There are many different cuts of steak, and it can be hard to decide which one you should serve your guests or even just yourself! Some of these cuts are incredibly lean and tough, like sirloin steak, while some are very fatty and soft, like prime rib. They carry different flavors and can be grilled in various ways to best serve your flavors. Let’s take a look at two very popular cuts: prime rib and sirloin steak.
Prime Rib
Prime rib is a cut of meat that comes from a cow. It is also known as a standing rib roast or a “beef bone-in rib roast.” You may need to use one of its alternative names to find the cut you want at the grocery store.
It is a cut from the rib meat and can contain anywhere from two to seven ribs. Prime rib includes the eye of the rib as well as the outer fatty area too.
As far as expenses go, prime rib is typically less than twenty dollars, but sitting on the higher price point. It will cost more if the butcher has dry-aged it.
How Is Prime Rib Cooked?
In most cases, prime rib is rubbed with seasonings, usually salt and pepper on the outsides. You can slow roast it with dry heat or throw it on the Pit Boss grill and sear the sides until it is finished.
Whichever way you cook it, be sure to use a meat thermometer and cook it thoroughly to the recommended temperature for your preferred level of doneness. This is the steak people choose for the “steak” flavor they crave.
Prime rib is going to take the longest to cook, especially if you decide to roast it. If you are going to roast it, you can estimate about fifteen minutes per pound.
You are often looking at a couple of hours of cooking it in the oven if you go this route. It also needs to sit out for a few hours to ensure the entire prime rib comes to room temperature before you start cooking it.
Once it has been cooked, you need to store it properly in the refrigerator. In the refrigerator, it will last a few days before you need to throw it out. And in the freezer, if stored properly, it will last a couple of months.
Sirloin Steak
Sirloin steak is cut from the rear of the cow. The sirloin steak can actually be two different kinds of steak.
It can be the top sirloin or bottom sirloin. Usually, when you buy a sirloin steak from the grocery store, you get the bottom cut. The bottom sirloin steak is less tender but usually larger than the top sirloin steak. The top sirloin steak is actually called Top Sirloin and is more tender than the bottom.
In terms of price, sirloin steak is one of the cheaper cuts, even if you get a top sirloin steak. You still get a ton of flavor for the cut of the meat, and you get a good amount of steak for your buck. You are looking at less than ten dollars per pound for sirloin steak, which will be cheaper than prime rib while still giving you lots of flavor!
How Is Sirloin Steak Cooked?
Sirloin steak can be cooked in a few different ways. The most popular way is to throw it on the pellet grill and sear it up. You sear each side and then let it rest until it has reached the desired temperature of your preferred doneness.
In addition to searing it on the grill, you can on top of the stove. You can even broil it in the oven. However, you cook it, use the meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked thoroughly.
Sirloin steak takes anywhere from a minute and a half to five minutes on each side depending on your preferred level of doneness. It needs to be brought to room temperature before you cook it and then needs to be stored properly after cooking it. It will last three to four days in the refrigerator and a couple of months in the freezer if stored properly.
Prime Rib Vs. Sirloin Steak
So, which steak should you choose? Prime Rib or Sirloin Steak? Prime rib is a fattier cut than sirloin steak. Sirloin steak, whether you get top sirloin steak or bottom sirloin steak, is going to be a leaner cut.
Since prime rib is fattier, it can be a little bit easier to grill on the Pit Boss grill. If you are new to cooking steak, this cut will be a little more forgiving if you make a mistake. It will be juicier, and because the meat is more marbled, it will be more flavorful as well.
On the other hand, sirloin steaks are tougher to cook. They are leaner and don’t contain as much fat, which means there is less room for error while grilling.
This also means that if you overcook it, the steak will be quite tough and possibly chewy. Sirloin steak needs an excellent seasoning to add flavor since it is less fatty.
However, sirloin steak is an excellent choice for those who don’t like the fatty taste of the meat or who will cut around the fat. More of the steak will be eaten with sirloin steak rather than cut off and pushed to the side. Sirloin steak also has more ways to cook it, allowing for people who don’t have grills to cook it.
When thinking about what kind of steak to purchase for your dinner, think about your price point as well as how you want to prepare it. Do you want to spend time seasoning it?
Do you want the flavor of a fatty steak or a leaner steak? Whichever steak you choose and whichever method you decide on to prepare the steak, use the meat thermometer and make sure it’s cooked all the way.
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