Well-done, medium and rare- interpretations?

[LuluLovesDisney]

Just wondering if there is a noticeable difference in the way restaurants prepare their steaks in WDW? Would "medium" in one locale be vastly different from "medium" in another locale?

How do you all order your steaks? Are you more specific that just "well-done" "medium" or "rare"?

And lastly, what do YOU picture, or expect to come out when you order "wd" "med" or "rare"?

Personally, I like pink, not brown meat, lightly charred on the outside, still juicy, but clear juices, absolutely no blood. I usually order medium or medium well, but I've been disappointed. (Ordered medium well and got really really well done, or ordered medium and got too rare for my taste)

Anyone?

 

[FoodLover]

I like pink, not brown meat, lightly charred on the outside, still juicy, but clear juices, absolutely no blood.

I'm not sure you can really get what you want. A medium steak may have some pink juices (not bloody, but light pink). By the time it gets to medium well, it's usually not very juicy at all. I think you want something in between that would be extremely hard to achieve. Other than the issue of "clear juices," it sounds like you want medium.

Really I don't think you'll have any luck specifying beyond the five standards:

Rare = seared outside, rosy near the outside, basically raw in the center, juices "bloody"
Medium Rare (my preference) = well-seared outside, light pink near the outside, dark pink in center, juices dark pink
Medium = seared and somewhat crusty outside, light to rose pink throughout inside, juices light pink
Medium Well = very crusty outside, very faintly pink inside, usually kind of dry
Well = grey inside, cooked to death and not worth eating IMHO

In my experience, Disney restaurants are consistent with other well-run restaurant operations. Any competent chef should be able to produce a correctly cooked steak.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Yes, according to your handy chart, medium is what I want. Light pink is ok- I meant clear as in see-through, the opposite of opaque, not as in colorless. Darn English language and her multiple meanings! I know marinades and spices could change juices, too. That's all fine with me.
And you're right- it is hard to acheive a steak cooked exactly the way I like it- I try all the time and half the time it's just a little too overdone.

Thank you for your reply!

 

[FoodLover]

I meant clear as in see-through, the opposite of opaque, not as in colorless. Darn English language and her multiple meanings!

Ah, I see what you mean! Yep, you want medium.

If it's too rare when they bring it out (and most places that goof will err on the undercooked side) don't hesitate to send it back.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[robinb]

Personally, I like pink, not brown meat, lightly charred on the outside, still juicy, but clear juices, absolutely no blood. I usually order medium or medium well, but I've been disappointed. (Ordered medium well and got really really well done, or ordered medium and got too rare for my taste)

Different places cook steaks different ways. I like mine med-rare, just on the medium side of rare with a warm center. I accept a steak that is cooked all the way up to medium-brown.

If you like your steak medium (really medium by your description) then I would not order it medium-well. You can always send a steak back to be cooked a bit more. It takes way too long to cook a steak all over again from the start if it's overdone. Although if it's too brown, I will send it back anyway.

 

[salmoneous]

To me, you have described a medium steak - which is what I like as well. I can't think of anyplace you could order it medium well, and have it come out that way.

Now I haven't ordered a steak at Disney. But in general, I've found that top flight restaurants will cook a steak that way I order it medium. But the vast majority of restaurants "inflate their ratings" and I have to order medium-rare to get what I consider medium. So I do.

Keep in mind that it is pretty easy for a restaurant to throw a steak back on the grill and cook it a bit more if you like, but you can't go the other way. Also keep in mind that even aren't normally a high maintence diner, when you pay big bucks for a steak, you deserve to get it the way you like.