Having leftover tri-tip lets you create additional meals and enjoy a mouthwatering dinner one more time; however, what is the best way to warm up tri-tip without overcooking them or drying them out?
There are several methods to warm up tri-tip while retaining its moisture, including grilling, pan-searing, slow cooker, and oven.
Quick Navigation
What is a tri-tip steak?
A tri-tip is a triangular-shaped cut of beef from the bottom of the sirloin. This cut of meat gets its name from the triangle tapering tip. Tri-tip is one of the most flavorful, juicy, and tender cuts of beef and is often cooked medium-rare.
Is tri-tip steak similar to brisket?
Tri-tip steak is not the same as a brisket, which is from below the chuck on the front side of the cow’s back. Instead, tri-tip comes from the sirloin part of the cow and was initially used for hamburgers, also known as Hamburg steaks.
Is tri-tip a good cut of meat?
Tri-cut is a very lean cut of meat, which has a rich beef taste with a soft texture. Additionally, this cut of meat is very nutritious and works in several types of meals similar to the sirloin tip roast from the same area.
How do you reheat the tri-tip without drying it out?
When reheating tri-tip in the microwave, it is best to use the defrost or reheat settings. Both will warm up the meat without overcooking it or drying it out. Additionally, cutting the meat into smaller pieces before reheating will help the meat warm up faster, reducing the chances of drying out.
How do you reheat meat in the oven without drying it out?
Reheating tri-tip in the oven is one of the best ways to prevent it from drying out. Set the meat on a wire roasting rack, set it on a cookie sheet or oven pan, and preheat it to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. When the oven is thoroughly heated, place tri-tip steak in the oven.
Depending on the meat’s thickness, it should only take about 20 to 30 minutes to reheat thoroughly. The inside temperature of the meat should be between 100 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
When done reheating, remove the tri-tip from the oven and serve with a gravy or steak sauce to add additional moisture.
How do you reheat leftover tri-tip on the stovetop?
Reheating tri-tip meat on the stovetop is another method to warm up leftovers without drying them out. Place the beef in the saucepan with a teaspoon of butter or olive oil and set heat to medium. Place the lid on the pan and reheat the steak until it is to your desired temperature.
How do you cook pre-cooked tri-tip?
If frozen, let the pre-cooked tri-tip thaw in the refrigerator overnight and remove if needed about an hour before cooking. To cook the tri-tip, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking sheet with a raised edge lined with aluminum foil and sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
Set the meat on the baking tray and set it in the thoroughly heated oven. It should take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to cook thoroughly. For rare, the internal temperature should be 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and for medium-rare, the internal temperature should be 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the tri-tip from the oven, and set out for five minutes. Thinly slice the meat across the grain and serve.
What are some additional methods for cooking tri-tip?
Though the most popular methods to cook tri-tip are on the grill, on the stovetop, or in the oven, it is possible to cook your tri-tip in a slow cooker, air fryer, or other methods.
How do I cook or reheat tri-tip in a slow cooker?
Using a slow cooker requires using a liquid, such as water, broth, or gravy, which can help keep the tri-tip moist. Set the meat in the slow cooker and add desired amounts of water, gravy, sauce, or broth. Cook on low until the meat reaches the desired temperature of approximately 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
If reheating the tri-cut beef, set the slow cooker to warm and let sit for about two to three hours. When done, serve as desired.
How do I reheat tri-tip using an air fryer?
An air fryer offers a quick, time-saving method to reheat leftover tri-tip and is preferred by many when compared to reheating it in the microwave.
Turn the air fryer on and set it to 370 degrees Fahrenheit and place the meat on the dish in the fryer. Reheat the beef for approximately three minutes, then check to ensure it is hot enough.
How do I reheat tri-tip sous-vide style?
Sous vide is a method of preparing meat by sealing the meat and ingredients in a vacuum food bag, then reheating it by cooking it in water.
To reheat the tri-tip using this method, seal the food in a bag and remove all the air inside. Next, fill a stockpot half full with water and set it over medium heat on the stove.
Place sealed tri-tip leftovers in the pot and reheat for about 40 to 50 minutes.
How do you keep tri-tip moist?
Keeping tri-tip moist is essentially to ensure the meat is flavorful and delicious. Dry-brining is one method of cooking to help keep the meat moist. The use of salt can make the meat dry and add moisture to it; however, it is all about the timing.
The salt during dry-brining pulls the moisture in the meat outward, creating tiny beads on the meat. Then, that moisture mixes with the salt to form a brine-like liquid, which gets diffused into the meat. This process may take longer than desired, but the optimal moisture occurs between 12 and 24 hours after salting.
How do I dry-brine tri-tip?
