Every time any of us has filet mignon in a restaurant, we always love
it - what's not to love, right?

Are there cuts of beef that come close to what filet mignon offers but
at a significantly lower price?

And what is considered a "standard" method of preparation, e.g.,
broiling, pan searing then broiling, etc.

Thanks for a beefducation.

-S-

On Sun, 5 May 2013 14:54:31 -0400, "Steve Freides" >
wrote:

>Every time any of us has filet mignon in a restaurant, we always love
>it - what's not to love, right?
>
>Are there cuts of beef that come close to what filet mignon offers but
>at a significantly lower price?
>
>And what is considered a "standard" method of preparation, e.g.,
>broiling, pan searing then broiling, etc.
>
>Thanks for a beefducation.
>
>-S-
>

What do you like about it? It is tender, other than that, I see no
reason to eat one. Rib eye and strip steak has much more flavor, IMO.
What you like about it may determine how to prepare it. Searing the
outer surface gives it much of the flavor and they are often wrapped
in bacon to keep them from drying out on the grill since it is very
lean.

No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
the price would be right up there.

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 5 May 2013 14:54:31 -0400, "Steve Freides" >
> wrote:
>
>>Every time any of us has filet mignon in a restaurant, we always love
>>it - what's not to love, right?
>>
>>Are there cuts of beef that come close to what filet mignon offers but
>>at a significantly lower price?
>>
>>And what is considered a "standard" method of preparation, e.g.,
>>broiling, pan searing then broiling, etc.
>>
>>Thanks for a beefducation.
>>
>>-S-
>>
>
> What do you like about it? It is tender, other than that, I see no
> reason to eat one. Rib eye and strip steak has much more flavor, IMO.
> What you like about it may determine how to prepare it. Searing the
> outer surface gives it much of the flavor and they are often wrapped
> in bacon to keep them from drying out on the grill since it is very
> lean.
>
> No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
> the price would be right up there.

agree. Also, pan sear and grill are common cooking techniques. Often it is
served with a sauce, since it is not the most flavorful cut of beef. Sauces
I like are based on demiglace, including just demi, chasseur sauce, and
variations thereof.

Make mine a ribeye.

On 05/05/2013 3:11 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On Sun, 5 May 2013 14:54:31 -0400, "Steve Freides" >
> wrote:
>
>> Every time any of us has filet mignon in a restaurant, we always love
>> it - what's not to love, right?
>>
>> Are there cuts of beef that come close to what filet mignon offers but
>> at a significantly lower price?
>>
>> And what is considered a "standard" method of preparation, e.g.,
>> broiling, pan searing then broiling, etc.
>>
>> Thanks for a beefducation.
>>
>> -S-
>>
>
> What do you like about it? It is tender, other than that, I see no
> reason to eat one. Rib eye and strip steak has much more flavor, IMO.
> What you like about it may determine how to prepare it. Searing the
> outer surface gives it much of the flavor and they are often wrapped
> in bacon to keep them from drying out on the grill since it is very
> lean.
>
> No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
> the price would be right up there.
>


I like beef tenderloin steaks. It works well for me because I like beef
rare, and a rare tenderloin is very tasty. Once it gets cooked past
medium it gets tough and loses that nice flavour. I think it is a good
cut of steak for people who like it very rare, but if you are one of
those squeamish types who insists on meet being cooked, tenderloin is a
waste.

As for cost..... the price of a serving of tenderloin is one of its
selling points for me. It does cost a lot per pound but it only takes
5-6 oz to make a decent serving. There is no fat or bone waste, no loss
of fat in the cooking process. My wife and I used to split Porterhouse
steaks. I would take the tenderloin side and she would take the strip
side. The only problem was that the tenderloin side cooked faster and
she preferred the strip more cooked than I wanted mine. It was usually
more expensive to get one steak big enough to split or to buy two of
other steaks than to get two tenderloins.

