How To Cook A Cowboy Steak
I love a good steak. And since more is always better, Cowboy steaks are near heaven. The cowboy steak is a bone-in ribeye steak. And the ribeye is often called the chef’s steak – as it’s super rich in flavor, from all the marbling that runs through it, and can be as tender as a filet mignon. The fat on the outside, renders and get crunchy providing a greater texture contrast. It’s simply superb.
Most cowboy steaks are absolutely massive and at times have actually been confused with dinosaur ribs. The one I cooked here was North of 2 3/4 lbs and I fed 3 adults and 3 kids with it.
The a perfectly cooked cowboy steak, just like every other steak has a crusty, charred, well seasoned exterior and a tender juicy center, cooked to the desired doneness – in my case that’s medium rare or about 125 degrees. And the cooking techniques needed to get that perfect cowboy steak are also the same as just about any other cut – we just need to adjust the cooking times times a bit. Admittedly, there are a couple different ways to get to that desired perfect steak…here I’m going to explain the most common searing the exterior and then oven roasting until the center is cooked just right.
What Is A Cowboy Steak
Before you get too confused, well come right out and say it: the cowboy steak is technically a bone-in ribeyesteak. There are several names for it, including cowboy New York steak, tomahawk steak, Delmonico, or even rugged cowboy. Whatever name you decide to give it, we like to go with the cowboy or tomahawk steak.
Theres no definitive answer as to where this cut got its name from, but one thing is for sure: cowboy steaks are huge! Its not uncommon to be able to order this cut in anywhere from an 18 oz to 32 oz steak. We can assume that this rugged name came from the equally rugged hunk of steak youll get when you order a cowboy steak cut from your butcher or a local restaurant. Its manly and rugged, much like a cowboy.
Cowboy cuts, since theyre part of the ribeyesteak cut, also come from the rib section of the animal. What makes it different from a ribeye, though, is that it will come with about five or six inches of the rib bones still attached. This resulting look, many say, is why its also sometimes referred to as the tomahawk steak. The bones dont necessarily make the steak taste any different, but a 32 oz tomahawk steak surely does look appealing.
Tomahawk Steak Guide: What Is It Where To Get It How To Cook It
Tomahawk steak is an unusual cut of beef rib that makes a statement on any BBQ plate. But what is it exactly, and does it deserve the hype? Learn everything you need to know about prep, temperatures, and techniques with our tomahawk steak guide.
For a chef, using the best ingredients is a necessity. When it comes to cuts of meat, it doesnt get much better than the tomahawk steak. This beautiful cut of bone-in ribeye brings a joyful challenge to chefs who work hard to perfect their cooking techniques.
If youve been wondering exactly how to get this glorious cut of meat perfectly cooked, youve clicked on the right spot. Read on to learn about the tomahawk steak and how to prepare the mouthwatering delicacy.
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Where Did Tomahawk Steak Get Its Name
When the Texas cowboys took part in the Rio Grande cattle drives, they used Mexican spices to flavor their meals. This was the origin of the steak. It is named Hatchet Steak because the large rib bone, which has been sliced into thin slices, gives this cut the appearance of a Native American tomahawk.
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What Is A Cowboy Steak Cut Explained
The “Cowboy steak” can be hard to define – So much so that resources will provide you with different definitions as to what a “cowboy” steak even is.
For instance, these are some of the more popular ideas:
- It is essentially a bone-in ribeye*.
- It is any of the steaks taken from the short loin primal – like the t-bone or porter house.
- It is any thick steak cooked over an open fire grill fueled by either wood or charcoal.
- It is a frenched ribeye steak .
Of these ideas, the most popular is that a cowboy steak is essentially a bone-in ribeye steak* that may or may not have been frenched. If the bone is frenched, the length of the rib bone is less than 5 inches If the bone exceeds 5 inches, it’s a tomahawk.
The Legendary Cowboy Steak
So the Wild West may have been thoroughly tamed but the legends of the cowboys lives on well into the 21st century. While weve traded our horses for Teslas, our 6 shooters for iPhones, and our spurs for Yeezys. We can still keep some of the trail life traditions alive and theres really nothing that comes close to a proper cowboy steak.
