Navigating the world of steaks as a health-conscious carnivore has taught me the importance of understanding the fat content in various cuts. While fat adds flavor, it also impacts nutritional values, which is why I decided to delve deeper into the subject.
To bolster my expertise, I consulted with a local butcher and a dietician friend, gathering insights on which beef cuts rank highest in fat content.
Today I'll share this valuable information, offering a comprehensive guide on the fattiest cuts of beef you can purchase. If you're looking to strike the right balance between flavor and health, this is information you won't want to miss.
Quick Summary
- The fattiest cut of steak is the rib-eye, known for its significant marbling and rich taste, which contributes to its tenderness and juiciness.
- Other fatty steak cuts include the New York Strip, T-bone, Filet Mignon, Flap Steak, and Skirt Steak, each with unique characteristics and levels of marbling.
- The cooking method for fatty steak cuts depends on the thickness of the cut, with grilling or smoking recommended for thicker cuts and quick searing for thinner ones.
What Is The Fattiest Cut of Steak?
Rib eye steak is the fattiest cut of steak available and is one of the most preferred.
There are several things to consider when choosing a beef cut for the ideal steak, but you cannot overlook the fat level among all the aspects to consider.
Whether you like it or detest it, the marbling and fattiness of a round steak cut are essential to the texture and taste of the ideal steak.
If you cannot easily access quality steaks, you can purchase one from our best-reviewed meat delivery services.
For a valid reason, steak is among the foods associated with upscale dinners and special events.
Steaks, irrespective of cut, have a distinctly delicious taste.
I find the fatty cuts of steak to be much more tender, but lean meat, such as flank steak, is always rich in flavor while being lower in calories.
Both the leanest and fattiest cuts are high in nutrients that our systems require, such as iron, B12, selenium, zinc, and B6 [1].
The quantity of fat for each cut differs from 10 to 40 grams.
"Ribeye steaks have plenty of fat and are also a very forgiving steak. The ribeye meat is so tender that you don't have to focus on slicing it the correct way."
- Mark Dommen, CEO, One Market Restaurant
A steak's fatness and softness are affected by various factors, such as the age of the cattle, the section of the cow taken for the steak, and the quantity of muscle and connective tissues within the cut.
A fatty steak, for instance, is more flavorful and marbled compared to a less fatty steak.
Also Read: Leanest Cuts of Steak
6 Types of Fatty Steaks
Below is the list of the fattiest cuts of steak.
1. The Ribeye Steak
A rib-eye steak, also called a rib roast or prime rib steak, is obtained from the cow's rib and is made up of the same muscle as the New York Strip.
Rib-eye steaks are popular due to their juicy mouthfeel and rich taste, resulting from their significant marbling.
The substantial fat layers all through the cut keep it tender and juicy, whether you slow-roast it in the oven or grill it on the cooktop.
Also Read: How to Grill Ribeye Steak?
2. New York Strip Steak
The meat is found underneath the cow's prime rib and thus is composed of inactive muscles, making it incredibly fatty and soft.
The intramuscular fat level of New York Strip Loin steak is also rather high.
It isn’t a very marbled cut like ribeye and T-bone steak, but it’s still juicy and tasty.
The average New York Strip steak contains 360 kcal, 18 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fats, and 49.4 grams of protein [2].
3. T-bone Steak
T-bone steak is the next delicious steak on the list.
It is also known as Porterhouse steak and is effectively two cuts in one since it is chopped from a cross-section of the cow's short loin.
This signifies that Porterhouse steaks have a New York strip on a single side and a tenderloin on the other.
This has always been an excellent mix to me, and both pieces have enough marbled fat to maintain their juicy flavor.
4. Filet Mignon
This boneless steak is obtained from the short loin and sirloin tip of a cow's ribcage.
When prepared, the cut is perfectly cooked slab and juicy because of its slight and fine-grained texture.
Filet mignon is normally sliced the thickest because it is smaller than other steaks.
I sear filet mignon steak entirely until browned due to its size before I finalize its cooking in the oven.
I do this to ensure that heat reaches the interior layers to avoid an undercooked steak.
Also Read: How Much Protein Is in Filet Mignon?
5. Flap Steak
Flap meat is obtained from the flank just below the cow's sirloin tip side steak.
Flap steak, unlike Flank Meat, has a flexible, gritty, marinade-absorbing texture with plenty of connective tissue and fat to maintain its moisture if not overcooked.
6. Skirt Steak
The skirt is yet another fatty cut with a lot of marbling.
This is similarly a thin cut of beef that thrives from a fast sear instead of a long, slow simmer.
I often trim the skirt's fat, thus making it a little healthier.
Best Cooking Methods for a Fatty Steak Cut
The technique of cooking will be determined by the cut of the steak you are dealing with.
I usually grill any cut of steak that is one inch thick or greater or smoke it according to the thumb rule.
I usually sear the steak quickly on a cast-iron skillet or over a griddle for thinner pieces.
And for the fatty roasts, I slow roast or braise the steak.
Generally, the more you cook your fatty steaks, the more fat comes off, resulting in a thinner and more delicious cut.
The key is to prevent overcooking, which would result in dry, hard, and flavorless meat.
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FAQs
What Has More Fat Sirloin or NY Strip?
NY strip has more fat than sirloin.
Does Ribeye Have A Lot Of Fat?
Yes, ribeye has a lot of fat, whereas a single serving of ribeye steak has 10.8 g of fat.
Which Meat Has Highest Fats?
The meat that has the highest fats is lamb meat. Ribeye, T-bones, and New York Strip are fattier cuts of beef than sirloin, ground beef, and flank meat.
Does Steak Have Unsaturated Fat?
Yes, steak has unsaturated fat. In fact, it has more unsaturated than saturated fat, meaning it’s ideal if you want to lose weight.
Is Steak High in Saturated Fat?
Yes, steak is high in saturated fat, just like other red meats, including pork and lamb.
What's the Best Steak to Eat on a Keto Diet?
The best steak to eat on a keto diet includes rib-eye, chuck, strip and skirt steak.
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/beef#vitamins-and-minerals
- https://carnivorestyle.com/how-many-calories-in-new-york-strip-steak/
