What is baseball steak?

Baseball steak is taken from the upper portion of the top sirloin cap. It looks very similar to filet mignon. However, while filet mignon is exceptionally tender and expensive, the baseball steak is incredibly flavorful and much cheaper. It’s also a bit chewy since it’s from a well-worked cow area; however, it has a great texture if appropriately cooked.

In this article, you’ll learn about baseball steak in depth. I’ll explain how to cook it to make the best out of this lean cut of meat.

What is baseball steak: An overview

So why is it called a baseball steak? Well, I guess you already know the answer to that. Baseball steak is more rounded at the top and sides, forming a baseball shape. It has similarities to the filet mignon (a premium cut); however, filet mignon is a slightly thicker steak with a flat top and bottom.

What part of the cow is baseball steak?

Baseball steak is taken from the upper portion of the top sirloin (sirloin primal). The bone, the tenderloin, and the bottom round muscles are removed making it look slightly rounded hence the name baseball. Often it’s referred to as center cut top sirloin cap steak. It is similar to filet mignon and much smaller than a regular top sirloin cut.

How does baseball steak taste?

Baseball steak is a lean cut of beef with a strong beefy flavor. Even though it doesn’t have much marbling, the baseball steak is still a tasty piece of meat when cooked properly.

What is the texture of the baseball steak?

Baseball steak has an incredible texture when cooked properly. It’s a lean piece of meat and tends to be dry and chewy when overcooked. For the steak to remain tender and juicy, it must not be cooked beyond medium rare (135° Fahrenheit).

How to cook baseball steak?

Baseball-cut steak benefits from one of three cooking methods – grilling, pan frying, or cooking in the oven.

Grilling steak – Bring baseball steak to room temperature. Leave the steak out for 30-40 minutes. While steak is at room temperature, season it with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Prepare the grill for two-zone cooking – the grill’s direct and indirect heat side. Rub the steak with light olive oil. (any other oil for searing will work) and place it over the direct heat side of the grill. Sear for 2-3 minutes on each side. When the steak crust forms, move the steak to the indirect heat side of the grill and continue cooking to the desired doneness. Do not cook steak past medium rare. It’s essential to track a steak’s internal temperature using a meat thermometer.

Pan-frying steak – Bring baseball steak to room temperature for at least 30-40 minutes before cooking it. While the steak is getting to room temperature, season it generously with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Place a frying pan on a stovetop over medium-high heat and let it sit there until the pan becomes smoking hot. Sear baseball steak for a minute and a half on both sides. Once the caramelized crust forms, turn the heat to medium and continue cooking the steak to your preferred level of doneness. However, since baseball-cut steak is a lean cut of meat, cooking it beyond medium will make the steak dry and chewy. Leave the cooked steak to rest for at least 5-10 minutes. It’ll allow steak juices to redistribute throughout the meat’s interior, making it juicy and tender.

Cooking steak in the oven – Bring steak to room temp at least 30-40 minutes before cooking. Steak at room temperature cooks evenly throughout—season baseball steaks with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Preheat a cast iron skillet until scorching. Sear steaks for a minute and a half on each side until brown crust forms. Transfer meat onto a wire rack which should sit on top of the baking sheet, and slide steaks into a preheated oven (450 degrees Fahrenheit). Cook baseball steak until 5° Fahrenheit below the desired doneness. Use a meat thermometer to check the steak’s internal temperature. When the meat is out of the oven, it continues cooking for a minute or two. It’s called carryover cooking. Leave steaks to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Where to buy baseball-cut steak?

You can purchase baseball steaks at online specialist butcher shops. Unfortunately, it’s not readily available at most supermarkets.

Other names for baseball steak

Depending on the location, baseball steak is also known as top sirloin steak, boneless top sirloin butt steak, top sirloin filet, top sirloin filet boneless, or baseball cut steak.

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