Cooking a perfect filet mignon is an art that many believe is best left to professional kitchens. However, with the right techniques, you can recreate that luxurious dining experience at home. Restaurant chefs use specific methods to ensure their steaks are tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The great news is, you too can master these approaches! Here, we’ll share five expert tricks to elevate your filet mignon game and impress at your next dinner. Let’s start!
Choose High-Quality Meat
The foundation of a perfect filet mignon is, of course, the meat itself. Start with the best cut you can find. Filet mignon is known for its velvety texture and delicate flavor, but not all cuts are created equal. The secret lies in sourcing premium-quality beef.
Opt for Wagyu filet mignon like those offered by Booth Creek Wagyu. Known for its exceptional marbling and buttery texture, wagyu beef elevates the filet mignon to new levels of decadence. The superior quality of the meat ensures that even the simplest preparations result in an unforgettable dish. Plus, the tenderness of the meat means you don’t need to marinate it.
Bring the Meat to Room Temperature
One of the most overlooked techniques for achieving restaurant-quality steak at home is letting the meat rest at room temperature before cooking. Cold meat straight from the fridge cooks unevenly, leading to overdone edges and an undercooked center.
Allow your filet mignon to sit out for about 30 minutes before it hits the pan. This simple trick ensures a more evenly cooked steak and enhances its tenderness by promoting a more consistent sear.
Season Simply But Generously
Restaurants follow the golden rule of seasoning steaks the right way. Filet mignon, with its tender and flavorful profile, is best seasoned simply with coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
Don’t shy away from seasoning generously, as the salt not only enhances flavor but also helps form that signature crust when cooking. Add your seasoning right before it goes into the pan to avoid drawing out too much moisture. With Wagyu steak, seasoning should complement the natural richness of the meat without overpowering it.
Use High Heat for a Perfect Sear
Achieving that beautiful crust on the outside while maintaining a juicy, tender center is key to a perfectly cooked filet mignon. For this, high heat is essential. Preheat a heavy-duty cast iron skillet or stainless steel pan until it’s smoking hot. Add a high smoke point oil, like avocado oil, to prevent burning.
Place the filet mignon in the pan and avoid moving it too soon. This step ensures a restaurant-style caramelization that enhances flavor and texture. For thicker cuts, finish the steak in a preheated oven to allow the inside to reach your desired doneness.
Rest the Steak Before Serving
Professional chefs will always tell you this step is non-negotiable. Resting your steak after cooking allows the natural juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every bite is as juicy as the last.
Transfer your filet mignon to a cutting board, cover it loosely with foil, and rest for five to ten minutes. Skipping this step can result in the precious juices escaping onto the plate when cut. The result? A steak bursting with flavor and moisture, just like what you’d get at a high-end restaurant.
Cooking filet mignon at home doesn’t have to feel intimidating. These expert tips will help you replicate the restaurant experience in your own kitchen. It’s time to experiment with these techniques and take your steak game to the next level. Try them out, and enjoy a dining experience that rivals any steakhouse!
