Choosing a Steak

So you've decided to have steak for dinner. But what kind? There are many different cuts of steak, some with multiple names, which can make steak selection confusing. The following is a descriptive list of the many delicious cuts of steak that you can try.

Filet Mignon or Tenderloin

Cook Steak

These two names describe the most tender steak you can buy. This is part of the reason why it is also the most expensive. It is a very lean cut of steak, with very little marbling or thin threads of fat in the meat. Tenderloin is a versatile meat that can be cooked a variety of ways, though it should be cooked only to medium rare. The small amount of fat in this cut means that it is also prone to drying out if cooked for too long.

New York or Strip

Another tender steak, the strip steak is part of a muscle that does very little work. The less work a muscle does, the more tender the meat will be. This cut has a good amount of marbling and a medium fat content, giving it a decent flavor. It is an ideal steak for broiling but is also very tasty when grilled. A New York strip steak is boneless.

Porterhouse

A porterhouse steak is a combination of tenderloin and strip steak on the bone, basically a 2 in 1 deal. Because of its size and the quality of the meat, it is more expensive than most steaks. A very tender, large steak, this cut is great for larger portions and can be broiled or grilled.

T-Bone

T-Bone and Porterhouse steaks are very similar. Both are large on-the-bone steaks that contain both tenderloin and strip steak. Compared to Porterhouse steak, a T-Bone cut has more strip steak and less tenderloin steak. T-Bone also has a good amount of marbling giving it a lot of flavor.

Sirloin

Sirloin steak includes a variety of types of steak. The most popular is Top Sirloin, the most tender type of sirloin. This is a lean steak with less marbling than other cuts of steak and therefore less expensive. However, it is more flavorful than bottom sirloin, which is best used for roasts. Top sirloin is a popular steak choice because it can be found fairly cheap but still has a good flavor.

Rib Eye

Rib eye steak is simultaneously one of the most tender and fattiest portions of steak, with a lot of marbling within the steak. These qualities makes rib eye steak one of the most flavorful steaks available. It is a great cut for broiling and grilling, as well as pan frying.

For More Information

Once you have chosen your steak, you have a number of cooking options and potential flavors to mix with other foods. For more information on choosing and cooking steak and to find great steak dinner recipes, please visit CD Kitchen here.

Choosing a Steak

Joseph Devine

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