Ribeye Vs Sirloin Steak Whats The Difference
When you think of steak cuts, your mind likely goes right to either a rib eye or sirloin. Their names often grace the pages of our favorite steak houses, and theyre always waiting for us in the meat department of the grocery store. Theyre two of the most famous cuts of steak, and they often get pitted against each other in a great sirloin steak vs ribeye debate. In reality, theyre two very different cuts. So, lets compare these beloved meats, shall we?
Supermarkets Say Shoppers Are Seeking Out Lower
Americans are cutting back on steak as rising grocery prices squeeze spending.
Supermarkets say shoppers are buying more store-brand meat products and trading down from beef to less-expensive alternatives such as chicken or pork, after prices for products such as rib-eye climbed about 40% from a year ago, according to research firm IRI. Some consumers are replacing boneless chicken breast with cheaper bone-in chicken, retailers said.
Buy The Whole Ribeye Cut Your Own Steaks
It is not that hard to slice your own beef into steaks of your desired thickness. You just need the right knife.
I like a long, butcher knife, like this one. Great for making nice long and even cuts. Probably can be used to slice bread as well.
If you buy the whole ribeye or ribeye roasts that are prime you can get close to restaurant prime rib in your own kitchen
You May Like: Why Are Omaha Steaks So Good
Cheap Beef Cuts So Good You’ll Swear Off Ribeye
These inexpensive cuts of beef deliver plenty of meaty flavor satisfaction, but theyre much easier on the wallet than some of the showier cuts.
If you experience a little sticker shock each time you pick up a package of beef at the supermarket, youre not alone. Beef prices have been inching higher.
American consumers, perhaps driven by the popularity of some diets like keto and paleo, are eating slightly more beef than in recent years. Plus, demand for American beef in export markets has been growing, and drought cut into some beef supplies in 2018. All in all, that means theres a lot of demand on our beefand that means youre likely paying more each time you buy.
These eight beef cuts are incredibly flavorful, but theyre unique and less likely to be spotted in your regular supermarket meats section. You may need to ask the butcher if they carry the cut or seek out a specialty butcher shop where your neighbor Joe can become your new BBF .
Watch: How to Make Pan Seared Chuck Eye Steaks
Factors That Determine Ribeye Price Per Pound
Below are the main factors that can affect ribeye steak prices:
- Bone bone-in vs. boneless
- Aging dry aged vs. wet aged
- Feed Type grass fed vs. grass fed / grain finished
- Thickness 0.5 inch vs. 1 inch +
- Distribution supermarkets vs. local butchers vs. online retailers
- Country of Origin Japan, U.S., Australia. Argentina, etc.
Going back to our car analogy, an economy Kia would translate to a domestic, low choice, thin cut , non-organic, supermarket ribeye.
The Ferrari analogue would be a Japanese, full-blooded Wagyu, organic, greater than prime, thick cut, ribeye from a specialty importer.
You May Like: Whats A Good Seasoning For Steak
How To Find A Good Ribeye Steak
As mentioned, Ribeye are not cheap. Well unless you buy them from Dollar Tree:
Saw this banner hanging up at the front door of my local Dollar Tree store. It’s for a 3.5oz frozen Rib eye steak for $1. Bravo to them for finding a way to bring Ribeye into their store of cheap goods. Cheap doesn’t often equal good.
This post will be your guide to finding a Ribeye steak for a good price. Notice I didn’t say the cheapest price – we already know who won that one. I am defining a good price as being the price you pay for a good, not necessarily top of the line steak.
Grades Of Beef And Prime Beef
One thing I wanted to point out is that Costco carry some prime beef. Most grocery stores don’t sell prime beef. Generally all you will find is choice beef, but some select in really cheap stores, but for the most part prime beef is used in restaurants.
Check out my post – What is the Difference Between Grades of Beef? – to learn more.
Don’t Miss: Steak And Shake Doordash Promo Code
Ribeye And Tenderloin Key Traits
Steak lovers will have different opinions over which is better between Tenderloin and Ribeye. The reality is that both cuts are on the list of best-quality steaks. But what sets them apart?
Ribeye
If you like your meat to taste rich and fatter, you’ll prefer the Ribeye. As the name suggests, Ribeye steaks come from the rib cage area. The initial cutting process leaves the bone attached, which means fat from the ribs also remains.
The eye in Rib-eye is the most tender part which is the Longissimus Dorsi muscle. It is the higher fat content of Ribeye that provides the characteristic unique flavor.
Tenderloin
Tenderloin steaks come from the tenderloin section of the beef specifically the Psoas Major muscle. They are incredibly tender and lean. If you prefer super soft texture over flavor in your steak, this is your to-go cut.
I always simplify the choice by saying that if flavor is your priority, you should go for the Ribeye. On the other hand, if you want your steak to be buttery and soft, Tenderloin steak is your best choice.
But that is only part of the story. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the other factors to consider when comparing Tenderloin v Ribeye.
The Importance of the Ribeye Longissimus Dorsi Muscle for Farmers
These two grading factors will determine the ultimate price of the meat from a given carcass so a lot is riding on the longissimus dorsi for farmers looking to get the best price for their livestock.
