The main difference between a tomahawk and a ribeye is the visual appearance of each. It’s not a surprise, then, that some people call the cut a tomahawk ribeye, right? You might even see a tomahawk referred to as a tomahawk ribeye or tomahawk rib eye steak on a steakhouse menu. That’s because both pieces of meat come from the same beef rib sections of the animal. How Does Tomahawk Steak Compare to a Ribeye?Ī tomahawk steak actually is, essentially, a rib eye, in terms of meat alone. This is especially important if you’re making grilled tomahawk steak, as the marbling will keep the meat tender instead of drying out on the grill.

This is fat that renders down, adding flavor and tenderness to the meat as you cook it. Look for bright white lines running through the meat. Just like the rib eye, a tomahawk should have excellent marbling throughout every centimeter. Make the most of your money by choosing a shorter bone and plenty of meat. The main feature of a tomahawk ribeye you’ll want to look for when buying one is its size. What to Look for When Buying a Tomahawk Steak Part of what you pay for when you buy a tomahawk ribeye is the bone, but you’ll also get, on average, between five and eight ounces more meat per tomahawk. You usually can get double the ribeye for the same or similar price as a tomahawk steak. Plus, some steak enthusiasts simply don’t mind paying more to get the fantastic presentation a tomahawk gives. Tomahawk’s do include a ribeye, but they also usually contain more steak than a ribeye on its own. While one steak lover will happily pay twice the price for a tomahawk than a ribeye, others will scoff at the idea, noting that a tomahawk basically is a ribeye. The price of a tomahawk steak is somewhat of a hot-button issue in the steak world. It’s not uncommon to see a beef rib range anywhere from four inches to a foot or longer on a tomahawk steak, depending on how the butcher cuts them. Some butchers also choose to leave a longer rib bone in the meat, while others prefer to cut it down to only a few inches. The rib steak is a massive helping, weighing about two pounds on its own. You can usually expect to see a tomahawk steak with meat about two or three inches thick surrounding the bone. Skilled butchers will know exactly where to make their cuts to leave the most meat intact on the bone. A larger steer will usually result in a tomahawk steak with more meat and longer rib bones than others. Tomahawk steaks can vary in size, depending on the size of the animal. Because the tomahawk includes the same meat as the ribeye, it’s also sometimes known as a tomahawk ribeye. Tomahawk chop and bone-in ribeye are also common names for this steak. Cowboy steak is one of the most common, perhaps because of the cut’s rugged and rustic look. Still, you might hear a lot of different names for the tomahawk steak. What Else Do People Call a Tomahawk Steak?īy now, you may have already guessed that the name “tomahawk steak” comes from the shape of the cut, which resembles a tomahawk ax. Is there a purpose for the bone other than aesthetics? Honestly, not really, other than that it creates a resemblance of a handle to make it easy to hold while you cut the steak – or, to pick it up and eat it if that’s the way you choose to enjoy it. The result is a beautiful cut that’s as tasty as it is eye-catching. That’s because the butcher takes care to prep and clean the bone after cutting each steak to make it more appealing to the eye. When you order a tomahawk, you’ll notice that the bone looks incredibly clean. These cuts usually come from the larger rib bones to allow for more meat. The butcher carves each tomahawk steak in a way that leaves the large rib bone intact, with about two inches of steak thickness surrounding the end of the bone.

Basically, this cut is a bone-in version of the ribeye. All About Buying and Cooking the Perfect Tomahawk SteakĪ tomahawk steak comes from the rib section, also known as the longissimus dorsi, just like the perfect ribeye steak.Best Cooking Methods for Tomahawk Steak.How Does Tomahawk Steak Compare to a Ribeye?.What to Look for When Buying a Tomahawk Steak.What Else Do People Call a Tomahawk Steak?.Filet Mignon: The Ultimate Cooking Guide.

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