It’s a good idea to tie the meat with kitchen twine before cooking, regardless of where on the whole tenderloin your cut is from. The thickness of a tenderloin varies significantly from end to end, especially if the cut includes the narrow tail. Giving the meat a uniform shape and cinching it at one- or two-inch intervals will ensure even cooking. Third-generation butcher Robert Esposito works at Giovanni Esposito in New York City.
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Ingredient and equipment notes
- Butcher’s twine made of cotton is my preferred choice for kitchen twine. If you don’t have access to either of those, unflavored dental floss can be used as a substitute. Linen twine is a close second.
- Beef tenderloin: My recipe for roast beef tenderloin calls for a 2-pound portion, but you are welcome to use this technique to tie beef tenderloin with whatever meat serving corresponds to the number of people you are serving. A center-cut beef tenderloin, also known as Châteaubriand, should be sought out because it has a layer of fat that must be removed prior to roasting.
To trim the beef tenderloin:
- Slide your knife between the meat and the shiny connective tissue on one end of the roast.
- As you continue to cut between the two until you reach the other side of the roast, start pulling the connective tissue back away from the meat.
- Work in strips if necessary and repeat as needed.
To tie the beef:
- Tie a loose knot around one end of the meat with 12-inch lengths of kitchen twine, then pull until snug to form an anchor knot.
- To make a big loop, pull a piece of twine away from the anchor.
- Loop it around the tenderloin.
- Tie a second knot and place it about 1 12 inches away from the anchor knot.
- Make a third loop out of additional twine, securing it 1 12 inches from the second knot.
- until the toast is evenly tied, keep tying the roast crosswise at 1 1/2-inch intervals.
Recipe tips and variations
- This method of tying beef tenderloin yields about 6 adults’ worth of food from a 2-pound portion of beef, but it can be applied to any roast.
Chef’s knife tip should be slid under connective tissue while remaining near the surface of the meat. Slice away the white portion of the beef tenderloin’s top by smoothly sliding the knife away from the meat while holding the connective tissue tightly against the blade with your other hand.
Keep that kitchen twine handy. Prime rib, chicken, turkey, and cornish hens are all better off when tied or trussed.
This roast beef tenderloin cooks slowly and thoroughly in the oven before coming to a fiery conclusion on the stove. It’s a wonderful recipe to prepare for special occasions, gatherings, and Sunday dinner. Everyone needs a….
Working with Meat and Fish
Working with Meat and Fish
Working with Meat and Fish
How to Tie a Beef Tenderloin
- Butchers twine (see note 1)
- 1 (2-pound) beef tenderloin roast, center-cut and trimmed (see note 2).
To trim the beef tenderloin:
- Slide your knife between the meat and the shiny connective tissue on one end of the roast.
- As you continue to cut between the two until you reach the other side of the roast, start pulling the connective tissue back away from the meat. Work in strips if necessary and repeat as needed.
To tie the beef:
- Tie a loose knot around one end of the meat with 12-inch lengths of kitchen twine, then pull until snug to form an anchor knot.
- A length of twine should be pulled away from the anchor to form a large loop, which should then be wrapped around the tenderloin about 1 12 inches from the anchor knot.
- A second loop can be made by adding more twine; secure it 1 12 inches from the first loop.
- until the toast is evenly tied, keep tying the roast crosswise at 1 1/2-inch intervals.
- Butcher’s twine made of cotton is my preferred choice for kitchen twine. If you don’t have access to either of those, unflavored dental floss can be used as a substitute. Linen twine is a close second.
- Beef tenderloin: My recipe for roast beef tenderloin calls for a 2-pound portion, but you are welcome to use this technique to tie beef tenderloin with whatever meat serving corresponds to the number of people you are serving. A center-cut beef tenderloin, also known as Châteaubriand, should be sought out because it has a layer of fat that must be removed prior to roasting.