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I Derived a Steak

I Derived a Steak

by bkazez·Jun 26, 2026·4 points·0 comments

AI Analysis

●●SolidBig BrainCozy

Pure ESM library for heat and salt diffusion models makes this reusable beyond just steak.

Strengths
  • Actual thermal physics implementation with Fick's law and pasteurization models
  • Reusable ESM library architecture enables future recipe calculators beyond meat
  • Author's previous pancake calculator Show HN proves consistent technical depth
Weaknesses
  • Cooking calculators exist from Serious Eats and Kenji with similar precision
  • Niche audience — most home cooks won't care about Stefan-Boltzmann searing
Category
Target Audience

Home cooks who want precision grilling backed by physics

Similar To

Serious Eats calculators · Kenji López-Alt recipes

Post Description

After years of juggling imprecise grilling recipes and temperatures, I've made a grilling calculator that derives perfect meat results from thermal models, Fick's law of diffusion, protein structures, and more.

Along the way I calculated exactly how far in advance to salt meat (spoiler: even when it's frozen!), realized the best dry brine is usually "cling brine" (covered), derived approximate charcoal quantities with physics, and much more.

As with the pancake calculator[1], I did an insane amount of grilling to develop this. And like the pancake one, it's a pure ESM library with frameworks around heat and salt diffusion and the other underpinnings, making it easier to develop more recipes.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48408854

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