Biggest one? Flipping too often. You’re not making pancakes—let that crust form. Another oops: cooking a cold steak. Take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before. A cold steak cooks unevenly, and medium well becomes well-done on the outside, raw in the middle.
Also, don’t poke it with a fork while cooking. You’re not testing a cake—every hole lets juice escape. Use tongs, and be gentle.
The sizzle test
Here’s a fun trick: when you put the steak in the pan, it should sizzle loudly. If it whispers, your pan isn’t hot enough. That sizzle is the sound of caramelization—the Maillard reaction, science for “yummy brown crust.” No sizzle, no crust, no medium well magic.