Wagyu beef steak is one of the rarest cuts of meat, especially Kobe beef. Authentic Wagyu is luxurious, expensive, and highly sought-after. Wagyu is like no other steak because of its higher fat content and marbling.
When looking at what makes Wagyu delicious, it begins with the cows. Wagyu cattle will roam in the open grassland as they’re fed unique diets for 350 to 650 days.
We’re going to take you through what you need to know to cook a Wagyu steak. We’ll show you how to cook Wagyu beef the ideal way. Read on to learn more below.
Selecting Your Steak
Selecting wagyu steak isn’t always easy. While it’s one of the best steaks in the world, you need to select it carefully. We’ll show you how to find the highest-quality Wagyu beef.
The Cut of Wagyu
Like other types of steak, Wagyu beef comes from a cow. Therefore, the type of wagyu steak you get varies. The common types are wagyu flank steak, Wagyu ribeye steak, and even a Wagyu filet mignon.
Still, you’ll also find other Wagyu steak cuts. Depending on the type of meat, what you need to look for varies. We list some tips to find the perfect Wagyu steak below:
- Check the sides of the steak for intramuscular tissue and marbling
- Make sure it comes from cattle with the Wagyu mark
- Look to see if the marbling is consistent
- Examine the thickness of the meat
- Settle on the Wagyu steak cut you want
- Make sure the color is a bright, cherry red
Following these pro tips will help you find the best individual steaks.
Where the Wagyu is From
Wagyu steak comes from several places. While it’s a popular steak in the United States, it’s also made in Australia and Japan. There are a few key differences to note with these steaks.
First and foremost, we’ll start with the feeding time. Wagyu cattle in the United States eat for around 400 days, while Japanese Wagyu cattle eat for around 650 days. Additionally, Australian Wagyu cattle eat for around 350 to 400 days.
Another key difference is the diet of the Wagyu cattle. Japanese Wagyu eat more barley and rice, while American Wagyu eat corn and wheat. Australian Wagyu also have a unique diet and eat grains and hay.
The diet and feeding length play a role in how the Wagyu beef tastes. Japanese Wagyu beef has a high-fat content and a more tender flavor. This makes it great for stir fry and yakiniku.
On the other hand, American Wagyu beef has less fat and produces a more beefy flavor. American Wagyu is best when eaten alongside side dishes like crunchier vegetables and green beans.
While Australian Wagyu is a unique cut of Wagyu beef, it’s closer to Japanese Wagyu beef than American Wagyu beef.
Preparing the Steak
Preparing a Wagyu steak is also important. Without the proper preparation, you won’t maximize flavor. Plus, wagyu isn’t the most straightforward cut of meat to cook.
So, prepare the meat carefully by bringing it to room temperature before cooking. Also, make sure you season it well but don’t add too much seasoning. Overseasoning Wagyu takes away from its natural flavor.
Bringing it to Room Temperature
When it comes to preparing Wagyu steaks, make sure you bring them to room temperature first. Before cooking the steak, remove it from the freezer and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours. You don’t want the steak to be frozen when you remove it from the fridge.
Then, place the steak on your kitchen table an hour before you plan on cooking it. Letting the steak reach room temperature helps you cook the meat evenly.
If you plan on freezing wagyu steak, make sure you avoid freezer burns. These will damage the intramuscular tissue and ruin the flavor. Air exposure causes freezer burns, so use a vacuum-sealed bag to store your Wagyu beef.
It’s important to follow this process to bring out the rich flavor of the steak.
Seasoning the Steak
Seasoning Wagyu steak is tricky. It’s an expensive steak, so you want to get it right the first time. We’ll take you through a few pro tips for seasoning the most common Wagyu steak cuts.
The first thing to consider is whether you’re going with a sauce or dry rub. While people love to marinate a traditional steak, Wagyu beef has a ton of natural flavor, so it’s a good idea to avoid heavy amounts of seasoning.
