When temperatures are said to be in the medium-high heat range, they are between 375°F to 450°F (191°C to 232°C). The temperature range is the same whether you use a pellet, gas, or charcoal. The heat is sufficient to cook most meats and vegetables without scorching them or giving them an unpleasant flavor or texture.
My first attempts at grilling, especially the meats, were a complete disaster. That is until I learned to work with my grills at different temperatures. The secret to perfect grilling is mastering temperature control. No matter how juicy that steak is, you need to control the grill’s temperature so that your meal will taste great.
Thankfully, you don’t have to make the same mistakes. In this piece, I focus on everything to do with the medium-high heat temperature range. I have some insights on how to check the temperature and what is ideal for grilling steak. If you read all the way to the end, you will also get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the medium heat range.
What Temp Is Medium?
When grilling food, the correct heat temperature is crucial. The insides of your meats won’t cook properly or brown if the heat is too low. On the other hand, if the heat is too high, your food’s surface will burn before the interior is thoroughly cooked.
Usually, a grill has three temperature settings: low, medium, and high. I shall, however, concentrate on the medium-temperature range in this post. The medium range has three temperature levels, as presented below.
1. Medium-Low
Medium-low is the lowest temperature at which you can grill classic foods. Starting at 300°F (149°C), the medium-low temperature ranges up to 325°F (163°C). If you want to cook food at this temperature range, grill indirectly.
Indirect grilling refers to cooking food items not directly on the heat source.
Medium-low is the ideal temperature for baking or roasting food. You can use medium-low heat for foods like hot dogs, pig butt and ribs, sausages, and brats that often explode at high temperatures.
2. Medium
The range of the medium temperature is 325°F (163°C) to 375°F (191°C). While the medium temperature is sufficient to brown vegetables, it is still low enough to cook specific food interiors.
A medium-temperature setting is ideal for full birds, big slices of meat, steak, and fish that are more difficult to cook. The heat is sufficient to sear the food’s surface while maintaining its sensitive, soft interior.
3. Medium High
This temperature level ranges from 375°F (191°C) to 450°F (232°C). You can quickly sear food with this temperature range, which remains adequately low to cook some meals.
Meat joints, fish fillets, chicken thighs, jacket potatoes, and tough vegetables all taste great at this temperature.
What Is Medium High Heat?
The highest setting on the grill when cooking at a medium temperature range is medium-high heat. The temperature ranges between 375°F and 450°F (191°C and 232°C). Many foods that grill nicely at high temperatures cook to perfection at medium-high heat.
It is common to see grill marks when you use medium-high heat when cooking. Grill marks make burgers, poultry, hot dogs, and pork look delicious. The dishes’ centers cook thoroughly without their surface scorching. Occasionally, however, the food chars on the outside.
However, controlling medium-high heat can prove to be quite challenging. The food must be grilled for sufficient time to cook internally without burning the outside. Because of this, most foods prepared at this heat setting are medium to medium-rare.
Place the food that requires high heat close to the fire if you wish to use medium-high heat. You can place foods that require less heat, such as vegetables, on a rack and place them a few meters from the heat source.
What Is The Grill Temp For Steak?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the safe minimum internal grilling temperature for steak is 145°F (62.8°C). However, depending on your preferred steak taste, you can go lower, especially if you want medium rare.
Because a steak’s temperature will rise after you remove it from the grill, it’s best to pull it out 5 degrees earlier. For example, remove it from the grill at 125°F (52°C) if you want medium-rare steak.
In the table below, I highlight the various grill temperatures for steak.
| Type of Steak | Internal Temperature |
| Extra rare steak | Grill for one minute on each side to achieve 115°F (46°C) to 120°F (49)°C. |
| Rare steak | Grill for one minute on each side to achieve 125°F ( 52°C) to 130°F ( 54°C). At this temperature, the steak’s internal color should be red. |
| Medium rare steak | Grill for two minutes on each side to reach 130°F (54°C) to 140°F (60°C). The steak’s internal color is pink. |
| Medium | Grill for two minutes and 14 seconds to achieve 140°F (60°C) to 150°F ( 66°C). The steak’s internal color should show a darker pink. |
| Medium well | Grill for three to four minutes on each side to achieve 150°F ( 66°C) to 155°F (68°C). Confirm that the steak’s internal color is pink. |
| Well done | Grill for four to five minutes on each side to achieve 160°F+ (71°C). The steak should now be brown throughout. |
To keep your meat from drying out when grilling, avoid poking, piercing, or slicing it. Use tongs or turners to flip your meat. Using a fork or a knife can cause you to pierce your steak accidentally. Use a high-quality food thermometer to determine the internal temperature of the steak.
