Ahh! Fillet steak. My all-time favorite cut and for good reason. Fillet steak is a cut that makes my mouth water at the very thought.
This cut is made from the tenderloin muscle that runs along the inside of a cow and is actually one of the tenderest pieces of meat cut from an animal.
Because this piece of meat is so highly rated, it has become known as one of the most expensive cuts.
But why is fillet steak so expensive?
Fillet steak tends to be fairly pricey because not only is it an expensive cut of meat, but it is often only available in limited quantities.
Another reason for the high price is that because of its tenderness it really does not require much work to prepare.
This means that most people who are cooking at home tend to avoid this piece of meat unless they are serving it up for something special.
But there is much more to learn about why this cut is so pricey…
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Why Is Fillet Steak Expensive?
As mentioned above, there are a few different reasons why fillet steak is expensive.
I’ve listed some reasons why fillet steak is so expensive below for you to get a better understanding of why this cut is so premium.
Popular In Restaraunts
The first is that this steak is incredibly popular in restaurants. And we all know that the more demand something has, the more its price hikes up!
Generally, in most restaurants, a fillet steak will cost anywhere from between $50 – $150.
This certainly isn’t a cheap meal and is absolutely at the other end of the spectrum to the likes of a McDonald’s happy meal!
Thankfully if you’re not ready to fork out such a hefty amount of money on a steak just yet, it can be purchased for cheaper in supermarkets all around the US.
In supermarkets, you’ll usually find a fillet steak for between $15 – $30.
This is mainly due to the fact that this is a popular cut for steakhouses, but also because it’s just so succulent and tasty!
There is a good reason that fillet steak is popular in restaurants, and this is because it is super tender and isn’t all that bad for you, making it a win-win meal.
Economies of Scale
Since fillet steak is incredibly expensive – there aren’t that many factories that can mass-produce this cut.
In turn – these producers have more room to put profits on their products.
This means that factories that produce fillet steak can get away with charging a heftier price for their product.
Incredibly Tender
Most cuts of steak tend to come from muscles that are worked hard over time, but fillet steak tends to be cut from the belly area at the front of the cow, an area that doesn’t receive much exercise.
This makes them one of the most tender cuts you’ll come across and is a primary reason why fillet steak is so expensive.
Fillet steak is incredibly tender and this is the reason why it is popular as a luxury dish.
As mentioned, the area of the cow that the fillet comes from doesn’t receive much work.
Whilst some areas such as the shoulder or lower parts that are heavily worked will not be as tender as fillet steak.
Small Percentage Of Cow (Tenderloin)
As fillet comes from the tenderloin, this is actually only 8% of the total cow.
This means that the percentage of cows that the fillet cut comes from is very small, so this increases the price of the cut naturally.
This means to meet the demand for fillet steak, farmers need to raise a lot more cattle, which of course comes with added cost and time.
If fillet steak was cut from another section of cows (the other 92%), the price of the fillet would be much lower.
However, this would mean that it wouldn’t be one of the most tender cuts, so many people would not buy it, or just choose a different cut.
Butchering And Shipping Costs
Factoring in the butchering and shipping costs into why some cuts and more expensive than others is important.
It’s not easy work cutting up a whole cow, and the quality of the steak needs to be consistent.
Keeping in mind the labor costs for workers as well as any costs the farmer has to rear the cow all comes into play when working out costs.
Keeping in mind that with all of these costs you will typically only get around 16oz of fillet steak from one cow.
Shipping costs also play an important factor when determining prices in different countries.
Since exporting and importing steak outside its country of origin can be a costly and confusing experience, it’s easier to set a price on the steak before it reaches its final destination.
Shipping in refrigerated trucks also costs quite a bit of money, this naturally makes it harder for farmers to increase their profits on the meat.
The quality of the meat is also important when determining prices. As I mentioned before, if there are inconsistencies in cut or coloring, this usually affects the amount you pay for your steak.
