Ate steak with the layer of fat kind of undercooked, is it dangerous?

Question

I bought a nice steak from a very good butcher yesterday. It was marinated in garlic and oil.

Tonight, I cooked it for about three minutes on each side (probably more).

The layer of fat on the steak, when I cut into it, was still kinda pink. It looked "raw". I ate it (or basically, sucked the juices out because I couldn't eat the fat as it wasn't breaking down [it never does really]), and it tasted great, but I'm a bit worried that it was dangerous.

Like I said, I fried it for at least 3 minutes on each side (the two sides). The rest of the steak was fine -- probably about medium to well-done, just the layer of fat on one end which was attached to the meat was kind of pink and fleshy. I think it's the bit that connects the fat to the rest of meat that was pink, and maybe some of the meat nearby it as well.

Will I get ill?

I saw the other thread on eating undercooked steak but I think my thread is different.

Answer 1

It is not (immediately) hazardous to your health. I say immediately because I would not recommend eating fat or gristle en masse.

I used to marinate my steak every time I prepared it. I have gotten away from this habit. Marinating breaks down the integrity of steak. This is desired if you are cooking a less tender cut. I eat steak less frequently now, and for that reason, I choose to get ribeye or strip. If you decide to go this route, using dry rubs in concert with a good sear, or grilling, will offer you a very tasty meal. Also, you will be able to gauge what fat and gristle really are - tasteless with a sickly texture.

As far as why eating steak like you mentioned isn't hazardous, given your description, it was cooked at least medium. There is a large segment of the population which chooses to eat rare steak. This type is deep red and cold in the center. While it's not for me, I've never heard a Surgeon General warning that says rare steak should not be eaten.

Answer 2

It's been a few hours...how do you feel? Kidding aside, you say you got it from a good butcher...that helps....you say you cooked until the meat was medium to well done. If you start with a quality product and cook it to an internal temperature that achieves medium to well done, it is safe to assume that the whole steak is safe to eat.

Answer 3

If farmgrown and properly looked after, you should not have any problem eating raw/uncooked beef. These cattle are parasite free and healthy.

Humans are still wired to consume raw meat. Yes, we have evolved from eating raw uncooked unseasoned meat to eating properly prepared food over the last couple of thousand years, but we haven't lost the ability to digest raw meat. Your appendix plays a role here. I don't think that is still as active as it used to be when humans only ate raw meat.

I would still refrain from undercooked poultry, pork and non-farmed animals.

On the fat story, raw fat should also not cause any harm, although I don't think that eating raw fat can be appeticing (Raw fat only tastes good on biltong :-)). I do like my fat nicely done when braaing my meat. (BBQ in other languages)

Just a few other points, raw meat does contaminate very fast under improper conditions and harmful bacteria may contaminate the surface very quickly. It is still recommended to expose the surface of meat to a source of high heat before consumption to kill any harmful surface bacteria. A quick flame grill, a minute or two in a hot pan or heat from a braaivleis (BBQ for others) fire will be more than enough.