A closeup of a filet mignon.
FOOD NEWS
The Reason You May Want To Avoid Grilling Filet Mignon
By C.A. Pinkham
Cuts of filet mignon on a wooden board.
Despite being an excellent, tender cut, filet mignon should only be cooked in specific ways lest you ruin the eating experience.
Cuts of filet mignon on a cast iron skillet.
Some people consider filet mignon a perfectly acceptable grill cut, but if you grill a filet mignon you will miss out on its best part: the crust.
A filet mignon on a wooden board.
While filet is a lean meat that can withstand the high heat of grilling, you actually want to hit it with high heat in the form of a pan sear rather than on a grill.
A smoky filet mignon topped with butter.
Filets are thick enough that caramelizing the ends adds fantastic flavor, but you won't get that same caramelization on a grill because the heat isn't evenly distributed.
Cuts of raw filet mignon on wooden board.
Though pan-searing is probably the best method to cook a filet mignon, you can get the same crust using a flat-top grill or oven, as well.