On 2013-05-05 19:46:56 +0000, Dave Smith said:

>> What do you like about it? It is tender, other than that, I see no
>> reason to eat one. Rib eye and strip steak has much more flavor, IMO.
>> What you like about it may determine how to prepare it. Searing the
>> outer surface gives it much of the flavor and they are often wrapped
>> in bacon to keep them from drying out on the grill since it is very
>> lean.
>>
>> No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
>> the price would be right up there.
>
> I like beef tenderloin steaks.

But isn't a filet mignon a slice of the tenderloin. You mean the other
end of the tenderloin?

> It works well for me because I like beef rare, and a rare tenderloin is
> very tasty. Once it gets cooked past medium it gets tough and loses
> that nice flavour. I think it is a good cut of steak for people who
> like it very rare, but if you are one of those squeamish types who
> insists on meet being cooked, tenderloin is a waste.
>
> As for cost..... the price of a serving of tenderloin is one of its
> selling points for me. It does cost a lot per pound but it only takes
> 5-6 oz to make a decent serving. There is no fat or bone waste, no loss
> of fat in the cooking process. My wife and I used to split Porterhouse
> steaks.

That's my favorite approach, but I can't get the wife to in on one with
me any more. She's become steak averse.

> I would take the tenderloin side and she would take the strip side. The
> only problem was that the tenderloin side cooked faster and she
> preferred the strip more cooked than I wanted mine. It was usually
> more expensive to get one steak big enough to split or to buy two of
> other steaks than to get two tenderloins.

I've never cooked a porterhouse, though the wife did for me on my
birthday about 15 years ago. She got the recipe from the 21 Club
cookbook and it was packed with Rosemary. It was really good.

On 08/05/2013 6:32 PM, gtr wrote:

>>>
>>> No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
>>> the price would be right up there.
>>
>> I like beef tenderloin steaks.
>
> But isn't a filet mignon a slice of the tenderloin. You mean the other
> end of the tenderloin?

Filet mignon is supposed to be cut from the skinny end, but it is
commonly called that no matter which end of the tenderloin it comes from.


>
> I've never cooked a porterhouse, though the wife did for me on my
> birthday about 15 years ago. She got the recipe from the 21 Club
> cookbook and it was packed with Rosemary. It was really good.
>
Packed with rosemary?? IMO Porterhouse doesn't need any herbs. Salt
and pepper is enough.

On 2013-05-09 01:20:41 +0000, Dave Smith said:

> On 08/05/2013 6:32 PM, gtr wrote:
>
>>>>
>>>> No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
>>>> the price would be right up there.
>>>
>>> I like beef tenderloin steaks.
>>
>> But isn't a filet mignon a slice of the tenderloin. You mean the other
>> end of the tenderloin?
>
> Filet mignon is supposed to be cut from the skinny end, but it is
> commonly called that no matter which end of the tenderloin it comes
> from.
>
>
>>
>> I've never cooked a porterhouse, though the wife did for me on my
>> birthday about 15 years ago. She got the recipe from the 21 Club
>> cookbook and it was packed with Rosemary. It was really good.
>>
> Packed with rosemary?? IMO Porterhouse doesn't need any herbs.
> Salt and pepper is enough.

It doesn't NEED rosemary, I totally agree. Nevertheless I like both
variety and the rosemary is really great.

I also like vanilla AND chocolate ice cream.

>On 2013-05-05 19:46:56 +0000, Dave Smith said:

>> I would take the tenderloin side and she would take the strip side. The
>> only problem was that the tenderloin side cooked faster and she
>> preferred the strip more cooked than I wanted mine. It was usually
>> more expensive to get one steak big enough to split or to buy two of
>> other steaks than to get two tenderloins.

I used to buy porterhouse or t-bone steaks when they were on special,
and carve them up into a tenderloin and a strip. I'd buy the steaks 2
at a time, so I'd end up with 2 tenderloins and 2 strips, and I'd wrap
and freeze them separately.

