Subscribe: Email | RSS

How To Know When Grilled Meat Is Done

Grilling season is here, and your taste buds are ready for that first juicy bite of flame-kissed steak or a perfectly charred burger.

But here’s the burning question—how do you really know when your grilled meat is done? The truth is, fire and smoke may be the oldest cooking tools around, but mastering doneness takes a bit more than instinct. Let’s turn up the heat and break it down.

Number 1 Tip For Grilling Success:  Don’t Poke, Press, or Cut The Meat!

Here’s a tip to ensure that you’re next grilling experience chalks one up for the memory books.

And it’s my Number 1 tip for success:  Don’t poke, press, or cut the meat to determine if it’s cooked to your liking.  All of those tasty juices holed up in side will be lost to the fire.

How To Know When Grilled Meat Is Done:  Use The Hand Test!

Use the hand test instead.

As meat cooks, proteins are denatured.  This means the protein coils begin to unwind and tighten.  You can replicate the feel of meat at its different stages of doneness by using your thumb and fingers.

Here’s how:

1. Touch the palm-side of your hand about an inch where it meets your wrist. This is what a raw steak feels like.
2. Make a circle with your index finger and thumb and touch that same spot. This is medium rare, 130˚F – 135˚F, feels like.
3. Now feel the changes in the muscle as you touch your thumb with your remaining fingers:
   • Touch your middle finger for medium 135˚F – 145˚F.
   • Touch your ring finger for medium well, 145˚F – 155˚F.
   • Touch your little finger for well-done, 155˚F and up

The hand test is a fun and useful trick to have in your grilling toolkit—but don’t rely on it alone. For truly perfect results, pair your instincts with a reliable meat thermometer.

With a little practice and the right tools, you’ll go from guessing to grilling greatness in no time. So trust your senses, check that temp, and serve every steak, burger, or chop with confidence. You’ve got this—now go own that grill.

Looking for a great BBQ Sauce?  Give my Chipotle Barbecue Sauce a try!