Steak is one of the most popular food choices for us when we go out to a restaurant or when we’re hosting a barbecue – and there are plenty of reasons for this.
A good steak can be cooked to your liking and when it is prepared and cooked to perfection, there are very few dishes that can stack up to it.
You may have been at a restaurant and heard of someone ordering a steak blue or enjoying steak tartare and wondered about the safety of it.
We all know that eating undercooked, or raw meats can be dangerous, so is it possible to enjoy steak raw at all?
Today’s article will look at all of your questions about raw steak, answering whether it’s possible to eat it raw and what the potential problems of eating raw steak could be.
What’s The Deal With Raw Steak?
Steak is a particular cut of beef and eating raw beef can be dangerous if you don’t get it 100% right.
Generally, when it comes to health experts – the consensus is that beef should always be cooked thoroughly to curtail any potential risks of illness.
Steak tartare is an exception to this, but it must be prepared to exact specifications.
The cut of beef has to be correct, and it is absolutely the recommendation that you never make, or attempt to make, steak tartare yourself – unless you are fully trained.
What Is Steak Tartare, And How Does It Differ To Other Beef?
Steak tartare is a dish that includes raw steak with plenty of seasoning and a raw egg. It’s ground beef which can be very dangerous to eat raw and that is why it’s so vital to ensure you’ve got a very high-quality cut of beef.
Top-quality restaurants that offer steak tartare will have the best quality beef and this is reflected in the price.
If you were to purchase the same ingredients in your local store and attempt to prepare steak tartare yourself without having any knowledge and using cheaper ingredients – you’re likely to be in trouble after consumption.
Trained professionals will know how to source the beef safely, along with correct preparation and avoid any potential contamination. The same will apply to other raw products, like the raw egg that is used.
There are other raw beef products that are enjoyed throughout the world, including Amsterdam Ossenworst and a Pittsburgh rare.
Both are prepared to the correct specifications and require highly trained and knowledgeable professionals.
A rule of thumb – when you’re hoping to enjoy some steak, ensure you cook it thoroughly!
Is There A Safe Way To Enjoy Raw Beef?
In short, there’s never a sure-fire way to be safe if you’re going to eat raw beef. You can, of course, take reasonable precautions if that’s what you want to do.
Ensure that you’ve done your research on the restaurant that you will be enjoying steak tartare and read extensive reviews.
Also, be aware of potential symptoms of bacterial infections and food poisoning after your meal.
Other than this, the best thing you can do is confirm that your steak has no bacteria left and the only way to ensure this is to cook your steak to the safe temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
To further stay safe, you should source your steak from reputable sources.
A quality butcher shop will be the best place for this and will often prepare the meat for you whilst you wait. That way, you can be sure that you’re getting what you’re asking for.
If you have purchased your steak, but you’re not planning to cook it right away, you should always refrigerate or freeze it as soon as possible. Waiting too long can contaminate and spoil the steak beyond repair.
What Can Happen If I Eat Raw Steak?
Eating contaminated, raw beef can be deadly. You can contract salmonella and E. coli – both of which cause serious food poisoning and for some people, symptoms can last for over a week.
Nobody wants to get sick, but people who experience extreme reactions to these bacteria can experience the following for a long time, which can be detrimental to many areas of their lives:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fast heart rate
- Blurred vision
- Inability to keep food and liquid down
- Poor sleep
The result of these symptoms can be weight loss, pains, broken sleeping patterns and dehydration. In some circumstances, food poisoning can lead to a person’s death.
Are There Any Advantages To Eating Raw Steak?
Yes and no. In brief – eating raw steak, even if it is safe, has very little nutritional difference or advantage when compared with fully cooked steak.
In fact, the nutritional value and benefits are more in the cooking process. In other words, if you cook a steak correctly and safely using the right method – you’ll notice more advantages over eating steak raw.
Also, cooking steak correctly will significantly reduce the likelihood of getting food poisoning, which is clearly something that we want to avoid!
However, some people who enjoy dishes like steak tartare claim that the dish has a unique and unmatched taste. That will be subjective though.
What Is The Best Way To Enjoy Steak?
That really depends on you! There are many cuts of steak that you can enjoy, such as sirloin, rib-eye and fillet. The cut that you prefer can be prepared to your liking and enjoyed with sides and sauces.
These extras you have with your steak will largely depend on the meal you are making and what the occasion is – but in short, enjoy your steak your way!
The Bottom Line
Yes, you can eat raw steak – but it isn’t recommended. If you really want to try a dish like steak tartare, always ensure you have taken the correct precautions and do not try to prepare the dish on your own, unless trained.
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