If you carefully pick through the selection at the grocery store, you
can sometimes find porterhouse steaks with a tenderloin side that's
about 6 ounces.

Oh, and we'd trim off the excess fat for a treat for the dogs, and
we'd freeze the bones to use in beef stock. Waste no part of the
animal.

Doris

On Wed, 8 May 2013 15:32:06 -0700, gtr > wrote:

> But isn't a filet mignon a slice of the tenderloin. You mean the other
> end of the tenderloin?

I might be wrong, but (for me) filet mignon "steaks" are from the
small end of the tenderloin.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

sf wrote:
> On Wed, 8 May 2013 15:32:06 -0700, gtr > wrote:
>
>> But isn't a filet mignon a slice of the tenderloin. You mean the
>> other end of the tenderloin?
>
> I might be wrong, but (for me) filet mignon "steaks" are from the
> small end of the tenderloin.

I could try buying a beef tenderloin - we buy pork tenderloins pretty
regularly and my wife likes cooking them (and we all like eating them).

-S-

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On Sun, 5 May 2013 14:54:31 -0400, "Steve Freides" >
> wrote:
>
>> Every time any of us has filet mignon in a restaurant, we always love
>> it - what's not to love, right?
>>
>> Are there cuts of beef that come close to what filet mignon offers
>> but at a significantly lower price?
>>
>> And what is considered a "standard" method of preparation, e.g.,
>> broiling, pan searing then broiling, etc.
>>
>> Thanks for a beefducation.
>>
>> -S-
>>
>
> What do you like about it? It is tender, other than that, I see no
> reason to eat one. Rib eye and strip steak has much more flavor, IMO.
> What you like about it may determine how to prepare it. Searing the
> outer surface gives it much of the flavor and they are often wrapped
> in bacon to keep them from drying out on the grill since it is very
> lean.
>
> No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
> the price would be right up there.

I think the tenderness of it is what all of us in my family like about
it. However it's been prepared for us, we find it plenty flavorful.

Let's ask a different question, then - what would come in second to
filet mignon in the tenderness race but have more flavor? I'm certainly
up for buying that and giving it a try here.

-S-

On 05/05/2013 5:56 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
>
>> No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
>> the price would be right up there.
>
> I think the tenderness of it is what all of us in my family like about
> it. However it's been prepared for us, we find it plenty flavorful.
>
> Let's ask a different question, then - what would come in second to
> filet mignon in the tenderness race but have more flavor? I'm certainly
> up for buying that and giving it a try here.


Probably rib eye.

On 5/5/2013 6:27 PM, Dave Smith wrote:

> On 05/05/2013 5:56 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
>>
>>> No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
>>> the price would be right up there.
>>
>> I think the tenderness of it is what all of us in my family like about
>> it. However it's been prepared for us, we find it plenty flavorful.
>>
>> Let's ask a different question, then - what would come in second to
>> filet mignon in the tenderness race but have more flavor? I'm certainly
>> up for buying that and giving it a try here.
>
>
> Probably rib eye.
>
Flat iron steak. Tender and flavorful.

--
CAPSLOCK–Preventing Login Since 1980.

On 5/5/13 11:32 PM, Cheryl wrote:

>>> Let's ask a different question, then - what would come in second to
>>> filet mignon in the tenderness race but have more flavor?
>>
> Flat iron steak. Tender and flavorful.

We have flat iron all the time, since hanger has become so hard to find.
Its flavor is great, but it is definitely not a tender cut.

Ribeye is the winner here.

