What is Tenderloin Steak?

You have probably heard of: ossenhaas, tournedos or chateaubriand. In the cow, there are several long back muscles that run from the shoulder to the buttocks. You can find the tenderloin on the side of the buttocks, on the inside of the muscle, close to the entrecote and the kogel. When the tenderloin is cut from the cow, you're not done yet. There are still all sorts of membranes etc. attached to the muscle. These are carefully trimmed off. Then, from a part of the tenderloins, ‘tenderloin steak’, ‘chateaubriands’, or ‘tournedos’ are cut. The parts that are less suitable for chateaubriand or tenderloin steak, because the piece is not equal in thickness, for example, are used for tenderloin tips or tenderloin skewers. So nothing is wasted! The tenderloin is exactly the same as a chateaubriand or tournedos, only bigger/longer.

Why the Name Tenderloin?

The name 'tenderloin' implies that the loin is only cut from an ox (castrated bull). The name originates from the past, because in the past, the tenderloin (and oxtail) were only cut from oxen. That's not the case anymore, but the name has stuck. Perhaps 'beef loin' would be a better/correcter name nowadays. Moreover, it is nice to have a piece of history in a meat name. The 'loin' in tenderloin refers to the softest muscle in the cow. You can also find this loin in other types of meat, such as pork tenderloin or chicken tenderloins.

What is the Difference Between Tournedos and Tenderloin?

Regarding the type of meat, there is no difference between tournedos and tenderloin. Tournedos is indeed cut from the tenderloin. The difference lies in the naming. Tournedos is a specific cut of the tenderloin, just like chateaubriand.

Why is Tenderloin So Tender?

The tenderloin is a lazy muscle in the cow. This means that this muscle has performed relatively little 'work' and has a subtle refined beef flavor. We dare to say that the tenderloin is the most tender part of the cow.

How to Prepare Tenderloin Steak?

If you want to prepare a tenderloin steak, it is first important to have a piece that is equal in thickness throughout, so you get the most beautiful doneness. Since we handle the cutting, portioning, and packaging ourselves, at The Butchery we have already selected for this, and only the most beautiful tenderloin steak with equal thickness comes online. If there is a deviation in thickness, this can be corrected by tying the tenderloin steak, so the tenderloin steak is equally thick throughout. You do this with, for example, butcher's twine. Actually, this is only necessary for a 'whole tenderloin' and not for a specially cut 'tenderloin steak.'

Okay, now you have a tenderloin steak that is equal in thickness throughout. Season the tenderloin steak with pepper and salt or with herbs of your choice. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees and start searing the tenderloin steak in the pan. Beautifully browned all around? Great! Put it in the oven. Then place the tenderloin steak in a roasting pan or roasting tray and pour the roasting fat over the tenderloin steak. Let the tenderloin steak stay in the oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 45 to 47 degrees Celsius. Let it rest for another 10 minutes before slicing and season the meat to taste.

Carpaccio of Tenderloin

Carpaccio is incredibly popular and can be found on many restaurant menus. But what is carpaccio cut from? In principle, carpaccio can be cut from multiple types of beef, such as the achtermuis or other soft parts. The softer the meat, the tastier it is. Tenderloin is therefore perfect for carpaccio!

Tenderloin from Premium Meat Breeds

Tenderloin from premium meat breeds can be found at The Butchery! If you compare a tenderloin with a ribeye, the difference in marbling is immediately noticeable. Since marbling is also the flavor carrier, you can imagine that a tenderloin has a less intense flavor than a ribeye. Fortunately, one tenderloin is not the same as another. There is a world of difference in marbling when you compare the tenderloin from the Blonde d’Aquitaine cow with the Japanese Wagyu A5. Moreover, you don't have to empty your wallet right away if you want a more marbled tenderloin, because there is always a middle ground. Be sure to browse through our grain-fed breeds..

Which Wine Pairs with Tenderloin?

When choosing which wine to serve with tenderloin, it is first important to decide what you plan to do with the tenderloin. Are you seasoning it subtly with just some pepper and salt – actually, tenderloin doesn't need much more? Then a full-bodied, powerful wine is exactly what you want. Think of a wine with tannins, such as Rioja, Shiraz, Syrah, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Merlot. The choice is vast! Are you serving it with a creamy pepper sauce or a nice Béarnaise sauce? Then adjust your wine to match the sauce you are serving with the steak.

Buying Tenderloin Steak Online

Buying tenderloin online is actually even easier than at the butcher around the corner. Why do you ask? The butcher around the corner usually only has one type of tenderloin in stock. With us, you have more choice. Prefer grass-fed beef? You can! Or a nicely marbled grain-fed tenderloin steak. The choice is yours. Buying online at Butchery? Then you are assured that the animals have had a good life. Our meat breeds are selected based on this, because we find it important, in addition to flavor.

Tenderloin QuickFrozen Delivery

If you order tenderloin steak online, it will be delivered frozen to your home. We do this to deliver the meat fresher than fresh to you. For the delivery itself, your ordered meat is gathered together in our freezer and prepared for shipping. For evening delivery, this means that the order is packed in an insulation bag with scoops of dry ice and a box. For day delivery, the order is only placed in a box. This is because day delivery is handled by conditioned transport, a freezer truck! Want to read more about why our meat is delivered QuickFrozen? Read on..

Ordering Tenderloin Steak Online

Ordering tenderloin steak online is thus a breeze. Did you know that delivery is already free from €75? So feel free to add more to your shopping cart. It is always handy to have a pound of ground meat, chicken fillets, or burgers in the freezer. If you order before 11 AM on weekdays, your order will already be at home the same evening. Super fast, indeed!