Cooked and sliced tenderloin steak on wooden board
The Difference Between Filet Mignon And Tenderloin

NEWS

By GRETA PANO
Cooked filet mignon served with mashed potatoes
Thanks to their much-coveted quality and limited quantity, both filet mignon and tenderloin are pricey cuts of steak. Though often used interchangeably, they’re actually different.
Butcher beef cuts drawn on chalkboard
Tenderloin is cut from the cow’s loin located between the rib and the round. To be specific, the cut is located between the sirloin and top sirloin, which also come from the loin.
Two raw filet mignons with seasonings
Filet mignon comes from the tenderloin’s end portion, the tip that stretches toward the center of the cow. Hence, filet mignon is tenderloin but not all tenderloin is filet mignon.
Sliced, raw beef tenderloin on cutting board with herbs and spices
Tenderloin is a muscle that comes from the section toward the back of the cow, below its backbone. Since that area isn’t exercised much, the cut remains soft and tender.
Whole and sliced filet mignon steaks on wooden board
Due to having very little connective tissue, the buttery soft tenderloin is also fast to cook. Filet mignon, on the other hand, is considered the most tender portion of tenderloin.
Whole and sliced tenderloin steaks on wooden board
A filet mignon is 2 to 3 inches in diameter, while a tenderloin is 18 to 24 inches in length. A filet mignon is perfect for an individual, whereas tenderloin is great for sharing.