With more than 15 popular steaks, it’s no wonder that people have started comparing and contrasting steaks to see which one is better.
After all, that is a lot of steaks to choose from.
Striploin and sirloin fit the bill as they are popular cuts of steak the bill as they are very popular.
Strip steak and sirloin are both delicious in their own right, but which steak is better? Let’s break down these cuts of steak to find out.
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What Is New York Strip?
New York strip steak is an interesting name. The name really makes you wonder about the history of this delicious steak.
Swiss natives Giovanni and Pietro Delmonico, who owned a restaurant in New York, played an integral role in how the strip steak came into existence.
Before the strip steak became New York, Strip steak was called the Kansas City strip steak.
However, after some of their customers asked for the bone to be removed from their Kansas steak, the Delmonico brothers complied, and the New York strip steak was born.
New York strip steak is fabricated from the short loin subprimal.
The short loin sits on the back of the animal and houses multiple cuts of beef, including tenderloin and strip loin.
New York strip steak has several aliases.
As I mentioned above, a bone-in strip steak is called a Kansas City steak, while a bone-in New York strip steak with a portion of tenderloin steak is called a porterhouse or T-bone steak.
New York strip steak can also be known as boneless club steak, strip loin steak, shell steak, Omaha strip, and ambassador steak.
In terms of cooking, New York strip steak can be grilled on a natural gas grill.
However, the strip steak is so versatile that it can be seared in a cast-iron skillet or roasted in the oven.
What Is Sirloin?
Sirloin’s history is not as fascinating as New York strip steak’s history. The word sirloin comes from the Middle English term surloine.
Surlione comes from the French term surloigne, a variation on the word surlonge. The prefix sur means above, while the suffix stands for loin.
Sirloin steak is carved from the sirloin primal.
Sirloin tends to be more tender and flavorful than some steaks like top round steak or eye of round steak.
Therefore, it is a regular on restaurant menus and in several homes worldwide.
Sirloin is also famous because it is a lean, healthy cut of meat. Sirloin also provides you with a healthy amount of protein, and it is low fat and low calories.
Sirloin is very easy to prepare, and it will pair with nearly any side dish, including mac and cheese and mashed potatoes.
Sirloin steak can be grilled on a kamado grill or seared in a hot skillet and finished in the oven.
New York Strip vs. Sirloin
Now that I’ve given you a steak history lesson and an in-depth look at New York Strip steak and sirloin steak, let’s compare and contrast these 2 great steaks.
Texture
New York strip steak is fabricated from a region of the loin that hardly gets used.
Therefore, strip loin steak has a leg up on sirloin because it is incredibly tender.
In addition to this, New York strip steak is known for its layer of pristine fat and rich marbling, which gives it a juicy, moist texture.
In contrast, sirloin is much leaner and low in fat. Nevertheless, it does cook much faster than strip steak.
The only issue with sirloin is that if you cook sirloin steak above medium, you can expect a dry, tough, and chewy steak.
Flavor
As I mentioned above, the New York steak strip has a healthy amount of intramuscular fat. This marbling is what makes strip steak all of its flavors.
The robust beefy flavor is only amplified when strip steak is grilled, so strip steak wins the flavor category.
Sirloin steak can also be grilled, but you must marinate it to give the steak some flavor. The marinade is needed because sirloin does not have a lot of flavor.
Nevertheless, sirloin is still a good option for those that are watching what they eat but still want to indulge in their steak cravings.
Versatility
In terms of versatility, sirloin steak beats out New York strip steak.
I know what you are thinking; how can sirloin be better than strip steak when it is not as juicy or flavorful.
It is best to think of New York strip steak as the main actor. Strip steak is the most essential character in the steak movie.
Strip steak is best when it is served along with side dishes rather than being used as a backup to another ingredient.
Nevertheless, New York strip steak can also be used in dishes such as beef braciole or steak sandwiches.
In contrast, top sirloin is as versatile as it gets when it comes to steak. It can be used as an appetizer, lunch, and dinner meal.
You can serve it with salad greens, use it for fajitas and serve it on tacos. You can also make steak kabobs out of sirloin.
You can even place sirloin into a meat grinder, shape it into hamburgers and grill it on your kamado grill.
Affordability
Top sirloin definitely wins in the cost category, so if you’re working with a budget, sirloin is your best option.
Typically, sirloin costs less than $10 per pound. In contrast, New York Strip steal can cost up to $15 per pound.
While $15 may not seem like a lot, if you are feeding 5-6 people, you could end up spending $75-$90.
How To Cook New York Strip Steak
Since New York strip steak is tender and flavorful. Therefore, it needs a cooking method that will really bring out all of its flavors.
New York strip steak can be grilled or seared on the stovetop, but it must be cooed to medium rare for best results.
Cooking steak strip cooks it just enough so it is tender, but it also preserves most of the steak’s moisture.
When it comes to steak, it’s best to keep the seasoning simple. However, you can use your favorite steak seasoning or BBQ rub.
To cook your New York strip steak, season it with salt and pepper. Heat a dry cast-iron skillet, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, and place it over medium-high heat.
Once the skillet is scorching hot, sear the strip steaks for 1-2 minutes per side until a rich crust forms.
Remove the strip steaks from the skillet, place them on a butcher block and let them rest for 5 minutes.
If you want to add a bright, tangy flavor to your sirloin steak, add a little lime juice to it before you serve it.
If you see carving the New York steak strip before you serve it, slice it across the grain to create the most tender bite.
How To Cook Sirloin
Sirloin is just as easy to cook as New York strip steak.
Since we will be grilling your sirloin steak, you need to create a two-zone fire by placing your lit charcoal on one side of the grill.
Simply brush your grill grates with a light coating of olive oil, then preheat your hibachi grill.
Season your steaks with salt and pepper. You can salt your sirloin steaks up to 24 hours in advance and leave them in the fridge.
Place your sirloin steaks onto the hot side of the grill and sear them for 2-3 minutes per side.
Next, transfer the sirloin steaks to the cool side of the grill and cook them for 2-8 minutes.
Once the steak has a temperature ranging between 135°F-145°F for medium-rare or 140°-150°F for medium, remove the sirloin steak from the grill.
Make sure you use an infrared thermometer to monitor the sirloin steak’s temperature.
Remove the sirloin steak from the grill and place it on a plate. Loosely cover the sirloin steak with foil and let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
Remember to slice the sirloin steak against the grain for best results.
Is Sirloin or New York Strip Better?
New York strip steak and sirloin steak are equally delicious, tender, and juicy steaks. Nevertheless, there are differences between the two.
New York steak strip contains more intramuscular, which makes it juicier and more flavorful than sirloin steak.
However, New York strip steak does cost more than sirloin steak, so if money. In contrast, sirloin is leaner and perfect for those who are health conscious.
Nevertheless, both sirloin and New York strip steak are equally delicious. Therefore, which steak is better depends on your preferences and needs.
Can I Use Strip Steak Instead of Sirloin?
Yes, you can use New York steak strip in place of sirloin steak. You can also use ribeye steak in place of sirloin steak.
Budget substitutes for sirloin include flank or round steak.
In contrast, the best substitutes for New York strip steaks are flank steak, flap steak, and hanger steak since they have similar levels of intramuscular fat.
Final Thoughts
Well, now that you are up to date on the sirloin vs. New York strip steak debate, you can make your own decision on which steak is best.
Remember to try both cuts of beef before you make your decision. Happy steak-eating!
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
- New York Strip Vs. Ribeye
- T-Bone Vs. Ribeye Steak
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.