What Is A Ribeye
Ribeye steaks come from the rib area between the chuck and loin. Rib steaks come from the rib primal area of cattle. A ribeye steak comes from the center best portion of a rib steak.
Technically speaking, rib steaks have bones and ribeyes have the bone removed. That distinction has largely been lost in the U.S. and around the world. The terms bone in and boneless ribeye are widely used.
These steaks contain a high degree of intramuscular fat, also known as marbling. As ribeyes cook, the fat melts into the steak resulting in a velvety and buttery taste that is VERY tender.
In fact, only filet mignons are generally considered more tender. However, ribeyes have a more classic beef taste, making them, arguably, the most popular cut with true steak connoisseurs.
Ribeyes are also known as Delmonico, Spencer or Scotch filets.
You May Like: Pee Dee Steak House On 125 Menu
How To Cook A Ribeye Steak
I like to cook it in a cast iron skillet just as Alton Brown did in that first episode. All you had to the meat is some oil, pepper, and salt. As just he recommends:
What Is A Good Price For Ribeye Steak
I think it’s safe to say John Wayne ate steak.
These are the famous first ones uttered by Mr. Alton Brown in the very first moments of television’s greatest TV of all the times – Good Eats.
OK. I know a lot of you are rolling your eyes and thinking of a handiful of shows that better belong among the greatest. For me, Good Eats has had the biggest impact of any show on my life. I may not be writing a food blog right now if it wasn’t for Alton and his cast of characters and puppets.
Back to the point. Today we are talking about steak.
The very same steak that was the topic of that first ever Good Eats episode – the Ribeye. I love a Ribeye steak. Ribeyes are flavorful, tender, and juicy. Very hard to beat a good Ribeye.
I don’t eat Ribeye a lot. Why? They aren’t cheap eats. It’s more of a special treat thing – the kind of meal I save for a day like father’s day, the first cook-out of the year, bringing home a baby from the hospital, any kind of momentous day can be a Ribeye day.
Also Check: How To Make Steak Fajitas
How To Cook Ribeye Steak In The Oven
- Rinse and pat the steak As with any raw meat, I always rinse and pat my ribeye steaks dry with a paper towel.
- Season the steak Now drizzle a generous amount of olive oil over the rib eye steak and massage the pressed garlic over the entire steaks. Now season them with your favorite steak seasoning. I love using Webers Chicago steak seasoning for this rib eye steak recipe.
- Pan sear and finish in oven Sear each side of the rib eye steak in the cast iron pan then finish them off in the oven with a slice of butter on top.
Chophouse Burgers And Sandwiches
All served with Choice of Potato, Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion and Pickle. Add Endless Salad Bowl for 3.49
All of our burgers are served on King’s Hawaiian buns.
Side Options:
Baked Idaho Potato, Steamed Vegetables, Black Beans & Rice, Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato With Cinnamon Butter, Chophouse Fries
-
Swiss and Mushroom Steakburger
Half pound, topped with fresh mushrooms and double Swiss cheese
-
Big Steakburger
-
Half pound, choice of American, cheddar, Swiss or provolone cheese
-
Bacon Big Cheesburger
Half-pound, double bacon, choice of American, cheddar, Swiss or provolone cheese
-
Manny’s Prime Dip
A generous portion of thin sliced prime rib, grilled then topped with sautéed onions and provolone cheese. Served on a French baguette with au jus for dipping
-
Buffalo Country Fried Chicken Sandwich
Mild, medium, or hot
You May Like: Gordon Ramsay Perfect Steak Recipe
Seasoning Beef From Costco
I could not end this post without taking a moment talk about seasoning. When it comes to beef there is nothing more important than salt. A great salt can really make your food extraordinary. Costco does sell salt but nothing that really stands out.
My favorite salts can be found from Thrive Market, which it is great site to use in junction with your Costco membership. Thrive has items that Costco doesn’t have and vice versa. Get an extra 25% OFF your first order + a 30 day free trial membership when you sign up at Thrive Market!
The best salts from Thrive Market include Redmond Real Salt, Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt, Maldon Sea Salt Flakes, and HimalaSalt Himalayan salt. A once a year or every 6 months stock up on various salts is a huge gain for your pantry.
Grilling Ribeye And New York Strip Steaks
Both ribeye and NY strip steaks are excellent when cooked over fire or smoke. The seasoning should be kept simple due to the rich beefy flavor of these steaks. I like grilling high quality beef steaks over charcoal, but you will get great results with gas as well.
Cooking to medium rare at 130°F is really perfect. If you prefer medium well, cook to an internal temperature of 150°F.
There are two methods of grilling premium steaks. One is the two-zone method and the other is the direct grill method. We like the two-zone method for ribeye steaks and direct grilling for NY strip steaks. Well explain both in the recipes.