When first cooking Wagyu steaks, we recommend starting with salt and black pepper. The type of salt, however, is up to you. Feel free to use kosher salt, sea salt, or large-grain salts. Ultimately, you want to taste the Wagyu steak more than the seasoning, so go easy on it.
Still, it’s possible to enjoy Wagyu beef with sauces and marinades. However, it’s a good idea to apply the marinade as a sauce after the cooking process.
Some great sauces and oils to try with Wagyu include:
- Soy sauce
- Sushi vinegar
- Olive oil
- Worcestershire sauce
- Teriyaki marinades
As long as you avoid heavy seasonings, it’s not too hard to season wagyu steaks.
Preparing the Grill
Preparing the grill is also important when you’re making Wagyu steaks. The good news is that you don’t need to change your preparation routine. Simply make sure the grill is clean and use a grill pan for searing.
Slow Cooking
Slow cooking, or sous vide, is perfect for thicker cuts of Wagyu beef. When preparing the grill for slow cooking, make sure you use a small amount of oil and set up heating zones.
To create indirect heat with heating zones, make the middle grill grates the direct flame portion. Then, place the steaks to the side of the flame when you’re done searing it to cook it slower.
Japanese Wagyu is also great as the main dish or a side dish. If you’re cooking other foods around it, make sure you save room for it. Also, choose light over heavy neutral vegetables when pairing Japanese Wagyu with vegetables.
Sous vide is better for Japanese Wagyu beef than American Wagyu beef.
Traditional Grilling
Traditional Grilling is also easy with Wagyu beef. It’s better for Australian and American Wagyu because they have less fat. To prepare your grill for traditional grilling, clean it with a grill brush and use an open flame.
For traditional grilling, preheat the grill to its medium-high heat setting.
Cooking the Steak
Wagyu steaks aren’t hard to cook when you know what to do. We’ll take you through the cooking process and break down each part of the process. This includes cooking times, how to know it’s done, and what to do before serving.
How Long to Cook
Wagyu steaks don’t take long to cook. In fact, it only takes around two to four minutes to achieve a medium-rare sear. That said, it takes cooks an average of 10 to 20 minutes to cook Wagyu beef.
Cooking times vary based on the type of Wagyu beef, the thickness, and the internal temperature. American and Australian Wagyu beef cooks quickly, while Japanese Wagyu takes longer due to its high-fat content.
Furthermore, thicker cuts and roasts might take you upwards of 30 minutes to cook. For this reason, we recommend cutting roasts into small pieces for the perfect steak. Adding a small amount of oil to a cast iron pan also speeds up the searing process.
How to Tell it’s Done
There are a few ways to tell when a Wagyu steak is done. However, the best method is to use a meat thermometer. Meat thermometers help you check the internal temperature of the meat.
For Wagyu beef, the ideal internal temperature is 130°F for medium-rare steaks. For medium and medium-well steaks, look for an internal temperature of 135°F. Well and well-done Wagyu beef will have an internal temperature of around 140°F.
Another way to check is by examining the color. Rare and medium-rare steaks will have some red in the middle, while well and well-done steaks are brown.
Resting the steak
Resting the steak is also crucial. Once you finish cooking the Wagyu beef, remove it from the grill and let it rest. Letting the Wagyu rest for 10 minutes gives the meat time to settle before you cook it.
Wagyu beef has a lot of intramuscular tissue, so letting it expand and contract during the resting period adds flavor. Depending on the thickness of the Wagyu steak, you may be able to let it rest for less time.
Cook the Best Wagyu Steak Today!
As long as you follow our pro tips, you’ll have no problem cooking wagyu steak. Whether it’s American wagyu beef or Japanese wagyu beef, just make sure you follow the right cooking process to succeed. When cooked on a gas grill or charcoal grill, wagyu steaks are exceptional.
That said, make sure you follow the appropriate cooking process. Additionally, the rarity of wagyu beef makes it challenging to get. We always recommend checking online marketplaces if you’re having trouble.
Joining the American Wagyu Association (AWA) also makes it easier to find American wagyu steaks.