TikTok has become a go-to source for popular trends and viral hacks, particularly in the realm of food and cooking. Yet, the effectiveness and safety of these “hacks” can vary widely, often sparking debates on whether they are actually useful, or are likely to complicate or even ruin a recipe.
One recent hack that’s gained attention is a viral video that demonstrates how to cook a steak using a dishwasher. Despite the unusual and controversial method, this video has gained over 74,000 likes, and perhaps more concerningly, has been saved over 4,300 times by intrigued viewers eager to try it themselves.
(https://www.tiktok.com/@noflakeysalt/video/7197838150159404331)
In this video, the user can be seen to season, vacuum seal and place the steak in the dishwasher as a method for cooking. Allegedly, the reason this method is recommended is because a dishwasher has an average temperature of between 130-135°F (54-57°C).
However, food experts from online butchers Campbells Meat are advising people to think twice before trying this particular trend
A spokesperson for Campbells Meat comments,
“Social media platforms like TikTok can certainly offer valuable recipe ideas, cooking techniques and even some genuinely useful hacks. Unfortunately, this is not one of them.
“Besides the clear risks of cross-contamination and hygiene issues, calling this a hack is a stretch. You’d need to run a full dishwasher cycle to cook the steak, which could take up to an hour. And after that, you’d still have to sear it in a pan for the best results. Who really wants to wait that long for a steak?”
The experts recommend a more practical approach to cooking steaks: using an air fryer to achieve a juicy interior and perfectly crispy exterior. For best results, they suggest seasoning the steak with salt, pepper, and a touch of oil, then cooking it in the air fryer at 200-230°C for 6-10 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the steak and your preferred doneness.
To ensure precision, they advise using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Aim for 52°C for rare, 57°C for medium-rare, 63°C for medium, 66°C for medium-well, and 71°C for well-done, based on your preference.
