The science of letting steak rest

Allowing steak to rest helps it maintain moisture: When meat is cooked on a grill or in a pan, the heat causes its muscle fibers to contract, which expels moisture. Once the steak is removed from the heat, those fibers relax, allowing them to retain moisture. By letting the steak rest, you give the fibers a chance to loosen and reabsorb the juices. However, if you cut into the steak too soon, the juices will escape before they have a chance to be reabsorbed. As the muscle fibers relax, the juices will redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a consistently juicy bite.
Some cooks may have concerns about food safety when it comes to letting cooked meat sit before serving. However, this is generally not a problem unless the meat is left out for more than an hour. It is safe to keep food at room temperature for up to 2 hours, so the 5 to 10 minutes of resting time for steak is well within safe limits. The CDC even advises allowing meat to rest for a few minutes after cooking before cutting or serving it.
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