Which Steak Cut Is Better? Top Sirloin vs Filet Mignon?
Tonight’s biggest decision! What cut of meat should you cook?
Many steak lovers often struggle to choose between two great options: filet mignon and sirloin steaks. So, what’s the difference?
Top Sirloin Vs. Filet Mignon
Let’s review the similarities and distinctions between sirloin and tenderloin filet so you may make a more informed selection!
After reading, you will understand which cut is better for a special occasion and which one is for a casual dinner.
So, let’s compare the two against each other!
Top Sirloin vs. Filet Mignon: The critical difference
Filet mignon is a lean cut of steak and is also the smaller part of a T-bone steak. However, filet mignon is much more tender. Most die-hard steak fans consider this the classic steak.
Many meat-eaters agree that the sirloin is flavorful enough to empty your pockets in an instant.
Sirloin vs Filet: What Type of Cuts of Beef?
These two different names, textures, and flavor profiles stem primarily from the specific cut on the cow.
Where Does sirloin steak come from?
Sirloin comes from the rear of the cow, near the round section.
- The beef sirloin taken from this region is lean, as this area of the cow gets ample exercise, which toughens it up.
- The word sirloin is an umbrella term for the many cuts of sirloin steaks taken from this section.
- Top Sirloin Steak is the most tender steak in this category, taken from the top segments of the sirloin.
- Pitting Sirloin vs. Top Sirloin, sirloin steak is ideal for individuals who believe steaks may be too soft.
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Where does filet mignon come from?
We get the filet mignon from the conical end of the tenderloin filet or the psoas major.
The tenderloin filet sits under the spine. This makes it a tender steak, great for people who like a softer bite or a chewier texture.
The Texture Of Each Steak Cut
As we have mentioned above, there is a stark difference between the textures of filet and sirloin.
Texture Of Filet Mignon
“Tenderloin,” as a word means “soft,” which tells us the texture of tenderloin just by the name. A delicate, juicy, and tender meat that instantly melts in one’s mouth.
The meat as a whole is pretty compact, shown by its marbling, as it has low levels of fat in it. The grains are very fine. When mixed with the fat, they create beautiful marbling. They also add a mild, buttery taste.
So, if you are someone that likes milder tasting yet buttery steaks, this is the one for you!
Texture Of Sirloin Steak
On the other hand, sirloin or top sirloin is firmer and harder to chew, given its location on the cow.
This factor contributes a lot to its texture as it toughens up the meat, making it a lean steak cut.
- If you cook the steaks rare to medium-rare, they will still be juicy and tender. They will have a medium beef flavor.
- What is the most tender steak, you ask? Filet mignons are the most tender steaks.
Fat Content
Both of these options are lean cuts that have low-fat content with slight, intricate differences.
Both of these cuts have less fat than other steak cuts. However, top sirloin has more fat than tenderloin or filet mignon.
Top sirloins have some marbling and fat running through the meat. The sirloin’s fat content keeps the steak moist and juicy after cooking.
Fat Content Of Filet Mignon
This has less fat as compared to sirloin with its fat contents being 7.5g in 3 ounces of steak. Additionally, it has 3g of saturated fat
Fat Content Of Beef Sirloin
Sirloin has a moderate amount of cholesterol and fats in it. A 3-ounce serving of sirloin contains approximately 8 grams of fat, 3 of which are saturated.
Flavor Profile
The flavor profile of both these tender cuts makes them a great casual weeknight meal. However, the significant difference between filet mignon and sirloin is in the taste and flavor profile of each.
This also affects their toughness when cooking them on the grill, so it is important to know the difference.
All steaks can be great if you grill and season them well. However, each cut has its own flavor, even without seasoning.
Filet Mignon: The Most Tender Cut
Tenderloins are often more expensive because they are tender. However, they do not have a strong beefy flavor.
Top Beef Sirloin Cuts
As compared to the other cuts, the higher fat makes the sirloin beefy with more flavor.
In addition, the texture of sirloin steaks also makes them great at absorbing any marinade, enhancing their taste.
This ultimately means that what you do with the steak cuts and how you marinate them also matters.
If you choose to cook or grill your steak without marinating it, black pepper and kosher salt will work well.
Cooking Methods
Of course, the difference in textures, fat content, and flavor profiles also demand different cooking methods.
Since Filet mignon has a low fat content, it tends to get dry faster. Therefore, the best way to cook would be pan-seared and with a generous amount of butter.
Cook the steak to a medium-rare temperature. Going above medium will dry it out and make it hard to chew.
Contrarily, sirloins are a more forgiving cut, thanks to their higher fat content, which prevents them from drying out. Even cooked to a medium-well temperature, these steaks still maintain great texture and flavor.
Quickly grill or pan-sear both cuts over medium-high heat with butter or olive oil. So, which sounds better to you? Are you making a grilled fillet steak or a pan-seared one?
The USDA recommends cooking safely, so make sure your steak reaches a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are seeing temperatures under the 145 degrees, the steak is still too rare.
So, get that cooking thermometer ready!
Health levels
At the end of the day, health matters the most, so we need to see if what we eat is safe and healthy from a nutritional standpoint.
Filet Vs Sirloin: Calory Count
The calory count of both these cuts is the same, so this won’t be a tie-breaker. While 3 ounces of cooked sirloin contains 180 calories, cooked fillet mignon contains 179 calories.
Protein Content Of Both Steak Cuts
Both cuts are high in protein. A 3-ounce serving of sirloin has 25 grams of protein. Fillet mignon has 26 grams of protein.
Cholesterol Levels Of Both Steaks
As for the cholesterol levels, both go neck and neck in this comparison too.
While 3 ounces of Fillet has 7.5 grams of fat, it has 79mg of Cholesterol. 3 ounces of Sirloin has 8 grams of fat and 75mg of Cholesterol, slightly less than Fillet.
How Do You Store Top Sirloin vs. Filet Mignon?
Both cuts are considered top quality, hence the higher price. So, it is only fair to store them properly to protect them from going to waste.
Storage Of Filet Mignon
For proper storage, make sure your refrigerator’s temperature is between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re thawing it, then uncover it and place a plate underneath to catch all the juices.
Storage Of Top Sirloin
If you haven’t opened the store packaging, then this steak can stay good for about three days in the refrigerator.
Keeping the temperature the same as the filet mignon, wrap all the steaks in a plastic wrap or vacuum sealer and store.
You can also store it in the freezer for up to 3 months if you’re wondering how long can you freeze steak.
Which Steak Is Better, Sirloin Or Filet?
In conclusion of our sirloin versus fillet mignon battle, we find some important distinctive differences between the two.
- Is sirloin steak as tender when compared to the filet mignon? No, the filet mignon is more tender.
- Does top sirloin melt in your mouth the same way that filet mignon does? Nope, the filet mignon does that better, too.
- The difference between top sirloin and filet mignon is in their texture, fat content, and most importantly, flavor.
The stark contrast within their texture comes from their cuts on the cow. As a result, this affects their fat content, cooking methods, and flavor profiles.
Is sirloin better or is filet mignon the winner…try both and decide!
Happy grilling!