A cowboy steak doesnt have a particular definition. As with most things in the tumultuous west, it was more a case of getting what youre given rather than ordering from the a la carte menu so a cowboy steak can be pretty much any cut you can get your hands on but, traditionally, it would be a bone-in cut most often the ribeye.
These steaks were cut thick, left on the bone, coated with basic seasoning, and cooked in cast iron over a campfire to fill the bellies of at least two people after a hard days farm work or rustling.
Weve explored the benefits of cooking your steak in a cast iron pan. The material is fantastic at soaking up heat and is very selfish in keeping it so, when you drop your steak in, yes the pan temperature will drop but not nearly as much as other types. This is the ideal scenario for a crisp and even sear with a perfectly cooked interior.
The actual day to day life of a working ranch hand, otherwise known as a cowboy, was one filled with a lot of hard manual labour, almost breadline poverty on the unskilled labour wages, and desperate loneliness as they drifted from town to town in search of work.
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Is There Another Name For A Tomahawk Steak
Tomahawk chop, bone-in ribeye, and beef cote de boeuf are some other names for this dish. A highly marbled, exceptionally tender, and flavorful steak, the tomahawk is primarily taken from the longissimus ender and flavorful steak, the tomahawk is primarily taken from the longissimus dorsi, or loin, of the steer.
Whats So Special About A Tomahawk Steak
The tomahawk steak, also known as a bone-in ribeye or tomahawk chop, is a well marbled, rich and buttery big, thick ribeye with a long bone still attached. Heres the butchers guide to this steak lovers favorite cut. The tomahawk is carved from the beef rib the same primal section as any other ribeye.
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What Rubs Go Best With Angus Beef Ribeye Steak
Try seasoning your ribeye steal with a fine blend of dried porcini mushrooms, brown sugar, black pepper and crushed red chilies. First, rub the mixture on the steaks, then grill or broil them, and finish by adding sea salt to taste.
Bring out the delicious flavor of your bone-in cowboy ribeye by rubbing with a mix of dry-roasted garlic, coarse sea salt and ground black pepper to evoke Chicago-style steakhouse flavors.
Tomahawk Steak Vs Cowboy Steak
The cowboy steak is a bone-in ribeye, just like the tomahawk. But it has a smaller frenched bone in it. Cowboys reportedly cooked this steak with the bone so they could use it as a handle while grilling it.
Both cuts have well-marbled meat with plenty of flavors. The cowboy steak is usually about half the weight of the tomahawk cut.
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Lidl Is Bringing Back Its 17 Deluxe Cowboy Steak
Just in time for the weekend, Lidl have relaunched their popular Cowboy Steak – the perfect alternative to a Sunday Roast
- 16:24, 29 Jan 2021
If youre looking for something to feed yourself, family or housemates this weekend, Lidl customers will be happy to see the return of the huge Deluxe Cowboy Steak. For the incredible price of £16.99 , its perfect for a Saturday night dinner or an alternative to roast beef.
Available in store now, the delicious cut will make the perfect treat for a decadent dinner this weekend, whilst stocks last. To find your nearest Lidl, weve put the store locator here for ease. Youll also find opening and closing time information listed there as well.
The monster steak has been produced in the UK from British beef, reared by Lidls selected group of British farmers and is renowned for being rich and juicy, with generous marbling throughout the cut.
Lidls Deluxe Cowboy Steak is dry aged on the bone for 14 days and further matured to 21, ensuring that the meat has a deep and full flavour with unrivalled tenderness. Simply season generously with salt and pepper or your favourite steak flavouring and pan-grill either side et voila.
Weighing up to a massive 1.2kg, Lidls Deluxe Cowboy Steak is big enough to feed the whole household, giving shoppers a taste of restaurant quality cuisine at home.
Our stomach is rumbling over the thought of this
The Nomenclature Of Cowboy Steak
When attempting to find the answer to this question, you’ll start to see where the problem lies. Restaurants have a way of naming things whatever they want – The goal being to entice customers into coming to their restaurant.
“Cowboy” Steaks from Tuckaway Butchery – Raymond, NH
The first thing I did when researching the origin story was using Google and adjusting the search date – Starting from 1/1/1980 to 12/31/1999
From there you start to find articles on various news outlets and restaurants that seemingly use the phrase “Cowboy Steak” to describe a number of different cuts of steak.
