Every non-vegetarian person would know that beef is one of the most special meat types out there with its amazing taste and cuts. You get steaks, brisket and ribs. But there’s also another type of beef cut that most people love and that’s beef tips.
In this post, we explain what beef tips are for those who aren’t familiar with them. And we discuss the different types of beef tips you can get and how to use them. It’s important not to get beef tips confused with beef strips. To clear up the confusion, let’s dive in!
What Are Beef Tips?
To be honest, very few people know about beef tips, and we didn’t know either until we conducted some research. So, beef tips are the outcome of the cuttings of tenderloin. Initially, the pieces of tenderloin that were too small to be used in steaks were used as beef steaks.
But the increase in the number of recipes resulted in people using different beef cuts to make “real” beef tips rather than using the leftovers of the tenderloin.
With this being said, it’s pretty clear that you can use a cut of beef to create tips, but we suggest using it from tenderloin, chuck roast, or sirloin.
Some people use cut stew meat from the grocery store to make beef tip recipes, but you can buy chuck roast and cut out the beef tips yourself. This is because it’s a more economical choice, but you will also have the right cuts.
On top of everything, it will have just the right fat content, which promises tenderness after braising. When it comes down to huge retailers, they tend to buy the entire steers, which allows them to make roast and steak cuts.
From the top part, the loin and ribs are cut out while the muscular parts provide stuff for rump roasts, round steaks, and corned beef. So, whatever is left from the steer is made into the beef tips and stew meat.
Some people tend to confuse them with stew beef, but it’s less tender. So, whenever you buy beef tips, make sure to read about the source to ensure you aren’t being fooled by cheap stewing meat.
Different Types of Beef Tips
To get excellent quality beef tips you need to take your off cuts from certain types of beef cuts. For anyone who is wondering about the different types of beef tips, we have outlined the information in this section.
- Tenderloin Beef Tips
When you cut out the loin to make tips, you’ll get tender trims that cook faster and can be made with higher temperatures.
In the case of tenderloin tips, they are cut out from the most tender cut of the backbone that is usually at the top of the loins. So, the tenderloin tips are actually the trimmings when you cut the tenderloin to make fillets.
- Sirloin Beef Tips
There are sirloin tips that are cut out from the tail section of roasts and sirloin steaks. This is the part that’s covered around the ribs.
In some cases, the beef tips are cut out and trimmed in a triangular shape. This is known as a tri-tip. When compared to stewing beef, beef tips have a higher fat content that’s tender with a tasty flavor too.
Usage of Beef Tips
Beef tips can be used in many dishes. However, it depends on how you prepare your meat. In this section you’ll find out what dishes you can add beef tips to and how to marinade or season your cuts.
- Seasoning
For people who are concerned about how beef tips are made, keep in mind that their higher flavor content means that you don’t need excessive seasonings to bring out the flavor. For making restaurant-grade beef tips, you can sear and brown them after applying a flour coating.
You can also add garlic to your beef tips or simply rub them with salt and pepper. Other types of seasonings may be too overpowering and ruin the flavor of your tips.
How Beef Tips are Served
Usually, the beef tips are served over rice and noodles while a pan is used for dipping sauces. On the side, you can add bread that’s topped with sauces as well. The beef tips are usually braised with sauce and served with cellophane noodles.
On top of everything, the beef tips can be cooked quickly and make a great ingredient for kabobs and sukiyaki. Another popular way to serve beef tips is with creamy mash potatoes. You can make a delicious tomato or chili based sauce with your tips and top your mash potatoes with it.
- Time it Takes to Cook Beef Tips
Since beef tips are cut into smaller pieces it takes less time to cook compared to full steaks. You can grill your tips on the hottest plate. It only takes five minutes to cook each side so you’ll need to rotate your tips every two minutes.
The time it takes to cook the beef tips will depend on how well done you want them. Some people prefer medium rear while others like their beef tips well done.
- Marinating Beef Strips
If you want more flavor and tips that are extremely tender, then you should marinate your beef tips. There are many marinade recipes that work well for beef tips but ensure it has some form of vinegar to tenderize the tips even further. Here are some recipes to try for yourself:
- In a bowl whisk together Italian dressing, Worcestershire sauce, barbeque sauce and some seasonings. Then lay your meat tips in the sauce and cover with a lid. You can leave it for a couple of hours or overnight.
- If you want more vinegar to tenderize your steak then use balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, garlic cloves and soy sauce. The syrup will add some browning to your tips and the garlic will add more flavor.
- Oil is an important ingredient in some marinades especially if you’re cooking beef. So use olive oil, lemon juice, dried basil, garlic cloves, half teaspoon of chili powder and Worcestershire sauce. Place your meat strips in the liquid and let marinade for at least 12 hours.
You can decide on the ratios for each ingredient for these marinades. Simply ensure the marinade covers each tip so that they can all fully marinate in the sauce.
Why is the Source of the Beef Tips Important?
Usually, the tenderloin part is used to make beef tips. You need to be mindful of the beef tip source to determine the cooking time, recipe, and seasonings. In addition, the beef tip cut from different sources can impact the overall flavor.
What is the Advantages of Beef Tips
The reason why many people use beef tips as a topping for other foods or as a side dish is because of the flavor, thickness and tenderness of the cuts. Additionally, since the cuts are smaller compared to other types of meat they tend to cook much faster at higher temperatures.
Roast beef tends to be extremely dry and it can take hours to cook in the oven. But with beef tips you can sear the meat or make it medium to well done within 15 minutes. What’s more, beef tips go well with many sauces that are either cream or tomato based.
For people that struggle to make steaks, you’ll find that cooking beef tips is much easier. You don’t need a lot of seasoning and you don’t need to move away from the pan for long periods of time.
Lastly, beef tips like other types of cuts are nutrient rich and have a high source in protein and healthy fats. So if you’re wanting to go on a specific diet such as the keto eating plan, then beef tips might be a good meat to add to your menu.
Is Beef Tips the Same as Beef Strips?
Many people get confused with beef tips and beef strips. But these two cuts are completely different. Beef strips are cut from fillet steak and the entire steak is used to make the strips. On the other hand, beef tips are cut from the edges of certain types of meat not the entire piece.
The shape of these cuts are also different. Strips are cut into long slices and can be used for tortillas. Beef tips are sometimes cut into squares or rectangles.
Another difference between beef strips and tips is their thickness. Strips are a lot thinner and don’t contain fatty pieces. Beef tips are cut into thicker chunks and can sometimes resemble stewing meat.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that beef tips are actually the leftovers from different meat cuts. When creating your own cuts of meat, keep your tips so you can make delicious dishes.
The reason why people love beef tips is because they cook faster and they go well with many sides. Use the advice in this article on what to do with your beef tips.