Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash
You love steak, but do you really know the ins and outs of one of the most incredible meats on the planet? Just in case you’re in the mood for a little fun trivia about your favorite meat, here are some fun facts about steak to share with your friends.
Table of Contents
Where the Word “Steak” Comes From
We eat steak all the time without thinking about where the word “steak” actually comes from. You can stop wondering: Steak is a derivative of the Scandinavian word “steik,” which translates to “roast meat.” There is also a record of early usage of the word that dates back to the 15th century in cookbooks referring to beef and venison steaks as “stekys.”
Ideal Cooking Temperatures for Different Levels of Doneness
You order your steak medium-rare but do you know what that really means in terms of temperature? Probably not, but it’s helpful information to know so that you can cook steak to your desired doneness at home, no matter how you choose to cook it.
Here’s a rundown of steak temperatures for each level of doneness:
- Rare: Temperature: 115°F; Remove when it reaches 110°F
- Medium-Rare: Temperature: 125°F; Remove when it reaches 120°F
- Medium: Temperature: 135°F; Remove when it reaches 130°F
- Medium-Well: Temperature: 140°F; Remove when it reaches 135°F
- Well Done: Temperature: 150°F; Remove when it reaches 145°F
You can read more about getting just the right temperature for steaks in our ultimate guide to steak temperatures.
How Much Steak Comes from a Cow?
Just how much delicious beef does a cow produce? How much of a cow’s meat is edible?
This varies with cow breeds and how muscular the animal is, so we’re going to be general here. On average, a 1,000-pound cow and give us over 400 pounds of beef, so about 40 percent of the animal translates to steak.
A serving of steak is about 3 to 4 ounces, or a quarter of a pound. That means that you can get about 1,600 servings of steak from one cow!
You Can Order It Online
Thanks to online steak ordering services like Chicago Steak Company, you don’t even have to head to the butcher to get premium quality steaks for dinner. Instead, hop on your computer or mobile device, head to mychicagosteak.com, and order from our vast selection of USDA Prime beef, aged to perfection and delivered to your door.
2018 Is Set to Be a Record-Breaking Year for Red Meat Consumption
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has noted that, in 2018, Americans are expected to eat more red meat (including steaks!) and poultry than ever before. The previous record was held in 2004.
Unfortunately, that means steak prices will likely go up as demand increases.
What’s the reason for the spike? There’s no definite reason, but experts suspect that people are trying to get more protein in their diets, and eating steak is an excellent way to do that.
Signs a Steak is Bad
Do you know how to tell if your steak goes bad before you end up getting sick from it? Here are a few tell-tale signs:
- It’s slimy to the touch (safe steaks won’t be slippery or sticky).
- The color is more brown or green than red (the healthiest steaks are bold red in color).
- It has an unpleasant odor (safe steaks don’t have much of a smell, or just a slight beefy smell).
- You’ve left it in the fridge for more than five days (most steaks don’t keep safely much longer than that without freezing).
It Pairs Extremely Well with Both Wine and Beer
You might automatically think beer is the best alcohol pairing with steak . It’s a great combination, don’t get us wrong. But you might be surprised to know that some wines seem like they were meant to go with a good slab of beef.
Our guide to wine and steak pairings is all you’ll need for reference to bring a little more elegance to your next steak dinner.
Fun Facts About Steak
Did you learn a thing or two about the best meat you can add to the dinner menu? Great. Now go impress your friends with your steak mastery. Don’t forget to keep learning everything you can about this incredible meat by visiting Steak University, our resource library of helpful articles about steak, cooking methods, side dish pairings, and more.