American Wagyu beef is known for its unique taste and marbling of fat that provides an intense beautiful flavor. American Wagyu is extremely tender and provides a dining experience than your typical store-bought American beef. When you decide to purchase a piece of American Wagyu you already know you need to cook it perfectly, so you don’t waste the money you spent on it. Whether it is a New York strip, ribeye, filet or even ground wagyu, cooking it properly will bring out the unique flavors that traditional beef just doesn’t have. Here is how to cook each of these styles of American Wagyu so you are sure to cook it perfectly at your next barbeque.


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Cooking American Wagyu Ribeye

Ribeye steaks are known for the unique fat marbling throughout the meat that provides the amazing flavor to this steak. When cooking a ribeye, you must treat it right, so you get the best flavor once it is cooked.

First, pull the ribeye from your refrigerator and allow it to come up to room temperature. Season your ribeye with salt and pepper and let the seasoning soak in for at least 10 minutes. When cooking in a cast iron pan, which is a preferred option for ribeye steaks, put your setting on high heat and drizzle in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. Once you see a small amount of smoke rising from the pan place in the steak. Sear the steak on each side, even the edges and fat cap until a solid brown crust forms. Once all sides are seared add in two tablespoons of butter, a sprig of thyme and 3 crushed garlic cloves (You may need more depending on the size of the ribeye). Tilt your skillet to the side and using a spoon scoop and drizzle the melted butter over the steak. Flip it and repeat. Cook until the middle of the ribeye reaches 135-degress for a perfect medium rare. Once done, pull the ribeye out and allow it to sit for up to 10 minutes so it soaks in all those great juices. Then all you must do is slice it, always against the grain, and serve.

Cooking American Wagyu New York Strip

The New York strip is known for its balanced flavor profile and tenderness. When cooking American Wagyu New York Strip it is not dissimilar to the ribeye. Bring the cut of meat to room temperature and season with olive oil, salt and pepper generously. Preheat your grill to a high heat and grill your New York strip for 3 to 4 minutes on each side for a medium rare. If your family likes it more done, then add a couple of minutes but medium rare is best for American Wagyu so you don’t lose any flavor during the cooking process. Once cooked remove the steak from the grill and allow to rest for at least 5 to 7 minutes then slice and serve.

Cooking American Wagyu filets

The filet is one of the most prized cuts of beef due to its tenderness and buttery flavor. Cooking this piece of American Wagyu needs a delicate hand. Before cooking let the filet come to room temperature. Drizzle on olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and set your stove top to a medium high heat. Let your skillet come up to temperature and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil, maybe a tablespoon at most. Place the filet in the pan and allow to sear on each side for 2 to 3 minutes. Don’t forget to sear every side of the filet. Once the crust forms on the meat transfer it to the oven and cook for addition 5 to 7 minutes for a medium rare. Once finished pull the filet and transfer to a cutting board to rest for at least 5 minutes. This is crucial to let all the juices soak back into the meat providing you with even more flavor. Once it has rested, slice it up, serve and watch your guests and family members faces as they taste the best steak they have ever eaten.

Ground beef American Wagyu

Wagyu ground beef offers a unique flavor and juiciness perfect for making hamburgers. With summer right around the corner, American Wagyu burgers can be a great new treat for your family and friends. When handling American Wagyu ground beef treatthe meat gently when forming your patties. Season the meat with salt, pepper and any other desired seasonings like steak rubs or your own mixture of spices. When cooking wagyu burgers preheat your grill to a medium-high heat and sear the patties on each side for at least 3 to 4 minutes for a perfect medium rare.

As mentioned before the flavor of American Wagyu is inside the beef and you don’t want to cook the flavor out of the meat. A perfect medium rare or even just slightly under is considered ideal when it comes to wagyu burgers. If you have those family members who hate seeing red in their meat, consider setting aside some regular beef burgers for them.

When you get a chance to purchase and cook American Wagyu it is usually for a special experience, so you want to cook it right. Cooking this style of meat is different than your traditional steak. So, following these few guidelines will help you be prepared and be able to cook these specialty cuts of meats properly so you can enjoy the amazing textures and flavors they provide.


Author: Michael Stalter is the Founder of Terra Market in Scottsdale, Arizona. Terra Market is a family-owned business bringing Arizona raised American Wagyu beef and Iberian pork from their farm to your table.