How to cook filet mignon in the oven without searing? 

In this article, we will answer the question “How to cook filet mignon in the oven without searing?” and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of cooking filet mignon in the oven without and by searing.

How to cook filet mignon in the oven without searing?

To cook filet mignon in the oven without searing, you can cook it in the oven by roasting, following the steps (1,2): 

  1. Cut the filet mignon piece (beef tenderloin) in filets of about 3 cm thickness.
  2. Preheat your oven to a high heat of about 355°F (180°C).
  3. Sprinkle some salt, pepper, and any other seasoning all over the filets. Rub it gently to coat evenly.
  1. Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a skillet. 
  2. Roast for about 30 till the internal temperature reaches 100°F (40°C) and turn the filet over
  3. Roast for an additional 10 minutes, or till the internal temperature of the meat reaches 140°F (60°C).

How to cook filet mignon in the oven by searing?

To cook filet mignon in the oven by searing, follow the steps (1,2):

  1. Cut the filet mignon piece (beef tenderloin) in filets of about 3 cm thickness.
  2. Preheat your oven to a high heat of about 450°F (230°C).
  3. Sprinkle some salt, pepper, and any other seasoning all over the filets. Rub it gently to coat evenly.
  4. Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a skillet. 
  1. Sear the filet in the heated skillet for about 10 minutes on each side. Sear until the steak starts to develop a nice golden crust. To properly sear, the temperature of the meat should achieve 300°F (150°C).
  2. Turn the heat to 260°F (130°C) and roast for about 30 minutes, till the internal temperature of the meat reaches 140°F (60°C). 

What are the benefits and drawbacks of searing filet mignon?

The benefits of searing beef meat prior to cooking or roasting are related to the sensory properties which are achieved through the searing. 

It is known that cooking beef with the addition of water can lead to toughening of the meat, while dry cooking is able to denature the muscle fibers without hardening of the meat. However, it can also cause increased moisture loss.

The moisture loss can be reduced by searing the meat, as it creates a surface of denatured proteins which act as a barrier to water. In addition, the Maillar reaction occurs by searing, by which amino acids and sugar react, flavor and aroma compounds are generated, giving the typical roasted-aroma of meat (2). 

In a study, beef steaks were prepared by oven-roasting with and without searing. Although there were no significant differences in the moisture loss and the juiciness between the two methods, sensory properties of previously seared steaks were considered greater, due to the aroma compounds generated by searing the meat (1).

The drawbacks of searing filet mignon before roasting in the oven is the additional preparation step required. The one-step preparation of simply placing the filet in the oven to roast is simpler and more practical than the two-step preparation of searing and roasting the filet mignon.

In addition, according to studies, by searing meat filets in the oven, a longer time is required, especially due to the time needed for the oven temperature to be reduced to the desired temperature of roasting after searing. This can result in a higher moisture loss (2).

What are other ways to prepare filet mignon?

Another way to prepare filet mignon is to grill it. For this, you will need a grill or grill plate. In addition, you can use a marinade to improve the flavor of your filet, by previously marinating the filet mignon for about 45 minutes in the refrigerator (4).

Heat a grill or grill plate to medium high power. Place the filet on the grill and let grill for about 20 minutes, turning it every three minutes. If you have a whole tenderloin (beef not cut in filets), it is important to rotate the loin in a quarter-turn to ensure an even cooking of the meat.

For a medium-rare filet, the internal temperature should achieve 120°F. For fully cooked, longer cooking is necessary.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “How to cook filet mignon in the oven without searing?” and discussed the benefits and drawbacks of cooking filet mignon in the oven without and by searing.

References

  1. Yoo, Ji Hyun, et al. Effects of searing cooking on sensory and physicochemical properties of beef steak. Food sci anim res, 2020, 40, 44.
  2. Rodas‐González, Argenis, et al. Determination of optimum oven cooking procedures for lean beef products. Food Sci Nutr, 2015, 3, 475-485.
  3. Horton, S. Sargent Choice Cooking Demonstration: Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Wild Rice Salad and Grilled Vegetables. Boston University.