You've probably heard the axiom that you should never order a steak well-done, but do you know why that is? The reason often given is that it's insulting to the chef, because cooking the steak so thoroughly detracts from the flavor of the meat. But the steak is being cooked for you, not the chef, so if you like it well done, why worry about it? Take a look at a few other reasons why a well-done steak might not be the best choice, and why maybe you should think about giving medium-rare a try.
You May Not Get The Best Quality Meat
Not all cuts of beef are created equally. However, the more well done your steak is, the less you'll be able to tell the difference between a higher quality steak and a lower quality steak. The people ordering their steaks rare or medium can tell the difference, so most restaurants will save their best cuts for those customers.
The texture of the meat won't matter as much for your well-done steak, because the charring will hide the texture anyway. So be aware that when you order your steak cooked well done, you're probably not getting a prime cut. That doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with your steak, but if you like getting the most for your money, order your steak rare and get a prime cut.
You'll Wait Longer for Your Food
Are you starving? In a hurry? If so, a rare steak is the way to go. It's simple math – a well-done steak needs the most time on the grill, so it will leave you waiting longer for your entrée. And if your restaurant is trying to time things so that everyone at the table gets their food at the same time, then everyone will be waiting on your well-done steak. If you must order your steak well done, at least let do your dining companions a favor and let the kitchen know that it's OK to serve them first.
You May Be Risking Your Brain Health
You might have heard that cooking a steak until it's well done cooks some of the vitamins out, but that may not seem like a big deal as long as you're getting the vitamins you need from the rest of your diet. However, there's another health issue to consider – your brain health.
Well-done meats are high in byproducts known as glycotoxins. The longer you cook the meat, the more glycotoxins you get. That matters, because at least one study has linked a diet high in glycotoxins to age-related dementias, like Alzheimer's disease. Forget about whether or not the chef is happy with your order – protecting the health of your brain should be all the reason you need to learn to appreciate a nice medium-rare steak.
Ultimately, your steak order is your business. But if you're in the habit of ordering your steak well-done and it's been awhile since you've given a rarer steak a try, there are several good reasons why you might want to experiment with a medium or rare steak the next time you're in a steakhouse.
For a local restaurant, try a place such as Melting Pot Pizza.
Share21 December 2016
As soon as I started traveling a lot for work, I realized that I was going to be eating out--a lot. Instead of just visiting the same old fast-food restaurants that I had grown up with, I decided that it would be great to explore exciting new restaurants. I started small, by going to little places that had earned high ratings, and then I worked my way up to some of the more fancy establishments in the area. It was really great to see what I was able to find, and I was super pleased to explore so many new kinds of foods. Check out this blog for tips on enjoying new restaurants.
