Beef Tenderloin Whole Cut

What is Whole Beef Tenderloin?

You have probably heard of beef tenderloin, tournedos, or chateaubriand. In the cow, there are several long back muscles that run from the shoulder to the loin. The beef tenderloin is located near the loin, on the inside of the muscle, close to the ribeye and the sirloin. When the beef tenderloin is cut from the cow, you're not done yet. There are still various membranes and other parts attached to the muscle. These are carefully trimmed off. Then, a portion of the beef tenderloin is sliced into 'whole beef tenderloin,' 'chateaubriands,' or 'tournedos.' The parts that are less suitable for chateaubriand or whole beef tenderloin, because the piece would no longer be uniform in thickness, are used for beef tiplets or beef tenderloin skewers. Nothing goes to waste! Thus, beef tenderloin is essentially the same as chateaubriand or tournedos, only larger/longer.

Why the Name Beef Tenderloin?

The name "beef tenderloin" implies that the tenderloin is only cut from an ox (a castrated bull). The name originates from the past, as beef tenderloin (and also oxtail) were only cut from oxen. This is no longer the case, but the name has stuck. Perhaps 'beef tenderloin' would be a better/correcter name today. Nevertheless, it's nice to have a piece of history in a meat name. The 'tenderloin' in beef tenderloin refers to the most tender muscle in the cow. You can also find this tenderloin in other types of meat, such as pork tenderloin or chicken tenderloins.

What is the Difference Between Tournedos and Beef Tenderloin?

In terms of meat type, there is no difference between tournedos and beef tenderloin. The tournedos is sliced from the beef tenderloin. The difference lies in the naming. The tournedos is a specific cut of the beef tenderloin, just like the chateaubriand.

Why is Beef Tenderloin So Tender?

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

How to Prepare Whole Beef Tenderloin?

If you want to prepare a whole beef tenderloin, it is first important to have a piece that is uniform in thickness throughout to ensure even cooking. Since we handle the cutting, portioning, and packaging ourselves at The Butchery, we select and only offer the finest whole beef tenderloins with uniform thickness online. If there is a variation in thickness, it can be corrected by tying the beef tenderloin, ensuring it is evenly thick throughout. You can do this with, for example, roulade twine. This is generally only necessary for a 'whole beef tenderloin' and not for a specially sliced 'beef tenderloin.'

Okay, now you have a beef tenderloin that is uniform in thickness. Season the beef tenderloin with pepper and salt or with your choice of herbs. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius and start searing the beef tenderloin in a pan. Brown it nicely all around? Great! You can now place it in the oven. Put the beef tenderloin in a baking dish or roasting tray and pour the cooking fat over it. Let the beef tenderloin stay in the oven until it reaches a core temperature of 45 to 47 degrees Celsius. Let it rest for another 10 minutes before slicing. Enjoy your meal!

Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio

Carpaccio is incredibly popular and found on many restaurant menus. But from which part is carpaccio sliced? In principle, carpaccio can be sliced from several beef cuts, such as the sirloin tip or other tender parts. The softer the meat, the better. Beef tenderloin is therefore perfect for carpaccio!

Beef Tenderloin from Premium Meat Breeds

Beef tenderloin from premium meat breeds can be found at The Butchery! Compared to a ribeye, the difference in marbling is immediately noticeable. Since marbling is also a flavor carrier, you can imagine that a beef tenderloin has a less intense flavor than a ribeye. Fortunately, not all beef tenderloins are the same. There is a world of difference in marbling when you compare the beef tenderloin from the Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle with the Japanese Wagyu A5. Moreover, you don't have to dig deep into your wallet if you want a slightly marbled beef tenderloin, as there is always a middle ground. Take a look around our grain-fed breeds.

Which Wine to Pair with Beef Tenderloin?

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

Buy Whole Beef Tenderloin Online

Buying beef tenderloin online is actually even easier than at your local butcher. Why, you might ask? The local butcher often only has one type of beef tenderloin in stock. With us, you have more options. Prefer grass-fed cattle? You can! Or a beautifully marbled grain-fed beef tenderloin. The choice is yours. When you buy online at Butchery, you are assured that the animals have had a good life. Our meat breeds are selected based on this, as we value it alongside taste.

Quickfrozen Beef Tenderloin Delivered

When you order beef tenderloin online, it is frozen and delivered to your home to ensure maximum freshness. For delivery itself, your ordered meat is gathered from our freezer and prepared for shipping. For evening delivery, the order is packed in an insulation bag with 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 more here.

Order Whole Beef Tenderloin Online

Ordering whole beef tenderloin online is a breeze. Did you know that delivery is free from €75 onwards? So feel free to add more items to your shopping cart. It's always handy to have a pound of ground meat, chicken breasts, or homemade burgers in the freezer. If you order before 11:00 on weekdays, you will have your order at home the same evening. Super fast!