Community› The Bump Message Boards› 1st Trimester
1st Trimester
New Discussion

Steak - Google doesn't know - Do you?

shannonaliseshannonalise
in 1st Trimester

For some reason, I'm actually excited about eating food. It must be a full moon...

DH is grilling filets. I normally eat steak medium rare, but since I found out I was pregnant, I've been erring on the side of caution and having him cook it to well done. (Which is really gross to me.)

I just googled to find out if that's a necessity and I'm finding a million conflicting answers - some say that because the center of the steak is sealed in (unlike hamburger), that cooking to well done is not necessary - but others say that pregnant women should never eat any undercooked meats. 

I'll ask my midwife as well, but does anyone have any answers from your doctor/midwife? 

Thanks! Big Smile 

image

Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
Report Reply to Post

Re: Steak - Google doesn't know - Do you?

  • cutie420311cutie420311
    If it's a quality cut if meat then it's fine
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • Jessica0624Jessica0624 member

    I had medium rare steak on wednesday and I'm fine. it was yummy!!!

    Report Reply
  • cvl105cvl105 member
    My Dr said make sure steak is cooked medium or more. No more rare or medium rare.
    ~Chelsea~
      image
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    image"">imageimage
    Report Reply
  • shawnandemmashawnandemma

    Listeria is the main fear in undercooked meats, from what I understand. Listeria wouldn't just be on the surface of the meat, which is why they suggest cooking it thuroughly.

    I have been eating medium rare meat for years, and have never gotten it. You aren't really much more likely to contract it while pregnant, but its a risk to not only just you at this point.

     

    Report Reply
  • normajeane6126normajeane6126
    imageshawnandemma:

    Listeria is the main fear in undercooked meats, from what I understand. Listeria wouldn't just be on the surface of the meat, which is why they suggest cooking it thuroughly.

    I have been eating medium rare meat for years, and have never gotten it. You aren't really much more likely to contract it while pregnant, but its a risk to not only just you at this point.

     

    Yes it would.  

    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
    Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers

    I never held you, but I always loved you.
    Baby Squirt- September 2009
    Baby Turtle- May 2010
    Baby Surprise- August 2011
    Report Reply
  • kelly321kelly321 member
    Toxoplasmosis (spelling?) is another fear with undercooked meats. My OB told me not to eat any medium rare steaks (which for me just means not eating steak since I don't like anything above medium rare). I don't know about you, but if several people here say their doctors (including my own) advise against it, then I'm going to play it safe and not do it. Of course it could go well 99x out of 100 (see above post saying she ate mdm rare and was fine), but I don't want to be that one person who gets something and has it affect my baby. At least until I'm out of the danger zone, I'm going to stay away from steak, even though right now I feel like I could eat a whole cow...

    BFP1: DD1 born April 2011 at 34w1d via unplanned c/s due to HELLP, DVT 1 week PP
    BFP2: 3/18/12, blighted ovum, natural m/c @ 7w4d
    BFP3: DD2 born Feb 2013 at 38w4d via unplanned RCS due to uterine dehiscence

    Report Reply
  • shannonaliseshannonalise
    Thanks so much for the responses, everyone! I appreciate all of your thoughts. Big Smile
    image

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • shannonaliseshannonalise
    imagekdodge423:
    imageshawnandemma:

    Listeria is the main fear in undercooked meats, from what I understand. Listeria wouldn't just be on the surface of the meat, which is why they suggest cooking it thuroughly.

    I have been eating medium rare meat for years, and have never gotten it. You aren't really much more likely to contract it while pregnant, but its a risk to not only just you at this point.

     

    No, listeria is a bigger fear with processed meats. With beef it is more e coli, salmonella, etc- all of which would be on the surface. You have to cook ground thoroughly as each piece of ground has it's own surface area area and each surface area needs to be heated to 160 to kill them- because the pieces are so small it needs to be brown all the way through to be consdiered "safe". On a whole muscle cut (roasts, steaks, etc), this is not the case. The bacteria is only on the surface.

    Would you like the number of my college meats professor who is FDA certified to verify this? Or perhaps you should line up with the OP's doctor in taking a basic food handling class. Check your local community college, they should offer one.

    ETA: not the most legit source, I realize this, but it is correct. How the food is handled is also extremely important. Many bacteria infections are not caused by undercooked foods, but usually by cross contamination from someone who is either careless or clueless.

    https://www.associatedcontent.com/article/840139/is_it_safe_to_eat_rare_steak.html?cat=22

     

    Excellent response. But I'm just fascinated by the fact that you have a college meats professor. I've never heard of that! Please explain. Big Smile

    image

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • Ferris1013Ferris1013 member
    Every doctor will tell you different thats why. My doctor said I have to make sure its cooked well because it's safer. 
    Lilypie - Personal pictureLilypie First Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • ShanKBShanKB

    I specifically asked my OB this question, and the response was that if it was a steak, not ground, then it was fine as long as the outside was well cooked.  Internal temperature Medium Rare was fine.

     

    I also took food microbiology in college....  so this is the answer I was expecting.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"