1.5-Inch Picanha (Top Sirloin Cap), Medium Well: Pull Temp & Cook Time
A 1.5 inch picanha cooked medium well needs about 26 min over 450 °F / 230 °C — roughly 13 minutes per side. Pull it at 141 °F / 60 °C; carryover takes it to 150 °F. Rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Step by step
- −40 minSalt and temperSalt generously and leave it out of the fridge. A 1.5 inch cut cooks far more evenly when it is not fridge-cold in the middle.
- 0:00On the grate at 450 °FGrill should be hot enough that you cannot hold a hand over it for more than 2 seconds.
- 13 minFlip onceDo not press it, do not poke it. One clean flip builds the best crust.
- 26 minPull at 141 °F / 60 °CProbe the centre from the side, not the top — you want the true core reading.
- + 10 minRest, then sliceIt climbs the last 9 °F to 150 °F off the heat. Slice against the grain.
Every method compared
Same 1.5 inch picanha, same doneness — only the heat changes. The Brazilian churrasco cut. Score the fat cap, never trim it — it bastes the meat the whole way through.
| Method | Pit temp | Cook time | Pull at | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Grilling | 450 °F / 230 °C | 26 min | 141 °F | 10 min |
| Reverse Sear | 250 °F / 120 °C | 1h 18m | 146 °F | 7 min |
| Sous Vide | 150 °F / 65 °C | 1h 46m | 150 °F | 0 min |
Pull temps differ per method on purpose: a 450 °F grill drives far more residual heat into the meat than a 225 °F pit, so the same final temperature needs a different pull point.
Picanha (Top Sirloin Cap) temperature chart
| Doneness | Final temp | Pull at (1.5 inch) | Looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rare | 125 °F / 52 °C | 116 °F | Cool red center, very soft. |
| Medium Rare | 130 °F / 55 °C | 121 °F | Warm red center — the sweet spot for most steaks. |
| Medium | 140 °F / 60 °C | 131 °F | Warm pink center, firmer bite. |
| Medium Well | 150 °F / 65 °C | 141 °F | Slight pink, noticeably drier. |
| Well Done | 160 °F / 71 °C | 151 °F | No pink. Use a fattier cut so it stays edible. |
Recommended Tools for Perfect Results
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Instant-Read Digital Thermometer
Two-second readings for spot checks and for probing brisket for tenderness.
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Other doneness levels at 1.5 inch
Other sizes
Download the printable temperature chart
Every temperature on this site on one page — beef, pork, poultry, seafood and low & slow, plus the carryover rule. Print it and tape it inside your grill lid.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should a 1.5 inch picanha be pulled at for medium well?
Pull at 141 °F / 60 °C. Carryover cooking adds about 9 °F while it rests, landing on the 150 °F / 65 °C that defines medium well.
How long does it take?
About 26 minutes using direct grilling at 450 °F. Times assume the meat starts fridge-cold and the lid stays closed.
Direct grilling or reverse sear at this thickness?
At 1.5 inch thick, reverse sear wins. Direct heat (26 min) burns the crust long before the centre is ready and leaves a thick grey band. Reverse sear takes 1h 18m but gives edge-to-edge medium well.
How long should it rest?
10 minutes for this thickness. Tent loosely with foil — sealing it tight steams the crust you just built.