When Barack Obama sat down with celebrity chef Bobby Flay at the White House for a grilling session, nobody expected his answer to one simple question would spark a nationwide debate among steak lovers. The former president revealed he’s a medium-well guy when it comes to his steak, and the internet has never quite let it go. This preference, detailed in his memoir “A Promised Land,” became one of those presidential facts that people remember more than some of his actual policies. It turns out that what you put on your plate might say just as much about you as what you put in a speech.
Obama’s pre-debate ritual included a specific steak order
Before every major debate during his presidential campaigns, Barack Obama followed a strict routine that he credited with helping him stay focused and calm. In the 90 minutes leading up to showtime, he would take a post-workout shower, slip into a freshly pressed suit, and sit down for a very specific meal. The dinner never varied: roasted or mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and a steak cooked to medium-well doneness. This wasn’t just a random choice but a deliberate comfort meal that helped him prepare mentally for the high-stakes events ahead.
The ritual shows how even presidents need their comfort foods when facing pressure. Obama admitted that people constantly complained about his preference, with everyone telling him the steak would be too dry and that he needed all that juice. But as he told Bobby Flay during their White House cooking session, that’s just how he likes it. Former Vice President Joe Biden even weighed in on the matter, telling NBC Philadelphia that President Obama doesn’t know steaks at all, speculating it might be because he’s from Chicago rather than Philadelphia. At least Michelle Obama orders her steaks medium-rare, giving the couple some redemption in the eyes of steak purists.
Why steak experts hate medium-well orders
The backlash against Obama’s steak preference isn’t just random snobbery. There’s actual science behind why chefs and steak enthusiasts prefer their beef cooked less. When steak cooks for longer periods, the collagen in its muscle fibers contracts and squeezes out the natural juices. This process leaves you with a tougher, drier piece of meat that’s lost much of its natural richness. By keeping the cooking time shorter and stopping at medium doneness or below, less fat renders out, which means the steak stays more tender and juicy while maintaining a richer taste that beef lovers crave.
Many people order their steaks well done or medium-well because they’re concerned about the red liquid that pools on the plate with rarer cuts. Here’s the thing though: that liquid isn’t actually blood. It’s a mixture of water and a protein called myoglobin that happens to be reddish pink in color. This juice is actually a sign that your steak has been cooked close to perfection, at least according to most chefs. The longer cook time that creates a medium-well steak typically requires an internal temperature ranging from 145 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit, which is significantly higher than the 130 to 135 degrees that medium steaks reach.
Obama isn’t alone among presidents who order overcooked steak
If you think Obama’s medium-well preference is controversial, wait until you hear about Donald Trump’s steak order. The current president takes his steaks well-done, which is considered even worse than medium-well in the world of steak connoisseurs. Trump particularly enjoys his New York strip cooked until it’s completely grey-brown inside, lacking any of the juicy tenderness that makes steak special. But the real kicker? He eats it with ketchup. This combination has caused even more outrage among food lovers than Obama’s relatively moderate medium-well order ever did.
Looking back through presidential history, plenty of commanders-in-chief have had their own unique takes on steak. Ronald Reagan loved his steak rare with a side of chili, though his doctors later ordered him to switch to well-done for health reasons. George W. Bush, true to his Texas roots, preferred chicken-fried steak smothered in gravy, a dish his father George H.W. Bush first discovered when he moved to Texas in the 1940s. Bill Clinton could put away a massive 24-ounce porterhouse with Bearnaise sauce and onion rings, though he eventually had to give up meat entirely after heart surgery. Jimmy Carter enjoyed a proper 12 to 14-ounce sirloin strip steak broiled rare or medium-rare, showing that at least some presidents knew how to order their beef correctly.
Joe Biden prefers his steak in sandwich form
President Joe Biden takes a different approach to steak altogether by ordering Philly cheesesteaks instead of traditional cuts. As a native of Wilmington, Delaware, Biden has always been drawn to the local cooking of his home region, and Philadelphia sits right in that zone. During his time as vice president and continuing into his presidency, Biden has been spotted enjoying cheesesteaks, though he always orders them without onions. This preference for casual, accessible food fits with his everyman political persona and saves him from potential restaurant mishaps.
Biden’s cheesesteak orders might also help him avoid another embarrassing dining incident. Back in February 2023, both Joe and Jill Biden ordered the exact same meal at a Washington D.C. restaurant: rigatoni with sausage. The synchronized order raised eyebrows and sparked questions about whether the president has issues with sharing or trying new dishes. At a cheesesteak joint, ordering the same thing wouldn’t just be acceptable but practically expected. The classic Philadelphia sandwich represents a more democratic approach to eating steak, one that doesn’t require knowledge of doneness temperatures or worry about judgment from food snobs.
The debate reveals class tensions around food
The intense reactions to how presidents order their steaks reveal something deeper about American culture and class. Knowing how to properly order a steak has become a kind of cultural marker, separating those who understand fine dining from those who don’t. When someone orders their steak well-done or medium-well, they’re often dismissed as unsophisticated or wasteful, even though they’re simply eating food the way they prefer it. This snobbery creates an uncomfortable situation where people feel judged for their personal tastes, especially when dining at upscale restaurants where the servers might look down on certain orders.
