How does the touch test for doneness work for meat?

The touch test for doneness assesses the firmness of cooked meat to determine how well it has been cooked. When comparing the texture of the meat to that of raw meat, you can gauge its internal temperature and cooking stage. As meat cooks, it becomes firmer due to the tightening of proteins, so the touch test allows you to feel if the meat is still undercooked or if it has reached the desired doneness.

Cooked meat will feel more solid compared to raw meat, which remains pliable. This tactile feedback is particularly useful for cooks who do not have instant-read thermometers or want to quickly check doneness while cooking.

Other methods of checking doneness, such as observing color changes or measuring moisture content, can also provide clues about cooking progression, but they are not as reliable as the firmness indications given by the touch test. Weighing the meat before cooking does not give relevant information about doneness, as it merely indicates its weight rather than its cooking state.