Can You Eat Steak When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
The NHS lists whole cuts of beef and lamb, such as steaks, as safe in pregnancy if they have been thoroughly cooked on the outside. Well done is the zero-risk choice, and burgers or minced meat must be cooked all the way through.
Why is steak a concern in pregnancy?
The NHS foods-to-avoid page (last reviewed June 2026) says to avoid raw or undercooked meat but lists whole cuts of beef and lamb, such as steaks or cutlets, thoroughly cooked on the outside as safe. Minced meat, burgers, sausages and rolled joints must be cooked all the way through. Some midwives and hospital trusts still advise well-done steak only, so follow their advice if it is stricter.
You can also check the calorie content of steak alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The exception
A well-done steak — cooked through, juices running clear — is completely safe. A rare or medium steak is within the NHS guidance when the outside is thoroughly cooked.
Who says what about steak: UK bodies do not agree
The NHS is the only UK source we read that spells out a rule for steak. Charities and the BNF use a stricter 'no pink' wording for all meat, and the NHS's own toxoplasmosis page is stricter than its foods-to-avoid page. Rival articles tend to quote one and not mention the others.
| Source (page date) | What it says | Allows a pink centre? |
|---|---|---|
| NHS foods to avoid (reviewed 15 June 2026) | Safe: 'whole cuts of beef and lamb (such as steaks or cutlets) that have been thoroughly cooked on the outside'. Avoid: 'raw or undercooked meat' | Yes, if the outside is thoroughly cooked |
| NHS toxoplasmosis (reviewed 25 August 2023, review overdue) | 'do not eat raw or undercooked meat, or cured meats like salami or parma ham'; 'thoroughly cook meat, especially lamb, pork and venison' | Not stated |
| Tommy's (reviewed 6 September 2024) | 'Any meat you eat should be cooked thoroughly, should not be pink or have any blood coming out of it.' Steak is not mentioned by name | No |
| British Nutrition Foundation (revised July 2023) | Meat 'cooked thoroughly with no pink meat or blood left (so well cooked and not rare meat)' | No |
| nidirect (3 April 2025) | Meat is fine 'as long as they're well-cooked with no trace of pink or blood'; steak not mentioned by name | No |
| Expectful (US, 30 April 2026) | Steak is safe 'as long as it's thoroughly cooked to a well-done temperature'. About 110 words; no sources cited | No |
Because the NHS permits seared whole cuts and the other bodies do not, the safest reading is: well done fits every source; a medium or rare steak fits the NHS wording only. Some trusts also give their own advice, so follow your midwife if hers is stricter.
Doneness against the wording
None of these sources defines 'rare', 'medium' or 'blue' by temperature, so we cannot give you a number that any of them endorses. What we can do is show how each style lines up with the wording. This table applies our reading to the quotes above.
| How it arrives | Fits NHS foods-to-avoid wording? | Fits Tommy's, BNF and nidirect wording? |
|---|---|---|
| Well done, no pink or blood anywhere | Yes | Yes |
| Medium, pink centre, outside fully cooked | Yes, if the whole outside is thoroughly cooked | No |
| Medium-rare or rare, outside seared | Literally yes, but 'undercooked' is on the avoid list, so this is the edge of the wording | No |
| Blue, barely seared | Only if every surface is thoroughly cooked, which is hard with a barely seared steak | No |
| Steak tartare, carpaccio | No: raw meat | No |
The cuts and dishes where the 'seared outside' rule does not apply
The NHS wording is specific: 'whole cuts'. The same page puts different meat on different footing, which is where steak-house menus and home cooking can trip you up.
| Meat | What the NHS foods-to-avoid page says |
|---|---|
| Burgers, sausages, minced meat, black pudding | Safe 'thoroughly cooked'; 'there should be no trace of pink or blood after cooking'. See burgers |
| Rolled joints | 'must be thoroughly cooked all the way through' |
| Chicken, pork, duck, turkey | 'there should be no trace of pink or blood after cooking' |
| Cold cured meats such as salami and chorizo | 'be careful with'; 'cooked until steaming hot before eating' |
| Liver and game meats | Foods to avoid |
Lamb cutlets are whole cuts and are named together with steaks. Lamb mince or lamb koftas are minced meat and are not.
I ate a pink steak. Now what?
- The NHS describes the toxoplasmosis risk as 'small' and says it can cause miscarriage. It does not publish an infection rate for steak.
- Tommy's describes toxoplasmosis as 'a tiny parasite that can live in raw meat'. The NHS toxoplasmosis page says to wash fruit and vegetables and to avoid cat litter if you can, as other ways to pick it up.
- Mention it to your midwife if you are worried. We found no source saying a single pink steak needs treatment, and we do not give one.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) — whole cuts thoroughly cooked on the outside; raw or undercooked meat avoided; rolled joints; cured meats; liver and game; toxoplasmosis small risk
- NHS: Toxoplasmosis (page last reviewed 25 August 2023; its own next-review date, 25 August 2026, has passed) — do not eat raw or undercooked meat or cured meats; wash fruit and vegetables; cat litter
- Tommy's: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last reviewed 6 September 2024) — meat cooked thoroughly, not pink; toxoplasmosis description
- British Nutrition Foundation: What not to eat when pregnant (reviewed June 2018, revised July 2023) — cooked thoroughly with no pink meat or blood left; not rare
- nidirect: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last updated 3 April 2025) — well-cooked with no trace of pink or blood
- Expectful: Can you eat steak during pregnancy? (updated 30 April 2026) — rival: well-done only, no sources, ~110 words
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Check Price →Steak: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Safe |
| Reheating | Safe, but quality suffers |
| Left out overnight | No — throw it away (limit about 2 h) |
| Past the date on the label | No — use-by means use by |
Common questions
Can I eat steak in the first trimester?
The same NHS advice applies at every stage of pregnancy: whole cuts need a thoroughly cooked outside, and minced or rolled meat must be cooked all the way through.
Is a small amount of steak OK during pregnancy?
The NHS sets no amount limit. What matters is that it is a whole cut with a thoroughly cooked outside, not minced, rolled or raw meat.
I accidentally ate steak while pregnant — what should I do?
Try not to worry — the actual chance of infection from one meal is low, and most people who eat undercooked meat while pregnant are fine. If you develop flu-like symptoms or swollen glands, or you'd simply like reassurance, speak to your midwife or GP; a blood test for toxoplasmosis is available if needed.
Is cooked steak safe in pregnancy?
Yes. Steak cooked well done is safe during pregnancy, with no extra conditions.
Do UK sources agree on rare steak in pregnancy?
No. The NHS foods-to-avoid page says whole cuts such as steaks are safe if thoroughly cooked on the outside. Tommy's, the British Nutrition Foundation and nidirect all say meat should have no pink and no blood. Well-done steak satisfies every source.
Is the NHS toxoplasmosis page different from the foods-to-avoid page?
It is stricter in wording. It says not to eat raw or undercooked meat or cured meats like salami or Parma ham, while the foods-to-avoid page (reviewed 15 June 2026) lists whole cuts seared on the outside as safe and cold cured meats as 'be careful with'. The toxoplasmosis page was last reviewed on 25 August 2023 and its own review date has passed.
What about steak tartare and carpaccio?
Both are raw meat, which the NHS lists under foods to avoid. See our <a href='/can-you-eat-steak-tartare-when-pregnant/'>steak tartare page</a>.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS foods-to-avoid guidance.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.