| By Muslim.sg

Many Muslims wonder whether eating a rare or medium-rare steak is permissible in Islam. The concern usually centres on the red or pink liquid released when the meat is cut, which is often assumed to be blood. Since Islam strictly forbids the consumption of blood, this raises an important question: does the redness in steak make it haram?

The Islamic Ruling on Blood

Allah s.w.t. says in the Qur’an:

حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which has been invoked the name of other than Allah.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:3)

This verse clearly establishes that consuming blood is prohibited in Islam. During halal slaughter (dhabḥ), the jugular veins, carotid arteries and windpipe are cut swiftly while invoking the name of Allah. This allows the blood to drain from the animal, fulfilling the requirements of Islamic law.

As a result, meat from halal animals that have been slaughtered correctly and had their blood drained is considered halal.

What Is the Red Liquid in a Rare Steak?

Many people assume the red juice in a rare steak is blood. If it were blood, the meat would indeed be impermissible. However, this belief is incorrect.

The red liquid is mostly water mixed with myoglobin, a protein naturally found in muscle tissue. Myoglobin stores oxygen in muscles, much like haemoglobin carries oxygen in the bloodstream. It is responsible for the meat’s red colour.

When meat is lightly cooked, myoglobin remains red. As cooking temperatures increase, it changes colour and turns brown. This explains why rare steak has a red centre, while well-done steak appears brown throughout.

Crucially, this liquid is not blood. The blood has already been removed during the halal slaughter process.

Does Halal Steak Still Contain Blood?

From a halal perspective, properly slaughtered meat does not contain flowing blood (dam masfūḥ), which is what Islam forbids. What remains in the muscle is myoglobin, which is part of the meat itself and not classified as blood under Islamic law.

The Halal Ruling on Eating Rare Steak

Because myoglobin is not blood, eating rare or medium-rare steak does not make the meat haram. Steak is permissible at any level of doneness provided that:

1. The animal is halal to consume
2. It was slaughtered according to Islamic law, with blood properly drained
3. No haram ingredients were used in preparation

Enjoying Halal Steak at Home or Outside

If you’re cooking at home, ensure your meat is halal-certified by checking for a recognised halal logo. You can then cook your steak to any doneness you prefer.

If you’re dining out, halal steakhouses make it even easier. Apps like Muslim.sg can help you locate halal dining options through the Halal Makan Places feature.

Clearing the Confusion Once and for All

The belief that rare steak is haram stems from confusing myoglobin with blood. In reality, myoglobin is a natural muscle pigment, not a forbidden substance. Since halal slaughter removes the blood, halal meat remains permissible regardless of whether it is rare, medium, or well-done.

So next time you’re at a halal steakhouse, you can confidently order that medium-rare steak—without doubt.

Original Article:

Muslim.SG. (2025). Is consuming rare steak halal? https://muslim.sg/articles/is-consuming-rare-steak-halal