Sociologist Priya Fielding-Singh explained to The New York Times that how people eat gives us a window into their character, values, willpower, and self-discipline. But this perspective can be problematic when it leads to assumptions about someone’s worth based on their dinner order. Obama’s willingness to publicly state his medium-well preference, despite knowing the criticism it would bring, shows a certain authenticity. He could easily have lied and said he prefers medium-rare to seem more sophisticated, but instead he owned his actual preference. The same goes for Trump with his well-done steak and ketchup, regardless of what you think about his politics or taste in condiments.
Understanding the different levels of steak doneness
Achieving the right steak doneness requires careful attention to internal temperature and cooking time. Rare steaks measure between 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit inside and feature a nicely seared exterior with a red center. Medium-rare steaks, often considered the gold standard by chefs, reach 130 to 135 degrees and have a warm red center. Medium steaks hit 135 to 145 degrees with a pink center throughout. Medium-well steaks like Obama’s preference range from 145 to 155 degrees and have just a slight hint of pink. Well-done steaks climb to 155 degrees or higher and appear grey-brown throughout with no pink remaining.
Each level of doneness creates a different eating experience in terms of texture and moisture. Rare and medium-rare steaks retain most of their natural juices, creating that tender, almost buttery texture that steak lovers praise. As you move up the temperature scale, more moisture escapes and the meat becomes progressively firmer. By the time you reach well-done, most of the natural juices have been cooked out, leaving a much chewier piece of meat. However, there’s a food safety argument for cooking steaks to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit, as undercooked meat can potentially harbor bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. Obama’s medium-well order actually falls within the safe temperature range, even if it doesn’t win points with food critics.
Some presidents had adventurous steak preferences
Not all presidents played it safe with their steak orders. Dwight D. Eisenhower had a particularly dramatic way of preparing his beef that would make modern chefs faint. He would rub his sirloin with oil and garlic, then casually fling the steak directly into the midst of red and glowing charcoal, much to the horror of his guests. This aggressive grilling technique matched his no-nonsense leadership style as the supreme commander of Operation Overlord during World War II. Eisenhower liked his steak cooked rare, and he wasn’t about to let conventional cooking methods stand in his way.
John F. Kennedy had a trickier relationship with steak due to his sensitive stomach. He could only eat his beef bland, accompanied by nothing more than plain peas, carrots, and mashed potatoes. One of his mistresses, Dutch journalist Inga Arvad, would regularly prepare this simple meal for him. Kennedy often had to be reminded to eat at all, as food wasn’t high on his list of priorities despite his reputation for enjoying the finer things in life. George H.W. Bush proved surprisingly adventurous according to former White House chef John Moeller, who called him possibly the most experimental presidential eater he’d ever cooked for. Bush Sr. enjoyed everything from chicken-fried steak to rare T-bones to porterhouse cuts, as long as there wasn’t any broccoli involved.
What your steak order says about you might be nothing
Despite all the analysis and judgment surrounding steak orders, the truth is that your preference probably doesn’t reveal much about your character or capabilities. Obama’s medium-well order didn’t prevent him from serving two terms as president or making important decisions about the country. Trump’s well-done steak with ketchup didn’t stop him from winning the presidency either, regardless of how you feel about his time in office. These food choices are simply personal preferences shaped by individual taste, upbringing, and experience rather than indicators of sophistication or leadership ability.
The fascination with presidential food orders stems from our desire to find common ground with these powerful figures who otherwise seem completely removed from normal life. Everyone eats, so food becomes one of the few universal experiences we share with presidents. But using someone’s steak order to judge their character or competence is about as useful as judging them by their shoe size. Obama himself acknowledged that people always complain about his preference, but he orders what he likes anyway. That confidence to stick with your own taste despite criticism might actually be more telling than the specific temperature of the meat. In the end, whether you prefer your steak rare, medium, or well-done with ketchup, the best steak order is simply the one you enjoy eating most.
Obama balanced his steak with healthier choices
While Obama might disappoint steak purists with his medium-well preference, he makes up for it with his choice of accompaniments and beverages. Unlike George H.W. Bush, who famously hated broccoli and refused to eat it even as president, Obama has publicly stated that he actually enjoys the green vegetable. His pre-debate meal always included steamed broccoli alongside the steak and potatoes, showing a willingness to eat vegetables that many Americans, including several former presidents, actively avoid. This balanced approach to his plate demonstrates at least some awareness of nutrition, even if the steak itself is cooked longer than experts recommend.
Obama’s drink choices also set him apart from other presidents with questionable dietary habits. While Trump reportedly consumes 12 Diet Cokes per day, Obama prefers to wash down his medium-well steak with a simple glass of water. This restraint extends to other areas of his diet as well. Though he’s been known to enjoy a good cheeseburger from time to time, Obama generally maintained relatively healthy eating habits during his presidency. Michelle Obama’s focus on nutrition and her garden at the White House likely influenced the family’s overall approach to food. The combination of vegetables, reasonable portions, and water instead of soda suggests that even if Obama doesn’t know how to order steak according to food snobs, he at least understands the basics of a balanced meal.
The debate over Barack Obama’s medium-well steak order shows how something as simple as a dinner preference can spark national conversation and reveal our cultural attitudes about food, class, and authenticity. Whether you think his choice represents a crime against beef or simply a man who knows what he likes, the controversy highlights our endless fascination with the personal lives of presidents. Next time you’re ordering steak, remember that even the most powerful person in the world faced judgment for his dinner choices, so you might as well order what makes you happy.
