Steak enthusiasts love a good debate. So, it’s no surprise that they have pitted New York strip steak against ribeye.
Both cuts of beef are truly amazing. However, there is only one winner when it comes to which steak cut is best. But first, let’s explore each beef cut in depth before deciding.
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What Is New York Strip Steak?
One of the most coveted steaks in the steak world is the New York strip steak. N
ew York strip steak is carved from the short loin. The short loin sits at the back of the cow.
Since the New York strip comes from an area that receives little action, the meat is very tender.
In addition to this, the short loin has an incredible amount of intramuscular fat.
New York strip steak was not always called New York strip steak. Originally it was called a Kansas City strip steak.
However, in the latter part of the 1820s, two brothers in charge of Delmonico’s restaurant changed the name.
The restaurant was ironically located in New York City.
Some of the restaurant’s customers started complaining and asked for the bone removed from the meat.
The name was changed to New York Strip steak, and it rose to popularity.
What Is Ribeye Steak?
As the name suggests, ribeye steaks come from the rib portion of the steer. It’s fabricated from the ribeye roast.
Even though you can find bone-in ribeye steaks, the bone still has to be removed to qualify as a ribeye steak.
Ribeye’s story is not as glamorous as strip steaks. We do not know who created the name ribeye.
However, we can assume the name was given because of the location of the steak.
Ribeye steak sits in the center of the animal, also known as the eye.
Therefore, since it is cut from the rib primal and the rib eye is the smack dab in the middle of the cow, it is called a ribeye steak.
New York Strip vs. Ribeye
Now that we have defined these steak cuts, let’s compare these highly coveted beauties.
Both ribeye steaks and New York strip steaks are both popular high-quality steaks.
However, their differences, such as flavor and texture, are quite noticeable.
Aliases
Ever noticed how the steaks in the meat case can have different names even though they look like the same cut of beef.
This occurs because steaks usually have several aliases.
In addition to this, the steak may also be mislabeled. For example, a bone-in New York strip is called a Kansas City strip.
However, a bone-in strip steak with a portion of tenderloin is a porterhouse or a T-bone steak.
The New York steak strip can also be called hotel-style steak, Omaha strip, strip l. in steak, ambassador steak, top loin, and ambassador steak.
Ribeye has many aliases, including rib steak, beauty steak, Delmonico steak, Scotch fillet, or Spencer steak.
Flavor
The flavor is the most noticeable between these two cuts of steak. The flavor comes from the steak’s fat profile.
Ribeye steaks contain more intramuscular fat, which runs throughout the meat. In contrast, strip steak has less fat.
As the steaks cook, the intramuscular fat renders and adds moisture and flavor to the meat, creating a different taste in each steak.
Nevertheless, both steaks have a robust beefy flavor. However, ribeye’s flavor is richer and more succulent than the New York steak strip.
Texture
The fat profile also affects the texture of the meat.
Compared to cuts such as chuck steak or eye of round steak, both strip steaks and ribeye steaks are more tender.
However, since the ribeye steak contains more marbling which melts as the steak cooks, it is more tender.
Nevertheless, the New York strip is still relatively tender; it’s just slightly chewier.
Cooking Method
There are multiple ways you can prepare a steak.
For example, you can grill, air fryer, broil, reverse sear, pan-sear, and even cook a steak sous vide.
There isn’t a big difference in the way ribeye and strip steaks are cooked.
You can pretty much cook both steaks using the aforementioned cooking methods.
Nevertheless, the New York strip is the better option if you want to fire up your kamado grill and cook the perfect steak.
This is because the New York steak contains less fat.
Fat and grills do not go together. If you place a ribeye steak on your portable pellet grill, the fat will render and drip down into the fire, causing a flare-up or burst of fire.
Grilling New York steak strips leads to fewer flare-ups.
Nutrition
Regarding nutrition, most steak’s caloric information is similar. After all, they are cuts of beef.
In general, beef is a treasure trove of protein as well as other beneficial compounds such as Vitamin D and iron.
The biggest difference in these steak’s nutrition profile is the fat. Ribeye contains more calories since it has a higher fat content.
