Steak Cook Time Calculator
Steak Cook Time Calculator
This steak cook time calculator is tool for achieving the perfect doneness in your steaks, Rare, Medium Rare, Medium, Medium Well, or Well Done.
Let’s say you’re preparing a 2-inch thick ribeye for dinner. The calculator would help determine that for a medium-rare finish, you’ll need about 6-7 minutes per side when cooking at 400°F on a well-heated grill, considering factors like the meat’s starting temperature and resting time.
Steak Cook Time Calculation Formula
Total Cook Time = (Thickness in inches × Minutes per inch) + Temperature AdjustmentFor each desired doneness: Rare: 4 minutes per inch Medium Rare: 5 minutes per inch Medium: 6 minutes per inch Medium Well: 7 minutes per inch Well Done: 8 minutes per inch
Example for a 1.5-inch thick steak cooked to medium-rare: 1.5 inches × 5 minutes = 7.5 minutes per side
Steak Cooking Time Chart
| Doneness | Internal Temperature | 1-Inch Thick Steak (Per Side) | 1.5-Inch Thick Steak (Per Side) | Appearance/Texture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rare | 120-130°F (49-54°C) | 2-3 minutes | 3-4 minutes | Cool red center, very soft. |
| Medium Rare | 130-135°F (54-57°C) | 3-4 minutes | 4-5 minutes | Warm red center, tender and juicy. |
| Medium | 135-145°F (57-63°C) | 4-5 minutes | 6-7 minutes | Warm pink center, slightly firm. |
| Medium Well | 145-155°F (63-68°C) | 5-6 minutes | 7-8 minutes | Slightly pink center, firm. |
| Well Done | 155°F+ (68°C+) | 6-7 minutes | 8-9 minutes | No pink, very firm. |
How to Calculate Steak Cooking Time
Starts with measuring your steak’s thickness and determining your desired doneness level.
The meat’s starting temperature significantly impacts cooking time – always let your steak reach room temperature before cooking.
- Rare: 2 minutes per side at 120–125°F (49–52°C).
- Medium Rare: 3 minutes per side, 130–135°F (54–57°C).
- Medium: 4 minutes per side, 140–145°F (60–63°C).
- Medium Well: 5 minutes per side, 150–155°F (65–68°C).
- Well Done: 6 minutes per side, 160°F+ (71°C+).
A practical example: For a 1-inch thick New York Strip cooked to medium, calculate: 1 inch × 6 minutes = 6 minutes per side Add 2 minutes if cooking from cold Include 5-10 minutes resting time
Filet Mignon For a 2-inch thick filet mignon cooked to medium-rare: Standard time: 2 inches × 5 minutes = 10 minutes per side Initial sear: 2 minutes per side Total cook time: 24 minutes (including searing) Rest time: 8-10 minutes
Ribeye Steak For a 1.5-inch ribeye cooked to medium: Base calculation: 1.5 × 6 minutes = 9 minutes per side Plus searing: 2 minutes per side Total cooking time: 22 minutes Rest period: 7-8 minutes
T-Bone Steak For a 1-inch T-bone cooked to rare: Initial calculation: 1 × 4 minutes = 4 minutes per side Searing time: 1 minute per side Total cook time: 10 minutes Rest time: 5 minutes
What is the 3-3-3 Rule for Steaks?
The 3-3-3 rule is a foolproof method for cooking the perfect medium-rare steak:
First 3: Heat your pan or grill for 3 minutes until scorching hot Second 3: Cook for 3 minutes on each side Third 3: Let the steak rest for 3 minutes before cutting
This method works best for 1-inch thick steaks at room temperature.