This is why it’s important to purchase your meat from a good butcher; they should be more than willing to give you advice on how best to cook your fillet steak.
Surprisingly Healthy
Fillet steak is actually one of the healthiest cuts of steak you will find.
This is because it’s packed full of protein and doesn’t include any of the excess fat you would find in other cuts of beef such as skirt or rib-eye.
This is why many people choose to eat fillet steak on a regular basis, and can easily be found in popular dishes such as stroganoff and lasagne.
Of course, this information doesn’t mean that you should overindulge in fillet steak to the point that you eat it every day.
The best way to get the most out of your fillet steak is to treat it just like any other dish, and enjoy it when you’re in the mood for something meaty and mouthwatering, but not indulge all the time.
The fact that this cut is quite good for you and tastes delicious is a large reason why it’s so popular and expensive.
Is Fillet Steak The Best Cut?
As a whole, fillet steak is a very lean cut of meat that is normally free from fat and sinew. It tends to be the most tender option, but this isn’t always true.
The cut can vary depending on where it’s sourced (for example, British beef might not be as good as Australian beef), and some butchers will offer different ages of fillet steak, which affects the flavor and tenderness of the meat.
The price will normally be determined by this, but it can also depend on the time of year – fillet steak is more expensive during the summer months due to high demand from barbecues.
It’s also worth noting that different cuts of beef have different names depending on where you’re located geographically.
For example, sometimes a fillet steak is known as Châteaubriand steak or Fillet Mignon, while in the US it can be referred to as tenderloin steak.
In some places, such as Japan and Korea for example, people call this cut ‘hamburger steak’.
Whatever you want to call this cut of steak, there’s no doubt that it’s one of the best cuts money can buy.
It’s incredibly tender, delicious, and has almost no fat content, making it a great option for those watching their figure.
Is Fillet Steak The Most Expensive?
Fillet steak is generally the most expensive steak cut that is available.
Filet mignon is known as being one of the best cuts of beef on the market.
It is very tender and has an amazing, buttery flavor.
This cut of beef comes from the tenderloin, which runs along both sides of a cow’s spine.
Generally speaking, the fillet steak does have significantly less fat than other types of steak cuts that you might find in a market or restaurant. This is why it tends to be quite pricey.
However, there are other steaks such as wagyu steak that are more expensive.
Wagyu steak tends to cost around $200 per pound, which makes it more expensive than fillet steak.
Tomahawk steaks are also very expensive, but they are much larger than the typical fillet steak.
The average price for a tomahawk steak is around $100 per pound.
The price of fillet steak seems to be increasing over time, but it is not clear exactly why this might be the case.
It may simply be that there are fewer cows being produced today compared to several decades ago, which makes beef more expensive in general.
Another possible explanation is that many people want high-quality meat, and fillet steak is the highest quality out of all steaks due to its tenderness.
In general, it can be said that price reflects supply and demand.
Other Considerations
It’s also worth keeping in mind that the price of fillet steak is largely going to depend on what cut you get; if it’s a larger, more well-endowed piece of meat then it’ll be more expensive.
At the end of the day, though, all fillet steaks are going to be pricey simply because they’re such high-quality beef cuts and this is reflected in their price.
It’s also worth mentioning that this cut is also more popular in the UK, meaning it may not really be an option for beef lovers outside of these shores.
However, if you do live in or are visiting the UK make sure to try out this delicious cut when next you visit your local butcher!
Now that you’re fully educated on why fillet steak is so expensive, what’s your favorite cut of steak? And do you think this cut is worth the price?
Conclusion
Fillet steak is one of the best cuts on the market, and it’s easy to see why it’s so expensive when you’ve tried it.
But with so many great cuts out there, it’s worth asking yourself if this one is right for you.
There are a ton of different steak cuts out there and many that are a lot cheaper than the fillet.
However, if you’re looking for a birthday treat or celebrating, treat yourself to a fillet steak as you’ll never taste anything quite like it!
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and I hope you’ve learned something about why fillet steak is so expensive.
