What temperature is our Hamburger Steak cooked to?

Hamburger steak is typically cooked to a temperature of well done to ensure food safety, particularly because ground meat can harbor bacteria that are not present in whole cuts of meat. The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of at least 160°F (71°C) to effectively kill pathogens. Cooking it to well done guarantees that it reaches this safe temperature throughout, eliminating any risk associated with undercooked ground meat.

Cooking hamburger steak to medium rare or medium, while popular options for other types of beef, do not reach this safety threshold and can pose a health risk. Rare hamburger steak is even less safe, as it would be cooked to a temperature much lower than recommended. Thus, well done is the correct answer, striking the right balance between flavor and safety.