Whats the difference between beef tenderloin and filet mignon

As there is a lot of confusion between tenderloin and filet mignon, what is there a difference? Many people think that tenderloin and filet mignon both are the same, and the only difference is that they have a different name.

Table of Contents

  • Tenderloin vs Filet Mignon
  • Comparison Table
  • What is Tenderloin?
    • We found the best deal(s) on Amazon for you
  • What is Filet Mignon?
  • Main Differences Between Tenderloin and Filet Mignon

Well, let me tell you they both look like they are similar, but they are very much different from each other.

The difference between tenderloin and filet mignon is that tenderloin is the long portion of the beef run along both the animal spine’s side. On the other hand, filet mignon is a little more tender than the rest; its tenderness is almost indistinguishable.

Whats the difference between beef tenderloin and filet mignon

Tenderloin is the long, narrow, and lean muscle found in the lion, which is the most tender beef cut. It is the source of tenderloin steak, and its elements are t-bone and porterhouse steaks.

It is usually considered as the most widely tender cut of beef and one of the most expensive.

A filet mignon is a beefsteak taken from the smaller end of the tenderloin and psoas major of the cow carcass, usually a steer or heifer. The word filet means thick boneless slice, and mignon means dainty.


Comparison Table

Parameter of ComparisonTenderloinFilet Mignon
Part of meat Tenderloin is the lean cut of the meat with no bone. Filet mignon is also the meat’s lean cut with no bone, but it does not have a great flavor.
Type of cut Tenderloin is the whole muscle cut of the meat. Filet mignon is also the meat’s muscle cut, but it is the portion that tapers down the tenderloin’s end.
Cooking and serving You can cook it as one piece after that; it can be cut into pieces or cut into medallions and then cooked as an individual. It is wrapped in bacon so that it can get the flavor and add fat at the edge of the meat.
Choice A group of people can enjoy the whole piece of tenderloin. A single person can enjoy a piece of the filet mignon.
Expensive It is costly but less costly than the filet mignon. It is considered one of the most expensive cuts.

What is Tenderloin?

The tenderloin is the muscle that you can find in between the sirloin and the top lion. It is considered the most tender portion of meat as it does not have to do much work in the form of the exercise or weight-bearing for the animal.

You can easily sell it as the whole filet or rounds or in medallions, cut across the tenderloin’s grain, which weighs up to 4-6lbs. You can sell it as trimmed or untrimmed.

These untrimmed tenderloins usually have fat content and silver skin from the cow‘s sides to be removed before it gets cooked. Tornadoes are in the middle of the large medallions, which are cooked individually.

The tenderloin’s top end is known as chateaubriand, which is a meal for two people to share. It is a good steak for barbecue as it gives less fat and causes fewer flare-ups on the fire; it reduces the chance of the fire.

It is one of the expensive dishes on the menu, which is ordered frequently at a high-end restaurant. Tenderloin can go well with different types of sauces and dressings.

Whats the difference between beef tenderloin and filet mignon

What is Filet Mignon?

The filet mignon is the cut of the tenderloin. It gets very much confused with the whole tenderloin as when we cut tenderloin into medallions; it is considered filet mignon.

The word filet mignon is correctly used as the conical end part of the tenderloin. You can evenly slice the filet mignon into thick steaks that look like medallions.

It is a tender but not considered to have a great deal of flavor of its own. Filet mignon goes very well with different sauce and dressings, and it is considered one of the expensive cuts of the meat.

It should be marbled with strands of fats that add its tenderness. The word mignon is the French word that part of tenderloin in French is called Filet de Boeuf.

The name filet mignon is the name used in french to describe pork tenderloin. This dish is very quick and easy to cook for a chef; although the chef does not favor the dish, it is one of the popular meats and is very expensive.

This meat is considered as a healthy choice for the people as it is lean meat. This meat cut lacks flavor, but it is referred to as the King of steak.

Whats the difference between beef tenderloin and filet mignon

Main Differences Between Tenderloin and Filet Mignon

  1. Both tenderloin and filet mignon get confused as both cuts from the same side of the beef’s muscle.
  2. Tenderloin is the whole piece of the meat. On the other hand, filet mignon is the tapered end of the tenderloin.
  3. Both tenderloin and filet mignon is the lean cut of the meat with no bone.
  4. There is no preference as both tenderloin, and filet mignon are both parts of the tenderloin. The group of people can enjoy the whole piece of tenderloin, whereas the individual one can enjoy the peace of filet mignon.
  5. Tenderloin can be cooked as a whole part; after the cooked, it can be cut into pieces or cut into medallion after that it can be cut. On the other hand, filet mignon is wrapped into bacon to get more flavor and add some fat at the meat’s edge.

Whats the difference between beef tenderloin and filet mignon

Search for "Ask Any Difference" on Google. Rate this post!

Last update on 2022-11-22 / Amazon Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Which is better tenderloin or filet mignon?

The biggest difference between filet mignon and beef tenderloin is the size — tenderloin is the whole piece of meat, while the filet is a smaller, more tender portion of the tenderloin. Regardless of which cut you choose, both filet and tenderloin are succulent pieces of beef worth sinking your teeth into.

Is beef tenderloin more expensive than filet mignon?

Beef tenderloin is where you'll find filet mignon. But because filet mignon is just a portion of the full tenderloin, it's more expensive per pound than the beef tenderloin itself.

Is beef tenderloin a good cut of meat?

Beef tenderloin is most tender piece of meat you will ever have the pleasure of biting into. It is soft, juicy, and flavorful without needing anything more than a simple salt and pepper seasoning. This cut of beef is also quite versatile from roasting it as a whole or breaking it down into steaks.

What is the difference between beef loin and beef tenderloin?

The loin yields the most tender and expensive cuts of beef--but not the most flavorful. The choicest portion is the tenderloin, which is exquisitely tender and lean. The top loin and sirloin aren't as tender, but they're a bit more flavorful. Cuts from the loin require very little work to taste great.