5 Baseball Steak Facts You Need To Know For The Best Flavor
Baseball steak, a flavorful alternative to filet mignon, is lean, tender, and easy to cook using grilling or searing methods for a delicious result.
Baseball steak might be the solution to all your steak-searching problems. It resembles filet mignon but has an even more robust flavor and costs way less than the filet. Baseball steak is tender and juicy when cooked properly.
You can either grill the steaks or sear and roast them. Both techniques, when done well, will give you your desired result. So, what is a baseball steak? Read on to find out more about it.
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What Is a Baseball Steak?
Baseball steak, also known as baseball top sirloin, is a type of steak cut from the center of the top sirloin. It gets its name from the shape of the meat. It resembles the form of a baseball. Baseball steak is lean, thick, and often very flavorful. Although it’s rare to find it in a typical grocer, you can request it from your local butcher.
Baseball steak is often mistaken for filet mignon. However, the difference is in the price and the flavor. The baseball steak is less pricey and has a richer beefy flavor. When cooked correctly, it’s tender and quickly melts in your mouth.
Why Call it Baseball?
The origin of the name baseball steak is quite unclear. However, it’s not new to steakhouses. The term baseball refers to the steak’s thick round shape. It’s typically cut at least 1.5 inches wide. When cooked, it puffs up in the center, giving it a rounded shape. This makes it a more baseball-like figure when cooked.
Baseball Steak vs Filet Mignon
A lot of people ask, is baseball steak the same as filet mignon? The answer is no. Although they look similar, baseball steak is not a filet mignon. The baseball steak comes from the sirloin area of a cow. The sirloin area is the top of the cow’s back. It’s the right balance of tenderness and flavor and often doesn’t have much fat.
Filet mignon, on the other hand, refers to meat cut from the smaller end of the tenderloin. The tenderloin runs along both sides of the spine. Filet mignon is more expensive than baseball steak. This is due to its prized texture. It’s also expensive because it is only 2% of the animal and is therefore rare.
How To Cook the Best Basketball Steak
Baseball steak is generally thick and cooking it might be challenging. However, with the right cooking skill and technique, you will have a juicy, tender, well-cooked result. You need to be patient while cooking it since it takes a bit of time before it can fully cook through. The first tip when cooking this steak is to remove it from the refrigerator to cool. This is to ensure the meat fibers relax before you can expose them to higher temperatures.
There are two recommended methods of cooking baseball steak. They include:
Grilling
Heat your grill to a medium-high of about 550F. Brush your steak lightly using either olive or grapeseed oil. Now, you can season with salt, pepper, and any other seasoning you choose. Place the basketball steak on the grill for three to four minutes.
It would help if you then lowered the temperature to a medium-low of about 440F. Leave the steak on for another four to five minutes. It’s advisable to lift and rotate the steaks at 90 degrees. The lifting and rotating give them the nice, charred cross-hatching on the outside. Grill the steaks for six to eight minutes or until your preferred doneness.
Covering your grill while cooking is essential. However, ensure that you keep a close eye on it. If you notice that the grill is too hot, lower the temperature and move the steaks away from the flames.
Sear and Roast
Preheat your oven to about 400F. Season your steak with your preferred seasoning. Heat two tablespoons of either olive or grapeseed oil on medium heat. Use an oven-proof skillet for the best results. Ensure you heat your oil until almost smoking.
Sear your steaks for about one minute on both sides until they are nicely browned. You can then transfer your skillet to the preheated oven. Roast the baseball steak for four to six minutes. This timing is if you want to achieve medium-rare meat.
Always let your meat rest for five to ten minutes before you serve. Letting it rest ensures you maintain the juicy, savory flavors in the meat before you cut it.
How To Choose the Best Cut of Baseball Steak
When purchasing this type of steak, there are some tips you must look out for. Some include:
- Thickness: It’s advisable to pick cuts that are at least two inches thick. This thickness ensures they cook perfectly on the grill.
- Color hue: Baseball steaks either come in a purple or red hue. Avoid cuts with purple to them. Instead, opt for ones with a red hue.
