The most tender steak is the Filet Mignon (or fillet/tenderloin), known for its buttery texture because it comes from a muscle that does little work; however, it's less flavorful, so it's often paired with sauces, while well-marbled cuts like Ribeye (Scotch Fillet) offer great tenderness and flavor, especially when cooked to medium-rare or medium. Other tender options include Flat Iron and Top Sirloin.
Filet Mignon — The Undisputed King of Tenderness
This prized steak comes from the tenderloin—a long, narrow muscle that runs along the cow's spine. Because this muscle does virtually no work, the meat is incredibly soft with a fine, buttery texture that practically dissolves on your palate.
Sirloin is the widely regarded winner here. The rump is a very hard-working part of the animal, meaning the meat is a little leaner. In contrast, the sirloin (particularly the fillet) area contains muscles that are hardly used. It also tends to contain more fat than rump steaks, which adds to its tenderness.
To achieve tender steaks, pat the steak dry and generously season it with salt for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This helps the salt penetrate the meat, breaking down proteins for a more flavorful and tender result.
If you want to impress him with a steak, you'll want to use a filet mignon.
Flank skirt, thick skirt and thin skirt are all delicious and definitely worth a try, but here we're focussing on Jamie's favourite – feather steak (also known as flat iron steak). Full of beautiful flavour, texture and fat marbling, feather steak is a good size to leave you satisfied.
The 3-3-3 steak rule is a simple method for searing and cooking steaks, especially for a 1-inch cut: Sear one side for 3 minutes on high heat, flip and sear the other side for 3 minutes, then move to indirect heat and cook each side for another 3 minutes, finishing with a short rest. This process builds a great crust while gently bringing the steak to your desired doneness, often medium-rare, by alternating high-heat searing with lower-heat cooking, say Traeger Grills and The Aussie Butcher.
Let the Steak Rest
Meat that is cut too quickly loses its natural fluids and becomes dry. One of the key components of the secret to a juicy steak is resting it, which produces a soft, flavorful cut every time it is served.
Baking soda is the secret to tender, moist meat in a short amount of time. You don't need a lot to make juicy and flavorful chicken or beef. It is recommended to rinse a baking soda solution off meat before cooking because it can leave a metallic taste.
The fillet, cut from the tenderloin, is a long standing favourite. It is often deemed the most prized, luxurious steak of all and is certainly the most lean and tender. Fillets are best enjoyed rare or medium and are often used as a whole cut for more elaborate dishes such as Beef Wellington.
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Sirloin, often called porterhouse in Australia, is a cut from the short loin located just behind the ribs. It offers a delightful balance of tenderness and flavour. It's leaner than the Scotch fillet but more marbled than the eye fillet, sitting in a sweet spot for those who appreciate both texture and taste.
Top sirloin
Despite being boneless, this cut, which comes from the cow's top rear end, is typically far more soft and tasty. It rarely becomes extremely chewy and rubbery when cooked properly.
(Once again, be warned: salt brining for more than 20 minutes will tenderize the steak too much - you will still be able to use it for fajitas or stir frying, but it won't be a steak).
1- Filet mignon
Undeniably the most tender cut of beef. Located beneath the ribeye, the filet mignon is a muscle that does very little work, giving it a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a refined, delicate flavor.
Chinese restaurants tenderize beef primarily through a technique called velveting, which involves using baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to break down muscle fibers, followed by coating the meat (often with cornstarch) and a quick par-cooking (blanching or frying) to lock in moisture, resulting in a silky, tender texture, often alongside slicing thinly across the grain and using marinades.
Olive oil does not actually tenderize meat, but it does provide an excellent base for marinades containing protein-dissolving enzymes that do. Even though olive oil isn't a natural tenderizer, it can help keep the meat moist. So, olive oil alone doesn't tenderize meat, that job is for acidic liquids.
Mistake #1: Over-Marinating
Many people believe that longer marinating automatically means more flavor. In reality, too much time in an acidic or salty marinade can break down proteins and create a mushy, unpleasant texture.
The 3-3-2-2 rule is a simple steak cooking method for ½ to 1-inch thick cuts, involving medium heat, oil, and multiple flips: 3 minutes on the first side, flip and cook 3 minutes on the second side, flip and cook 2 minutes, then flip and cook the final 2 minutes, followed by a 5-minute rest to develop a crust while keeping the inside tender.
The Bavette steak, often known as the butcher's secret, has long been a hidden gem in the world of beef. This cut, taken from the lower sirloin, boasts a texture similar to flank or skirt steak but with a richer flavor profile that rewards careful preparation.
That's right: Go ahead and plop the ribeye on your cutting board and walk away for—surprise—five minutes (give or take). We know it's super tempting to dive right in, but you should resist slicing your steak for about five to ten minutes after it comes off the heat. The result? A juicier, more flavorful meal.
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Flipping the steaks back and forth as they cook maximizes browning while minimizing an overcooked layer under the surface. A final bath in melted butter takes these steaks over the top in flavor and texture.