Filet mignon vs. ribeye is a competition in which dining experts say they are the same, only different.

Do you agree with that?

We all love steak, don’t we? It is among the classic dishes that define fine dining experience. And when it comes to steak, we are all spoilt for choice because of the availability in the options.

Today I will cover the two most popular and classic steak dishes. They are filet mignon and ribeye, and both have a reputation for being high-end and classy.

But wait for a second!

Are you a big fan of filet mignon or ribeye connoisseur? Do you know much about their differences?

If not, no worries, because you will get to know more about it in this article.

Where Does Filet Mignon And Ribeye Come From?

Filet mignon and ribeye is very much different in their texture, appearance, taste, and even the way how chefs prepare. To understand each correctly, we need to know a bit about the two terms, and their position on a cow.

Fillet mignon means “dainty fillet”; a term used commonly by the French to call a steak cut taken from the tenderloin of a cow.

How do I know where is it on a cow?

You can locate this tenderloin beneath the ribs, whose shape looks like a conic and stretches to the sirloin. This part can be cut into small fillets, and we call them filet mignon.

How about ribeye?

Ribeye or rib eye, as you may see how we call it, comes from the rib area of the beef animal. Depends on the cut, the beef can be boneless sometimes and contain complexus and spinalis.

Filet Mignon Vs Ribeye: What Are The Differences?

Appearance

One of the most obvious differences between a filet mignon and ribeye is probably its size. You can see a ribeye will be typically bigger than a mignon.

Although the portion will be different and depends on the cut, in general, mignon can be as big as one half to a quarter of a rib eye in its size.

On the other hand, while a ribeye is usually loaded with specks of fat and heavily marble, filet mignon contains a little fat spreading throughout the meat.

If you are the fat lover, ribeye steak is for you.

Texture

The difference in the anatomy of a cow and where they are located is what defines the texture of ribeye and filet mignon, plus they come from two separate parts of the muscle.

While fillet mignon will give you a soft and tender taste that can almost melt in your mouth, ribeye can be a little tough because its muscle group is quite active.

But if that makes you think filet mignon is better than ribeye, think twice!

Thanks to the high fat contained in the meat, you will love that juicy taste dripping down on every single bite.

Taste and cost

Although it is hard to tell which one is better because it depends on everyone’s preference, I found filet mignon has a far less greasy taste than a ribeye.

If you don’t like to eat high-fat contain meat but enjoy the tenderness, filet mignon is the perfect choice for you.

However, due to its size, filet mignon is a little more expensive than a ribeye.

On the other hand, if the flavor is everything for you, ribeye sounds like a good deal.

Cooking

The cooking methods of ribeye and filet mignon are very much different. People usually prepare filet mignon wrapped in bacon and cook them in a pan with sauce.

Here is a very helpful tip for you.

Always use a low temperature for cooking filet mignon; otherwise, it will lose its tenderness.

Unlike fillet mignon, ribeye contains high fat, which makes it goes perfect at high temperatures. Plus, a typical size of the ribeye dish is bigger than filet mignon, so it is easier to cook them on the grill.

Final thoughts 

Filet mignon vs. ribeye, which one is better? Perhaps, I will leave this question here and let you find the answer for yourself. But now that you know the difference between these two kinds of steaks, I hope next time you will make a right choice

Simply put, if love tenderness and low-fat meat, go for fillet ribeye. On the other hand, if you like flavour and juicy meat, you cannot go wrong with ribeye.

If this article is useful, please help us to share around to your friend, and leave a comment below if you have any experience you want to tell us.