How can you prepare the perfect steak now that you know the ideal grill temperature? Selecting premium steaks is an excellent place to start. Before beginning your grilling, prepare your steaks well.
There are two main ways to grill your perfect steak.
Direct-Heat Method
This cooking method is the most straightforward way to grill a steak. However, this technique necessitates continuous high heat from your grill. Follow my simple process:
- Close the lid and turn the grill’s temperature to 450°F (232°C).
- Place the steak on the grill grate to cook, occasionally flipping the meat. Continue doing so until the steak’s internal temperature is a few degrees below the temperature you want it to be when done.
- Slice and serve the steak after letting it rest for a few minutes.
Reverse Sear Method
In this technique, you grill the steak at a lower temperature until it reaches a few degrees below your ideal final temperature. Then, quickly sear the meat over high heat (medium-high heat). By using the reverse sear method, you can avoid overcooking your steak.
- Close the lid and let your grill preheat for 15 minutes at 225 °F (107°C).
- You should cook the steaks on the grill grates until the internal temperature reaches 110°F (43°C) to 115°F (46°C).
- Remove the steaks from the grill and turn the heat to 450°F (232°C).
- Before placing the steaks back on the grill, give it about 10 minutes to heat up with the lid closed.
- The steaks will sear and sizzle, developing a fantastic color and aroma.
- Rest the steak for a few minutes before serving.
How To Check Temperature On A Grill
Every food item you want to grill should be done at a specified temperature. How do you know what temperature you’re working with, though? Gas grills have temperature gauges allowing you to check the temperature.
A charcoal grill, however, lacks an internal temperature gauge. You will have to do a manual check. Using a point-and-shoot thermometer is one option. The thermometer uses infrared to accurately measure the temperature of your grill by aiming a laser at it.
Another option is using a grill surface thermometer, which will rest on the grill surface. This thermometer’s downside is that it will take up room on the grill.
You can use your hand to measure the temperature of your charcoal grill. Hold your hand five inches above the grill. Get a general estimate of the temperature by counting how long you can hold your hand before the heat gets unbearable. When you don’t have the tools to measure the temperature of your charcoal grill, use this method.
Another option is to use the food you’re grilling to measure the temperature. If the heat is high, a piece of meat will sear in less than a minute. The cut of meat should brown, not burn, on medium heat. The temperature is at low heat if the piece of meat is browning too slowly.
Conclusion
Suffer no more from overdone or undercooked grilled food items. Discover the various grill temperature ranges. Knowing that medium-high heat ranges in temperature from 375°F (191°C) to 450°F (232°C), you will now be the envy of your guests. Using the knowledge you have learned, don’t be surprised when a few guests overstay their welcome. Use direct heat or reverse sear methods for a perfect grilled steak, depending on how well you like your steak.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I adjust the temperature of a grill?
You can change the heat temperature on a gas grill using knobs that control the burners. The temperature inside your grill rises when you close the lid. By opening the cover, cooler air gets into the grill, which lowers the heat.
On the other hand, controlling the temperature of a charcoal grill can be more challenging. You have to monitor the amount of charcoal in your grill constantly. To raise the temperature, add more charcoal. To lower the temperature, remove some charcoal lumps or spread them out.
You can also close the lid of a charcoal grill to increase the temperature or open it to reduce it. Because charcoal requires oxygen to burn, controlling the air will give you better control over the temperature of the charcoal grill.
What temperature do you grill chicken?
The ideal temperature to grill your chicken is between medium heat 350°F (177°C) to medium-high heat 450°F (232°C). The method of grilling is either direct or indirect unless you’re smoking the chicken, which requires low heat.
Alanna is an avid traveler who lives in Michigan. In addition to writing for Temperature Master, he also sells crafts on Etsy and takes long walks through the forests near her home.