When cooking Wagyu steak, you sincerely don’t want to make a mistake. Wagyu is expensive, and that’s because it’s amazingly flavorful, with a melt-in-your-mouth buttery texture that’s unsurpassed. Ruining such a magnificent cut of beef would be tragic, especially over something as basic as cooking oil. So, what’s the best oil for cooking Wagyu?
- Consider how Wagyu differs from typical beef. Because it has such beautiful marbling, it cooks much more quickly than the average cut of beef. When it’s overcooked, it can become nearly flavorless and bland. To avoid this, you might opt for one of the two traditional Japanese methods for cooking Wagyu. You can either use a yakiniku grill with direct flame and very thin slices, or use the shabu-shabu method, which involves a large pot of oil and stock. With both methods, you’ll only cook the beef for a few seconds. If you choose to marinate Wagyu, think about the fact that the beef is grass-fed and go with a light marinade that will enhance the flavor of the meat. If you’re using wine in your marinade, take care not to use too much because that can speed the cooking of the beef.
- Make sure to use a high heat cooking oil. Any time you’re cooking with high temperatures, it’s important to know the smoking point of your oil so you don’t ruin the meat. Seed oils, nut oils, plant oils, and extra light olive oil are good options for high heat. Be careful, though: extra light olive oil is the only olive oil that can tolerate the heat.
- You might just want to cook the Wagyu in its own fat. Wagyu should be chilled before it’s cooked so that the fat will be perfectly rendered. Trim any excess fat and then chill the meat again for about an hour. You can then use a cast-iron pan on high heat, greasing it with that excess fat, and quickly cook the Wagyu in the skillet. Finish it with a little finishing salt or butter, and your steak will be perfect.
- If you’d prefer to choose a different oil, you can take your pick of several. Many people swear by a light oil like truffle oil or extra light olive oil. Grapeseed oil is great for high-heat cast iron cooking, and it’s one of the healthiest cooking oils, containing vitamin E as well as Omega-7 and fatty acids. Avocado oil is another great choice, with a high smoking point and Omega-3 fatty acids.
When cooked correctly, Wagyu beef is beautifully tender and bursting with flavor. What makes Wagyu so special? It has to do with the way the cattle are raised. Wagyu cattle live comfortable lives in a sustainable, stress-free environment, where they graze freely and typically share their pens with only a few other cattle, and they’re never given drugs like growth hormones or steroids. Wagyu steaks are excellent because Wagyu farmers care about their craft.
For top-quality American Wagyu Beef, you can trust Triple T Ranch. Located in south Alabama, our small, family-owned-and-operated ranch is a place where practicing proven husbandry techniques ensures the health and prosperity of the herd. Our cattle are well cared-for and registered through the American Wagyu Association. Call (251)333-2800 or contact us through our website for more information.