Here are a few examples:
In an article on the Los Angeles Times from 1989:
“That 2-pound Cowboy Steak is the star of the menu at the Trabuco Oaks Steak House.”
While this article doesn’t specifically mention the cut being used, going to the Trabuco Oaks Steak House website tells us on their current menu: “Cowboy – 16 oz. Top Sirloin” – Their about us page also notes: “Home of the two pound cowboy steak!”
In an article on WestWord from 1999:
“The Cowboy steak a 22-ounce Porterhouse, was a well-priced, well-cooked piece of flesh, done precisely to our request of medium-rare…”
In a version of the North American Meat Processors Association – The Meat Buyer’s Guide – We’re told:
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Signature 1 Kilo Sharing Beef Cowboy Steak:
The Beef Cowboy Steak is a little different than a Cote de Beouf, a rib roast steak or a bone-in Ribeye steak because we only have a small amount of the bone left on to give better value for money. You still get the on the bone flavour & easy carving but you dont pay for large amounts of bone to throw away after the cook. These are smaller than their big brother, the Beef Tomahawk Steakthat has the long bone exposed for extra theatre & being able to hang through the bone over the barbecue.
The Sherwood Beef Cowboy Steak has been fully prepared for you, it will save you time & money because you are not having to pay for excess fat or gristle that you would then have to throw away. Buying this ready prepared sharing steak will give you true value for money as this gives a more generous steak for your pound or Euro.
The texture of theRibeye is a little course & has immense flavour because of this & will give amazing results every time. The beef will become very tender, easy to slice & soft to chew whilst enjoying the rich flavour of our grass-fed beef. The nature of RibEyesteak has a little marbling through it that makes the meat more tender, increases the flavour & keeps it moist during your cook.
This ensures that you have Sherwood restaurant quality delivered to your door.
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Where To Buy Tomahawk Steak
You can buy tomahawk steaks in several places, and where you buy it determines how it is prepared. If you purchase it at your favorite steakhouse, a skilled chef prepares it for you. If you buy it from a butcher, you have to prepare it. No matter where you buy them, you should expect to pay a hefty sum.
Butchers sell them in their brick-and-mortar shops and online. These notable butchers sell them online:
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How To Slice Ribeye Steaks After Cooking
If you portion your rib roast into steaks, you may want to cut them into bite-size slices after cooking. Here’s the best way to do that.
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The cost of insuring your used car will be much lower than you would pay for one brand new. Your wallet wont be damaged too much if you decide to sell it in the future since youll lose less money than if you bought a new one. First-time buyers, and especially those who are on a budget, can find that a used purchase is more affordable and practical.
How To Buy A Steak
Its steak night at your house. Youve got the grill ready to go. You just need the steak. There are a lot of choices and if you dont buy steak every day the decision about which cut to buy can be confusing. Well get to the meat of the matter, with butcher, Bruce Atkins, from The Butcher Block in Franklin, Tennessee.
Notice the interior marbling of the meat, not the exterior fat. Atkins says the marbling is where all the flavor and tenderness live.
Prime grade beef is the best you can buy, but its not normally what youll find at the grocery store. Look for Choice grade steaks, which is the next best category. Avoid Select grade beef, the lowest grade.
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Why Is It Called A Cowboy Ribeye
Some sources say Bone-In Ribeyes are referred to as Cowboy Steaks because cowboys would hold on to the bone like a handle. Others say it is because thick-cut ribeyes are big, hearty, and ultra-rugged, ensuring they would satisfy any hard-working cowboys appetite.
The heartiness of the steak is the most likely explanation, coinciding with the etymology of both Cowboy Cookies and Cowboy Casserole.
How To Cut Ribeye Steaks From A Bone
A professional butcher can create bone-in ribeye steaks of any thickness by cutting them on a meat bandsaw. With home equipment, you can only cut between the bones, not through them. This means that your steaks will be as wide as the bones are — probably at least two inches.
The steaks will be very large . They’re big enough to serve two and thick enough that you could even roast them.
To cut ribeye steaks from a bone-in rib roast:
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