What Steaks Shouldn't Be Cooked Medium Rare

Exclusives

Are There Really Steaks That Shouldn't Be Cooked Medium Rare? By Dylan Murray Aug. 24, 2025 5:00 pm EST

The argument around what level of doneness you should cook steaks to is pervasive among food lovers, and it'll likely never die down. However, one point that's not talked about nearly enough is how the cut of steak affects the temperature you'll want to cook it to. While you should always enjoy lean steaks cooked to rare or medium rare, there are others that just won't be as good or might be downright unpleasant at such a low internal temperature.

To gain insight into what steaks should and should not be cooked medium rare, we spoke with K.C. Gulbro, owner of FoxFire Steakhouse . He explained that the ideal doneness of a steak comes down to the specific qual