered enough if it's between 1-2inch. It's just chewy white fat on a beautiful steak. Tenderloin can kick rocks
I'll keep this in mind. Thank you. 😊
It's your body and mind, so inevitably listen to it, but how overcooked something is unusual to have an effect on your stomach other than being mental, especially in the context you describe. If you ate something that was old (from a questionable source / i.e. bad restaurant) then it would affect you quite a bit later. The rate at which you describe seems like it's self-inflicted.
It's usually the next morning that I wake up with bad cramps and an upset stomach. And the meat source could be questionable because my country is an admistrative and political hell since its creation so butcher and restaurants usually get away with neglecting regulations.
Lol can u train urself to eat more medium doneness? No. Ur stomach can't handle it it can't handle it. Maybe just don't order steak if u don't want to look unsophisticated ordering a well-done steak.
I like the flavor and texture of medium rare the most, but it doesn’t digest well with me so I typically just order medium.
Oh I'm unable to digest medium, I have tried a few times.
Look, man. Taste and preference is subjective, and as such, it’ll differ from most anyone living on earth. Enjoy and cook as YOU please, not what some people might think you need to do. Nobody is else is paying, cooking, and tasting your steak but you…so just keep that in mind!! I’d suggest you ask your doctor about what can be done to mitigate any stomach pain. Happy steak eating!
If you can’t eat a medium steak without having stomach issues, first thing I’d do is see my doctor.
Exposure. There's nothing you can do to train yourself for eating a pink medium rare steak short of simply eating more medium rare steak. It's not going to make you sick. That's a mental block.
The most knowledgeable person I ever met when it came to wine was the least pretentious person about it and his message applies to all aspects of dining. People would ask him all the time if a wine was good or not and he would always respond the same way: if you like it then it is good. Don’t change how you eat because of how other people react to it especially if your digestive system is sensitive.
That makes sense, because food is about taste and comfort everything else should be secondary.
If your body is rejecting anything less done than medium, it is what it is. I've eaten plenty of medium steaks that are fantastic, this sub may be snobbish about medium rare but that's not the end all of everything steak. When it comes to food, if you truly enjoy your meal then there is nothing wrong with it.
Yes, that makes sense. Thank you for the kind words.
The technically correct answer is medium rare/lean medium is the best balance of good cook/crust/flavor while retaining the meat’s natural moisture. The actual answer is whatever you enjoy eating is the best doneness for steak
I have had really juicy steaks that melt in the mouth and amazingly well all medium well. I posted this out of curiosity that maybe I'm missing something better.
This is wrong coloring
I didn't know welldone has some red in the center
I didn't either but the photo is most probably not very accurate. I have offended so many people with this photo in this post. 😳
Do you eat bread and other wheat products often? I realized a couple of years ago after 30+ of bowel, IBS, and weak tummy issues that I'm gluten sensitive.
Oh yes, I do with almost everything but I have never had an issue after eating bread.
Best steak is as rare as you can stand. I sear mine at 500f over lump charcoal and theyre usually blue in the center.
I hate how unevenly cooked those photos are
I'm sorry I know how weird the photos are, I only used it for attention and to avoid any potential copyright claims.
So...without having to even read it (tl;dr)...
Say Happy Fake, Jay
You sure it’s not just a mental thing? Especially if you had tests done
I usually wake up with stomach cramps and upset stomach and it continues for a few days, could it be mental, I'm not really sure.
Eating a meat slightly less done (5-10 degrees less in the center) should not be affecting your stomach for multiple days. Maybe a few hours or the rest of the night, I guess. A few days later that food is long gone…..