Easy & Elegant Tenderloin Roast

Tips for Easy Beef Tenderloin

Is beef tenderloin the same as filet mignon?

Beef tenderloin and filet mignon are not the same, although they are related—the filet mignon is actually a very small part of the whole tenderloin. The tenderloin can be sold whole or divided into different cuts. The filet is the most tender part of the tenderloin, but there’s a tradeoff in flavor. To make up for it, filet is often served with rich accompaniments, like a savory sauce or bacon and mushrooms.

Should you sear beef tenderloin before roasting?

You do not have to sear beef tenderloin, although you certainly can. Many recipes call for searing as a first step to boost the flavor.

Why is my beef tenderloin tough?

If your easy beef tenderloin is tough, the first culprit is usually overcooking. A tenderloin is extremely lean, and that lack of fat means that it’s extremely vulnerable. While slow-cooking may transform an otherwise tough chuck roast to a melt-in-your-mouth pot roast, a filet doesn’t have the same fat marbling, so overcooking it will take make your tenderloin chewy and tough.

If you’ve cooked it the right length of time, and to the perfect internal temperature (you'll need an instant-read thermometer to know for sure) then toughness is most likely due to cutting into it too soon. Yes, that tenderloin is tempting right out of the oven, but you have to let it rest for 10-15 minutes. This rest period lets the juices reabsorb into the meat; if you cut it too soon, the juices will escape, leaving the meat dry.

Research contributed by Hazel Wheaton, Taste of Home Book Editor