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In my quest to master the world of steaks and all the different cuts, I am always keep my eyes peeled for cuts that I have not talked about on this blog before.
A last night journey into my local Meijer store, I spotted the Top Sirloin Filet steak. The package came with two steaks on sale for $4.99/pound. I snatched those puppies up and toss them in the freezer until I was ready to use them.
In our house I like to save the steaks dinner for later in the evening when the kids are in bed and my wife and I can just enjoy without interruption. Trying to perfectly cook a steak with screaming kids all around you is one of life's greatest challenges!
What is a Top Sirloin Filet Steak?
Most people are familiar with the Top Sirloin - a long, tasty steak, that can be found at most steakhouses. It's one of my favorite steaks to toss under the broiler.
Sirloin comes from the Short Loin of the cow, which is located toward the middle of the cow's back. It's the part of the cow where we get tenderloins, ribeyes, porterhouses, and t-bones.
The Top Sirloin Filet steak is a cut of the leanest, most tender part of the top sirloin. It is boneless and similar in appearance to a filet mignon without the hefty price tag. It has the flavor you would expect from a top sirloin.
How to Choose a Top Sirloin Filet Steak
The key thing to picking a good steak is look for good streaks of fat in the middle. This is a leaner cut but that doesn't mean it's devoid of all fat. Choose steaks with nice steaks in the middle.
If the steaks come in a package of two, try to pick ones that are the same size for even cooking.
Watch out for sales on top sirloin as you might be able to find the top sirloin filet on sale at the same time too as I did.
Cast iron gets nice and hot and distributes the heat well for nice browning on the steaks.
How to Cook Top Sirloin Filet Steaks
The best way to cook this steak is to take a two cooking method approach. You want to get a great sear on the steak but you don't want to burn it before the inside is cooked. Top Sirloin filet steaks are on the thick side.
What I recommend doing is performing a quick sear in a cast iron pan or any heavy bottom pan that is oven safe, then finishing it in the oven.
I used a Lodge Cast Iron Griddle, when I last cooked these steaks and it did a wonderful job. I first saw this method performed by Robert Irvine on Food Network's Restaurant Impossible. By finishing it in a hot oven you can finish the inside without burning the outside.
Need more help figuring out what different cuts of beef are good for? Check out the entire collection of posts on the different beef cuts and how to cook them.
Best Cast Iron to Cook a Steak On
Of course cooking a steak on a grill outdoors is a special thing. Sometimes the weather won't allow for that. So when cooking a steak indoors I always do it on cast iron.
I always recommend the american company Lodge for their cast iron. High quality, American made, and won't break the bank.
Here are 3 different options of cast iron to cook your steak on.
- Griddle - For small steaks like these ones, a grill works perfectly fine. A grill is always the perfect vessels for hamburgers. Both steaks and burgers are easy to flip on a griddle because the sides are so shallow.
- Skillet - A skillet will have high sides. Good for making cornbread in. And can be do a steak proud as well. Not as easy to flip as in a griddle but a skillet is more versatile.
- Grill Pan - If you want those nice grill marks turn to a grill pan. They have ridges that will give you that very appetizing looking grilled appearance.
Seared Top Sirloin Filet Steaks
Ingredients
- 2 Top Sirloin Filet steaks
- high heat cooking oil I like sunflower or grape seed
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place your steaks on a plate and liberally season with kosher salt. Allow them to come up to room temperature before cooking, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 500 degrees.
- Coat a cast iron skillet or oven safe pan with a coat of oil. Place over high heat. When hot, place the steaks on leaving room between them.
- Sear for 2 minutes, then flip and sear for another minute.
- Immediately place into the oven. Allow 3 to 5 minutes for the steak to finish or until they an internal temperature of 5 degrees below your final temperature (120 for rare, 130 for medium rare, 140 for medium, 150 for medium well and 160 for well done).
- Allow the steak to rest on a plate for 5 minutes before cutting.
I was looking for a way to cook a top sirloin filet and foung your blog. I like how you explain what the cut is and what to look for when purchasing and best ways to cook it. Great job!
Thanks,
Erik
Came out perfectly! Thanks for the recipe.
I am glad to hear it. Thanks for the feedback.
This is exactly what I was looking for. My husband says my oven steaks come out rubbery, so I knew I needed to do something differently. I just didn't know what. I'm trying this out tonight!
Glad I could help.
I would love to hear your results.
Is there a good way to use this steak in "Sheet Pan Sesame Beef" oven-cooked broccoli and beef ? I got the meat on sale and need to use it soon.
Thanks!!
Chris
I haven't cooked sheet pan beef before, but I would say top sirloin filet would work perfectly fine for this. I would cut it into 2 inch pieces and add your other ingredients as planned.
I used this method to cook a top sirloin steak for my husband (instead of my usual broiling) and he said it was the best steak he has ever eaten! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Wonderful. I am so glad to hear that. Thanks for sharing with me!
Pro-tip... put a pat or 2 of real butter on top before tossing in the 500º oven... trust me on this!
Can't go wrong with butter!
Perfect! Loved it, thank you so much. Does a difference in thickness affect the oven time?
Yes, the thicknesss does it matter. The thicker it is, the longer it takes.
I tried this tonight with the pat of butter on top and grilled onions and this was delicious. Thanks.
Good call on the butter and onions. I got to try that myself.
Just tried it with butter...AWESOME! perfect recipe to make this delicious
Awesome. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
As the others said... perfect, and I am about to enjoy a perfect Work from Home Quarantine lunch with broccolli, homemade fried rice and a perfect medium rare top sirloin filet steak, thanks to you, my friend. Thank you1
You are welcome!