Read Also: New York Strip Steak Kroger
How Do You Grill Boneless Ribeye Steak
Season the Angus steaks with salt and pepper, or go with your own favorite flavorings. For gas grills, preheat to medium-high. On a charcoal grill, use around 100 briquets to reach a high temperature, and make sure all of the vents are open during the heat-up process. For medium rare, beef ribeye steaks should cook for 3-4 minutes per side on a charcoal grill, or 2-3 minutes on a gas grill. Make sure to use your meat thermometer to test the internal temperature for the preferred level of doneness.
Background On My Meat Knowledge
Much of my meat knowledge has come from reading the Niman Ranch Cookbook. Besides having amazing recipes it has a lot of information on everything you wanted to know about meat and how it is produced.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It changed the way I looked at meat and helped me turn out some mouth watering meals in my kitchen. If you are interest in some really top notch beef and other meat recipes, I highly recommend picking up the Niman Ranch cookbook.
Recommended Reading: Flemings Steak House La Jolla
Preferences Description Internal Temperature
Rare Red center 1100F
Medium rare Red, warm center 1200F
Medium Pink throughout 1300F
Medium well Pink center 1400F
Well No pink not recommended
You can enjoy the mouth-watering tenderness of a Wagyu top sirloin and experience the sensation that goes along with it. Top sirloin steaks can be seared and roasted, broiled or grilled to your perfect preference that can suit any occasion.
Burj Al Arab is the most famous place in Dubai where you can spend this steak at a specific time for about 10.5 ounces. The best steak is offered at an altitude of 700 feet, with spectacular views from the restaurant, this way the most expensive steak is served at the most expensive restaurant. To enjoy this meal, the price of the steak is $169.
What Is A Ribeye Steak
Before we get into talking prices, I want to take time to describe what you are getting in a Ribeye. Time to pull the cow diagram.
Ribeye steaks come from the rib section of the cow. This is in the middle of the cow closer to the front. The middle of the back doesn’t get much work, so the meat is tender. Since it is closer to the front it contains more fat.
Also Check: Where Does Wagyu Steak Come From
How Can I Save Money
Most of the time you will find a special section at grocery stores and butchers with meat that has to be frozen within a few days. This can save you up to 70%.
Now if youre a true fan and on top of that you have a generous space to deposit the meat, wholesales can get you a good deal. We are talking about a big quantity of meat but its not impossible, especially if you are able to split the quantity/costs with some other true fans.
How To Make Mama Mac’s Cheesy Potato Casserole
Rib-eye steak is a full-flavored cut of beef with lots of marbling throughout, which keeps it juicy when cooked.
It’s often reserved for special occasions, like birthdays and anniversaries.
But while a dinner out at a steakhouse is notorious for breaking the bank, you can save about 20 percent by cooking your own at home. And all you need is a hot cast-iron skillet.
Let’s start from the beginning, though aka buying your rib-eye.
HOW TO PURCHASE YOUR RIB-EYE
Rib-eye steak is sold bone-in.
“The bone-in ribeye is such a beautiful cut of meat,” Curtis says. “You get a delicious amount of flavor from cooking beef on the bone like that.”
If you’re not sure how much meat you need, butcher Ray Venezia suggests 1/2 pound per person, plus 2 pounds to account for the bones .
Should I Buy Dry-Aged Steaks?
Dry-aging beef “concentrates the meat flavor,” says chef Sara Moulton. “Also, the natural enzymes in the meat break down the tissue, so it’s that much more tender.”
While you can buy your prime rib dry-aged, youll be paying a pretty penny so consider dry-aging your beef at home with two easy steps instead.
HOW TO COOK RIB-EYE STEAK
1) TAKE STEAK OUT OF FRIDGE 30 MINUTES BEFORE COOKING
Before you take your steak out of the fridge to cook, you should actually let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. This will help your steak reach an evenly distributed temperature from edge to center, and will allow for more even cooking when on the skillet.
3) PAT STEAKS DRY
You May Like: Rick’s Cheese Steak Shop Menu
Bone Or No Bone: Tenderloin Versus Ribeye
While a Tenderloin never has bones at all, Ribeye can come both with or without the bone.
When you buy a boned Ribeye it’s called a “Cowboy Steak if the bone is cut short 2 to 3 protruding from the Ribeye steak. If the full Rib bone is left on, thats the infamous social media darling: Tomahawk Steak!
The debate of bone or no bone has been going on probably since man was wearing animal hides and living in a cave.
Most meat lovers will tell you that a steak MUST come with a bone. They would argue that the marrow contained in the bone seeps through the meat during cooking giving your steak a smoother and buttery flavored finish. Most meat lovers would tell you that a steak without a bone is not a “real” steak.
However, research by Texas A & M , by Dr Greg Blonder of Boston University and this detailed experiment by Thermoworks have shown that the presence or absence of bone doesn’t make any difference to the meat eating experience.
The bone merely acts as an insulator keeping the meat close to the bone approx 10F cooler than the rest of the steak.
In short, whether a steak comes with a bone or not has no link with the quality or flavor of the meat.
What a bone does is provide your steak with additional insulation and slow down the cooking process.
If your looking for the added flavor of marrow, simply roast some and scoop out and spread on your Ribeye or tenderloin for a flavor boost.