-- Larry

On Sun, 05 May 2013 23:32:41 -0400, Cheryl >
wrote:

>On 5/5/2013 6:27 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> On 05/05/2013 5:56 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
>>>
>>>> No other cut comes close to it for tenderness though and if it did,
>>>> the price would be right up there.
>>>
>>> I think the tenderness of it is what all of us in my family like about
>>> it. However it's been prepared for us, we find it plenty flavorful.
>>>
>>> Let's ask a different question, then - what would come in second to
>>> filet mignon in the tenderness race but have more flavor? I'm certainly
>>> up for buying that and giving it a try here.
>>
>>
>> Probably rib eye.
>>
>Flat iron steak. Tender and flavorful.

My favorite is a chuck steak... grilled on high and rare inside...
when properly cooked chuck steaks are not tough and no other steak is
as flavorful.

On 5/5/13 2:54 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
> Every time any of us has filet mignon in a restaurant, we always love
> it - what's not to love, right?

Well, the lack of flavor, for one. A filet will never approach the
flavor of a good hanger steak. That's why filets get incorporated into
dishes like Beef Wellington, where other elements can augment the flavor.

> Are there cuts of beef that come close to what filet mignon offers but
> at a significantly lower price?

Simply, no. No other beef cut has the tenderness of a filet.

> And what is considered a "standard" method of preparation, e.g.,
> broiling, pan searing then broiling, etc.

For medium-rare to medium, some people sear for 4-5 minutes per side for
each inch of thickness.

I sear two minutes per side, then finish in a 300-325 degree oven for
five minutes per inch of thickness. I find this gives me finer control
over the degree of done-ness and a more consistent interior.

-- Larry

On 5/5/2013 3:31 PM, pltrgyst wrote:
> On 5/5/13 2:54 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
>> Every time any of us has filet mignon in a restaurant, we always love
>> it - what's not to love, right?
>
> Well, the lack of flavor, for one. A filet will never approach the
> flavor of a good hanger steak. That's why filets get incorporated into
> dishes like Beef Wellington, where other elements can augment the flavor.
>
>> Are there cuts of beef that come close to what filet mignon offers but
>> at a significantly lower price?
>
> Simply, no. No other beef cut has the tenderness of a filet.
>
>> And what is considered a "standard" method of preparation, e.g.,
>> broiling, pan searing then broiling, etc.
>
> For medium-rare to medium, some people sear for 4-5 minutes per side for
> each inch of thickness.
>
> I sear two minutes per side, then finish in a 300-325 degree oven for
> five minutes per inch of thickness. I find this gives me finer control
> over the degree of done-ness and a more consistent interior.
>

I use a Foreman grill, which produces the rare inside with a browned
outside as I like it.


--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

I love steak rare. I buy chuck eye steak at $5.99 a lb and I buy flank
steak at $7.99 a lb. By the time you grill the chuck eye steak and the
fat breaks up, you are left with a juicy 1/2 lb of steak volume-wise. By
the time you sear the flank steak, you still have 1 lb of steak.
Sometimes more expensive IS the better value.

On May 5, 7:28*pm, The Other Guy > wrote:

>
> Asian markets often have whole Filets for decent prices,
> locally I can get a 3-4 pounder for $5 a pound and sometimes less.
>
> I open the pack, cut it into servings, and freeze most,
> and eat 1 right away.
>
> Cooking is standard pan frying in butter, often with fresh mushrooms.
>

Here's a tip. Go to the restaurant supply place....Cash and Carry,
Restaurant Supply, whatever one is near you.
Go to the meats section and buy what will be labeled a PEELED BUTT
TENDER. You will find it's a pretty good sized
piece of meat..... in cryovac. You should be able to buy one at a
very very good price per pound. They are fairly large so
it will be pricey but totally worth it.

Take it home and trim it down yourself. Save the trimmed pieces for
stroganoff or stew and cut the rest into steaks and freeze them.

I do the same with whole boneless rib eyes and flap meat and skirt
steak, etc.

The restaurant supply stores have good meat. Just finish the
butchering on the whole piece yourself. Saves big bucks.