Season your tri-tip liberally with kosher salt and set it on a wire rack on a tray or plate. Place the meat in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. When ready to cook, remove meat from the fridge and let sit at room temperature until the oven heats to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
As the oven heats up, heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil in an ovenproof skillet on high heat over the stovetop.
Use fresh ground black pepper to season the meat before setting it fat side down in the skillet. Sear the tri-tip for approximately four minutes, then turn it over.
Place the skillet with the beef in the oven to roast for about 15 to 20 minutes. For medium-rare, the roast’s internal temperature should be 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove from the oven, cover loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil, and let stand for about ten minutes. When ready, use a long, non-serrated knife to slice the meat across the grain into ¼-inch-thick slices and serve.
What is an excellent marinade to use and keep my tri-tip moist?
Using a marinade can help introduce additional moisture to the tri-tip meat. A simple and quality marinade can be made using a combination of spices that should already be in your pantry.
Mix all spices together to your preferred taste – garlic salt, kosher salt, seasoning salt, pepper, sugar, parsley, and garlic powder.
Rub the spice mixture liberally with your hands over the tri-tip meat, then place in a large zip-locking bag with a ¼ cup of olive oil.
Seal the bag and massage the oil into the seasoned beef. Marinate in the refrigerator for about eight hours. Then cook as desired.
How long and at what temperature should you cook tri-tip?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests the safe temperature for cooking beef is 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
With tri-tip, it is possible to cook the meat to an internal temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit for rare; 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare; 135-140 degrees Fahrenheit for medium; and 145 degrees Fahrenheit for well-done.
How long does it take to reverse sear tri-tip?
Reverse searing tri-tip typically takes about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the cut. This method of cooking the meat allows it to cook slowly, allowing it to retain most of its natural moisture.
As a result, when fully cooked, the beef will be more tender and juicier than it would be if it were simply seared.
Allow the meat to come to room temperature and season well with desired spices and seasonings to reverse sear tri-tip.
Heat the grill to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the tri-tip away from the grill flames until the internal temperature is 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the meat is cooked to the desired internal temperature, please remove it from the grill and turn the heat to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sear the cooked tri-tip for five minutes on each side. Then let rest for five to ten minutes before slicing the meat against the grain and serving.
Do you cook a tri-tip fat side up or down?
When cooking tri-tip, it is best to have the meat trimmed of most of the fat; however, if there is untrimmed fat on one or both sides of the meat, the placement of the fat depends on the method of cooking it.
For grilling, it is best to have as little fat as possible, but if there is fat, start cooking the meat with the fat side up and regularly flip the meat, evenly cooking both sides. For baking in the oven, place the meat on the tray fat-side up to allow the fat juices to moisten the meat as it cooks.
Do you have to trim the tri-tip fat cap to use it?
The fat cap is an additional layer of fat on one side of the meat, typically about ½-inch thick. The butcher will often remove the fat cap before packaging the meat for sale. However, this part of the cut is vital to helping provide the meat with extra flavor and moisture.
When purchasing tri-tip, ask the butcher to cut it while leaving the fat cap attached.
Should you wrap the tri-tip in foil?
Though not required to cook tri-tip, adequately covering the meat with aluminum foil can help keep it moist. Using foil is typically used when cooking tri-tip in the oven, but wrapping the meat in foil can help preserve a lot of the moisture when roasting for an extended time.
However, if planning on grilling the tri-tip, it is not recommended to cover it with foil. Covering with foil can prove the crispy, smoky edges desired in grilled tri-tip. If covering when grilling, remove the foil for the last few minutes of cooking to allow the edges to crisp up.
When you put the tri-tip in the oven, do you cover it?
Cover the tri-tip with foil for the best moisture results when cooking it in the oven. Though it is not necessary, it does help the meat retain most of its natural moisture.
How do you slice a tri-tip roast?
For best results, cut a tri-tip roast perpendicular to the lines to see in the meat using a non-serrated kitchen knife. Cutting the meat this way is referred to as cutting the meat against the grain.
The tricky part is tri-tip roasts have grain lines that go in two different directions. So it is best to cut the meat in half at the grain intersection point, then cut each half against the grain.
Can tri-tip beef be used for making a stew?
Tri-tip beef is very flavorful and helps add a lot of flavor to other dishes, such as stews and stir fry. To use in a stew, cut the meat into medium-sized cubes and sear the steak in olive oil in a frying pan. Add the beef to the stew or other dish when there is an even color.
What can I serve with my tri-tip entree?
Tri-tip can be served with various sides, which help enhance the entire dining experience. Some popular items served with tri-tip include:
- Pasta salad
- Baked or mashed potatoes
- Grilled corn
- Grilled garlic flatbread
- Couscous
- Twice-baked potatoes
- Spinach
- Baked broccoli
- House salad
- Caesar salad
- Stir-fry vegetables