The Tender Filet Mignon Steak
Filet mignon is considered one of the tenderest cuts of steak. In fact, some filet mignon steaks can be cut with a fork when cooked to the exact doneness.
The filet mignon is one of the most expensive cuts of steak to order in a restaurant, but it can be made for a more reasonable price at home. There are many ways to purchase cuts of filet mignon steak. You can purchase them in a store or you can order them online and have them shipped to your home.
The phrase filet mignon is a French phrase, with the word filet meaning "thick slice" and the word mignon meaning “dainty”. Filet mignon comes from the small end of the tenderloin cut of steak, called the short loin, and is found on the back of the rib cage of the beef (or other) animal. The reason why cuts of filet mignon steak are so tender is because this is the least used muscle of the entire animal that this cut of steak is taken from.
Typical portions of filet mignon steak sold in the market are usually measured one to two inches thick and are 3 inches in diameter. However, the most authentic cuts of filet mignon are the ones that are only one inch in diameter.
Although this cut of beef is very tender, it is served usually with a sauce or gravy that is often made from the pan drippings of the piece of meat as it is being cooked. Either that or seasonings are added to add taste to it.
In order to get the best price of filet mignon, a shopper will purchase the cut of steak that includes the porterhouse steak and the filet mignon steak which is attached to the porterhouse cut of steak. The filet mignons can be removed from the porterhouse cuts of steak and be set aside for a special meal, and the section left-the T-bone cut- can be prepared right away. Usually the T-bone, which one half of the porterhouse/filet mignon sections of steak, is a little tougher than the filet mignon cut but it is tastier and does not need as much flavoring added to it when cooking it.
Another way to save money on the purchase of filet mignon steaks is to buy an entire loin cut of beef, and then cut it into filet mignon steaks yourself. The larger end of the loin that you can buy can be used for a roast and the smaller end can be used for filet steak dinners. Furthermore, you can control the thickness into which your filet mignon steak pieces are cut.
If you do not want to use all the pieces of the loin that you have purchased, including some of the pieces of filet mignon steak you can wrap them in air-tight sealed storage bags and put them in you freezer.
In order to properly cook your filet mignon steak pieces, you should never cook it beyond a medium-rare stage. The longer you cook it the dryer it will become. Broiling, roasting, pan frying or grilling are the best methods of cooking this cut of meat. Furthermore, to check doneness you should use the touch method rather that cutting the meat open. If you touch it and the meat springs back slightly, you know it is done. Then it is time to eat!