Foolproof Beef Tenderloin Recipe - Lydi Out Loud (2024)

FAQs

What cooking method is best for beef tenderloin? ›

Place the tenderloin into the oven and allow it to cook until it reaches your desired internal temperature. For rare, this is approximately 130 F, or 50 minutes in the oven. Once the beef tenderloin is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for 10 minutes. Then, slice the beef tenderloin, serve, and enjoy!

Low-Temperature Roasting

Low-heat roasting— 225°F to 300°F, or 200°F to 275°F in a convection oven—will produce a roast with rosy interior that's evenly cooked all the way through, but you won't get much in the way of a well-seared crust.

When Ready to Cook: Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 225°F (107°C). Place baking sheet with rack and tenderloin in oven and roast until internal temperature registers 120 to 125°F (49 to 52°C) on an instant-read thermometer, 2 to 3 hours.

For a 2-1/2-pound beef tenderloin, roast the meat uncovered for 20 minutes at 250°F. Then turn up the heat to 425°F. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of meat registers 135°F (about 30 to 40 minutes). Remove from the oven.

If roasting a tenderloin in the oven, you'll definitely want to sear it to get a golden brown crust. It doesn't take very long, and is so worth the effort.

A beef tenderloin is one of the more expensive cuts of beef, primarily because it's prized for its tenderness, and cooking a tenderloin with a salt crust simply ensures it remains delicious.

To sum up: Filet mignon is part of a beef tenderloin, but a beef tenderloin is not a filet mignon. Instead, it houses the filet mignon, which comes from the end portion of the tenderloin. The rest of the tenderloin can create other steak cuts or a delicious tenderloin roast to feed the family.

Roasting in a low 120°C/250°F oven is the key here which actually doesn't take that long (just 40 minutes). This yields exceptional results with evenly cooked beef from edge to edge (no thick overcooked band you get from higher temps) makes this recipe shockingly straightforward and virtually risk-free.

Information. Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended.

Do you cook beef tenderloin fat side up or down? ›

Either way, it's important to trim off the chain, which is the thin, fatty section that lies along side of the tenderloin. While smaller, this section contains substantial meat and is perfect for stews, soups or stir-fries as we mentioned earlier.

For roasts that are 2 to 3 pounds, roast at 425°F for 35 to 40 minutes for medium rare (135°F) and 45 to 50 minutes for medium (150°F) doneness. For roasts weighing 4 to 5 pounds, roast at 425°F for 50 to 60 minutes for medium rare (135°F) and 60 to 70 minutes for medium (150°F).

The food web and a great many cookbooks (very many of them highly reputable) recommend blasting a tenderloin in a hot oven, 450–500°F (232–260°C), for a relatively short time to cook it, followed by a counter rest.

Olive oil makes for a good all-around binder that will hold in the seasonings and is great for steak. Olive oil: Perfect for beef cuts, olive oil will not only hold those seasonings to the meat, it will help dramatically crisp up the outside of the cuts.

The best cooking methods for these cuts are dry heat methods such as grilling, broiling, or pan-searing. These methods help to enhance the natural flavor and tenderness of the tenderloin. When cooking these cuts, it's important to avoid overcooking as it can result in dry and tough meat.

Beef tenderloin roast is best served rare or medium-rare with an internal temperature at between 125°F and 135°F, respectively. Use a meat thermometer to determine if the roast is done, and remember that the temperature of the meat will rise under the broiler and as it rests before serving.

A beef tenderloin is an excellent choice for the broiler, just like filet mignon. You can add some olive oil and your choice of spices to the meat before broiling to allow it to get a crispy sear in the oven.