How do you like your steak done?
You may think ordering a steak medium-rare or medium is a given. However, there’s actually an incredible amount of variation when it comes to steak preferences.
For example, any meat lover will tell you that ordering a steak well-done is blasphemy. But a 2019 survey found that almost a quarter of Americans prefer their steak this way. In fact, more Americans prefer a well-done steak than a medium or medium-rare one!
But having your steak cooked to the wrong level of doneness isn’t the only thing that can go wrong while ordering out. One TikToker recently learned this after going to a restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
What Happened To This Steak?
In a video with over 709,000 views, TikTok user Valentina Valenzuela (@pinchevalentina) shows a steak she says she recently received at a restaurant.
The steak seems to have a host of problems. The meat is stringy, and as she slices, it’s clear that most of the cut is fat and gristle.
“When you order your steak medium rare and this is what they give you,” she writes in the overlay text.
The steak appears to be cooked less than a typical medium rare, among other issues.
What’s Wrong With This Steak?
While there are some issues with the cook on the steak—specifically, it seems underdone—there are also additional problems making this steak unappetizing.
You may have heard people say that, when it comes to steak, fat is flavor. This is true, but not all meat fat is created equal.
Generally speaking, steaks benefit from having intramuscular fat. Intramuscular fat is the small flecks of white that are visible within the raw steak. This is referred to as “marbling.”
That said, different grades of marbling produce different qualities of steak. A steak with fine marbling, where thin flecks of fat are distributed evenly throughout the steak, will be juicy and tender. Meanwhile, a steak with coarse marbling, in which fat strips are large and unevenly distributed, may have an uneven cook with dry, tough sections. Furthermore, these large strips of fat do not render out and are thus difficult to eat.
How Can I Find A Better Steak?
If you’re at a restaurant and get served a steak like this, it’s alright to ask a few questions. If needed, you can also send it back.
However, if you’re looking to make a steak at home and want to make sure this doesn’t happen to you, there are a few steps you can take.
The first and most important step is selecting the correct cut. While many grillmasters recommend ribeye by default, the cut of steak you choose depends on your preferences and what sort of dish you’re interested in making.
No matter which cut you select, you’ll want to make sure that the steak is good quality with a strong fat distribution. If you don’t know how to look for this, you can simply look for the meat’s grade. Prime beef steaks are going to have the best marbling and fat content, followed by Choice, then Select. If you’re eating the beef as a steak, it’s best to go with Prime or a quality cut of Choice beef.
Although these ratings are a good rule of thumb, there can be a significant amount of variation within each rating. Before bringing a steak home, take a look at all the available options to see which one best suits your needs and tastes.
Commenters Are Grossed Out
In the comments section, users expressed disgust at Valenzuela’s steak.
“I don’t send food back often, but that is 1000% going back,” wrote a user.
“The ONLY time I’m a Karen ish,” added another. “If I’m paying $26+ for a steak, it better not be majority gristle and cooked right or it’s immediately going back.”
“Nope, give it back and cancel the whole order. They know they did that,” stated a third.
BroBible reached out to Valenzuela via Instagram direct message and TikTok comment.