On Wed, 8 May 2013 18:22:33 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
> wrote:


>Here's a tip. Go to the restaurant supply place....Cash and Carry,
>Restaurant Supply, whatever one is near you.
>Go to the meats section and buy what will be labeled a PEELED BUTT
>TENDER. You will find it's a pretty good sized
>piece of meat..... in cryovac. You should be able to buy one at a
>very very good price per pound. They are fairly large so
>it will be pricey but totally worth it.
>
>Take it home and trim it down yourself. Save the trimmed pieces for
>stroganoff or stew and cut the rest into steaks and freeze them.

Sobeys in Ontario occasionally has these on special for ~$9.99/pound.
One whole chunk would be about $60. I haven't bought one in a while,
but I think I used to get a dozen or more steaks out of one piece.

I do what you do, and save the trimmings for stew. And the dogs (doG
rest their little souls) used to get the crappier pieces of trim.

Doris

On 08/05/2013 11:34 PM, Doris Night wrote:
> On Wed, 8 May 2013 18:22:33 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
> > wrote:
>
>
>> Here's a tip. Go to the restaurant supply place....Cash and Carry,
>> Restaurant Supply, whatever one is near you.
>> Go to the meats section and buy what will be labeled a PEELED BUTT
>> TENDER. You will find it's a pretty good sized
>> piece of meat..... in cryovac. You should be able to buy one at a
>> very very good price per pound. They are fairly large so
>> it will be pricey but totally worth it.
>>
>> Take it home and trim it down yourself. Save the trimmed pieces for
>> stroganoff or stew and cut the rest into steaks and freeze them.
>
> Sobeys in Ontario occasionally has these on special for ~$9.99/pound.
> One whole chunk would be about $60. I haven't bought one in a while,
> but I think I used to get a dozen or more steaks out of one piece.
>
> I do what you do, and save the trimmings for stew. And the dogs (doG
> rest their little souls) used to get the crappier pieces of trim.


We bought one for New Years. I cut off a chunk for a roast. It fed four
of us for our New Years Day dinner and there was enough leftover for the
two of us. I cut the rest and got 9 steaks out of it. Not a bad deal at all.

On Wed, 08 May 2013 23:34:16 -0400, Doris Night
> wrote:

>On Wed, 8 May 2013 18:22:33 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
> wrote:
>
>
>>Here's a tip. Go to the restaurant supply place....Cash and Carry,
>>Restaurant Supply, whatever one is near you.
>>Go to the meats section and buy what will be labeled a PEELED BUTT
>>TENDER. You will find it's a pretty good sized
>>piece of meat..... in cryovac. You should be able to buy one at a
>>very very good price per pound. They are fairly large so
>>it will be pricey but totally worth it.
>>
>>Take it home and trim it down yourself. Save the trimmed pieces for
>>stroganoff or stew and cut the rest into steaks and freeze them.
>
>Sobeys in Ontario occasionally has these on special for ~$9.99/pound.
>One whole chunk would be about $60. I haven't bought one in a while,
>but I think I used to get a dozen or more steaks out of one piece.
>
>I do what you do, and save the trimmings for stew. And the dogs (doG
>rest their little souls) used to get the crappier pieces of trim.

Well what do you know - the Sobeys flyer just landed in my inbox, and
tenderloins are on sale this week!

Doris

On 09/05/2013 10:19 AM, Doris Night wrote:
do what you do, and save the trimmings for stew. And the dogs (doG
>> rest their little souls) used to get the crappier pieces of trim.
>
> Well what do you know - the Sobeys flyer just landed in my inbox, and
> tenderloins are on sale this week!
>
Good timing. I usually spread my weekly grocery shopping around and this
week I had planned to go to Sobey's.
I tend to rotate between Sobeys, Zehrs and a local family run place. I
also make weekly trips to Food Basics because they have good produce at
good prices. I also stock up on Shredded Wheat, which is usually $1.50
er box cheaper, and ground espresso, also usually about that much
cheaper than the the other two.