A 100-gram serving of ribeye steak has 22 grams of fat.
In contrast, 100 grams of New York strip has 2.7 calories, which is drastically lower than ribeye steak.
In addition to this, you can also remove the layer of fat surrounding the strip steak to make it even healthier.
Price
Strip steak and ribeye steak are not cheap steaks, so you can expect to pay a little extra when buying them.
In addition to this, both steak prices are nearly the same.
However, New York strip steak wins in the price category. Depending on your location, a strip steak can cost $10-$15 per pound.
In contrast, ribeye steaks can range from $12-$16 a pound.
While it may not be a big difference, the pounds can add up.
For example, if you purchase 4 strip steaks at 13$ a pound, you will pay $52 in total.
In contrast, if you were to buy 4 ribeye steaks at $16 a pound, you would be paying $64.
That’s$12 in saving you can use to purchase sides such as potatoes to go along with the steak.
Which Is Better: New York Strip Steak or Ribeye Steak
On the one hand, ribeye steak contains a rich amount of marbling, giving it a tender texture and succulent flavor.
On the other hand, the strip steak is still tender, and it costs less than ribeye steak.
So, if flavor and texture are the most essential characteristics, go with ribeye steak.
In contrast, if the price is the most crucial characteristic, go with the strip steak since it’s cheaper per pound.
How To Cook New York Strip Steak
I could not discuss New York strip steak vs. ribeye without mentioning how to cook each steak.
New York steak is very easy to prepare. It’s probably one of the easiest steaks to cook.
The best way to prepare a New York strip steak is definitely to sear it first, so it develops a gorgeous crust.
First, set your kamado grill up and preheat it to medium-high heat (450°F-500°F).
Season your strip steak with salt and pepper, then place it onto the grill and cook it for 4 minutes per side until it has a temperature of 130°F.
Alternatively, you can also cook the strip steak in a cast-iron skillet.
Place a few tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil into the skillet and set it over medium-high heat.
Wait until the skillet is scorching hot before adding the seasoned strip steak. Cook the strip steak for 3-4 minutes per side until it has a temperature of 130°F.
Make sure you use an infrared thermometer to measure the strip steak’s internal temperature.
Remove the strip steak from the skillet. Place the strip steak on a warm plate and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
How To Cook Ribeye Steak
As I mentioned above, ribeye steak has a substantial amount of fat which can cause flare-ups.
So, if the flare-ups get out of hand, move the ribeye steak to another area, preferably a cooler part of the grill.
Set up your grill and preheat it to medium-high heat (450°F-500°F). Season your ribeye steaks with salt and pepper.
Add the ribeye steaks to the grill and cook them for 4 minutes per side. Remove the ribeye steak from the grill once it has a temperature of 130°F.
Let the ribeye steak rest for 5-10 minutes until it has a temperature of 135°F, the perfect medium-rare.
Alternatively, you can also sear the ribeye steaks in a hot cast-iron skillet.
Use the instructions for cooking strip steak in a skillet and remove the steaks from the heat once they have a temperature of 130°F.
Don’t forget to let the ribeye steaks rest for 5-10 minutes before digging in.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to premium steaks, both ribeye and New York strip steaks fit the bill.
Ribeye steak is rich, juicy, and tender, while strip steak is tender and affordable.
Therefore, the best steak award goes to no one. Both steaks are equally delicious, so there is no winner.
Don’t believe me? Drive to your local grocery store or butcher shop and purchase a ribeye steak and a New York strip steak.
Next, fire up your grill and cook them for yourself.
You might also be interested in the following comparisons:
- Porterhouse Vs. Ribeye
- Sirloin Vs. Ribeye
- Tomahawk Steak Vs. Ribeye
- Porterhouse Vs. T Bone
- Filet Mignon Vs. Ribeye
- Prime Rib Vs. Ribeye
- Tenderloin Vs Filet Mignon
- Sirloin Vs. Tenderloin
- Filet Mignon Vs. Sirloin
- T-Bone Vs. Ribeye Steak
- New York Strip Vs. Sirloin
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.