Can You Really Cook A Steak In A Toaster?
When it comes to making steak, there are a number of ways you can go about it, and all have different advantages. One of the most common ways to cook a steak is to throw it on the grill, which will give it a nice sear and a smoky flavor. Though this is celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck's method of choice (via TikTok) some might say it's not necessarily the best option. Gordon Ramsay, for example, shared on his show (via YouTube) that he prefers a pan, while Guy Fieri told People he uses both a pan and an oven, first roasting the steak low and slow before transferring it to a hot cast iron pan. "It gives you better internal temperature control and produces an awesome brown crust," he explained to the outlet.
If convenience and ease is more your priority, using a countertop grill is always a solid option. These days it's also common to use an air fryer, especially since many come with a steak setting. Most people, however, would never think to use a toaster to cook steak. Given that it's designed for one type of food — bread — a toaster isn't the most versatile appliance. But after a steak cooking method went viral on the app, plenty of TikTokers now seem to think otherwise.
What happens when you cook steak in a toaster?
In a TikTok that now has over 15 million views, user @itsmeju1iette demonstrates how she's able to cook two steaks by sticking them in a toaster as if they were slices of bread. The result, despite the appalled comments, is what appears to be a surprisingly well-seared steak. Could it be clever editing, or is the toaster actually effective? According to Bon Appétit, who tested it out in a YouTube video, cooking a steak in the toaster technically works, just not as well as traditional methods. It does caramelize the exterior of the steak, the outlet explains, but the inside is definitely on the rare side.
The reason for this outcome is simply due to the temperature. Per Toastera, toasters can only reach a maximum of 350 degrees, but steaks need 450 to 500 degrees of direct heat, Weber points out. So while your steak will in fact cook in the toaster, don't expect to get the same results you would from the grill, stovetop, or oven.
What Gordon Ramsay thinks of the toaster method
As a Michelin-starred chef who has opened four steakhouses across the globe, it's safe to say Gordon Ramsay is an expert when it comes to steak. And, not shockingly, he doesn't approve of using a toaster to do the job. Reacting to the above mentioned viral TikTok video showing steak being cooked in a toaster, Ramsay doesn't hold back on his commentary. "Toast is for bread, and right now if I had two slices, I'd stick them on your ears, you idiot," he says as he watches the TikToker prepare the steak. And now you're going to cover it in sauce. Really?"
Ramsay offered no explanation following his insults, but referring to the toaster method as idiotic isn't far from true. Not only is it unconventional, but it's also dangerous — dangerous enough for the London fire department to warn the public about it on Twitter. As Insider further explains, toasters can safely handle any loose crumbs that fall off the bread, but not the salt and juices that drip off a steak. The toaster can be a convenient cooking option, but it's definitely not the best one in terms of either safety or effectiveness.
Try the toaster oven instead
If you're adamant about cooking your steak in a toaster despite professionals advising you not to, at least opt for a different kind of toaster — a toaster oven. Because a toaster oven, as MasterClass explains, functions similarly to a convection oven, it'll be almost just as effective in terms of cooking steak. The main difference between the two, aside from size, is how the heat gets distributed. In a convection oven, the heat gets blown around with a convection fan, whereas in a toaster oven, it circulates naturally, due to the top and bottom walls of the oven heating up. Even without a convection fan, however, a toaster oven is still more effective than a regular toaster because you have more control over the heat.
To cook steak in a toaster oven, per Bed Bath & Beyond (via YouTube), you'll need to set it to the bake setting, then adjust the temperature to 275 degrees. Prep the steak with any seasonings of your choice, place it directly on the rack, and let it "toast." After 30 minutes to an hour depending on the thickness of your steak and your ideal doneness, you'll have the best possible steak you can get from a toaster.