How to Cook the Perfect Fillet Steak
Lean, tender, juicy fillet steak deserves the very best treatment. Here’s everything you need to know about how to pan-fry, griddle and barbecue fillet steak to perfection. Scroll down for all the timings, temperatures and serving ideas you need.
Discover our fillet steak recipes
What is fillet steak?
Fillet steak is cut from the centre of the sirloin, which runs along the back of the cow. It is the most tender cut of beef and when perfectly cooked has a succulent, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Fillet steak is leaner and tends to be thicker cut than other steaks. Best served rare to medium.
Shop fillet steak
What is fillet steak?
Fillet steak is cut from the centre of the sirloin, which runs along the back of the cow. It is the most tender cut of beef and when perfectly cooked has a succulent, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Fillet steak is leaner and tends to be thicker cut than other steaks. Best served rare to medium.
Fillet steak cooking times & temperatures
Fillet steak COOKING & temperatures
Pan-frying, griddling or barbecuing over high heat, rather than slow-cooking or braising, is the best way to cook fillet steak. Here are the recommended cooking times for a 2cm-thick fillet steak (timings will vary depending on the thickness of your cut). Always ensure all the cut surfaces of the meat are thoroughly cooked.
How to PAN-FRY or GRIDDLE fillet steak
The quickest, easiest way to fillet steak perfection.
Just before cooking, pat the fillet steak dry with kitchen paper and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
Heat a heavy-based frying pan or ridged griddle pan until hot. Rub both sides of the steak with 1 tablespoon of oil.
Put the steak in the hot pan. The meat should sizzle when it hits the surface, which will help it to form a flavourful browned crust. When a crust has formed, add a knob of butter to the pan and cook the steak, turning just once, on a high heat for the times listed. Baste the meat as it cooks.
Melt a knob of butter over the top, set aside to rest for 5-10 minutes, then serve.
How long to cook
—
Rare
4 to 6 minutes per side
Medium-rare
5 to 7 minutes per side
Medium
6 to 8 minutes per side
Well-done
8 to 10 minutes per side
How to BARBECUE fillet steak
Light the barbecue and gather your cooking accessories.
When the barbecue coals are covered in white ash, pat the fillet steak dry, season on both sides with salt and pepper and rub the surface with oil. Lay the steak on the grill with the lid on (use an upturned roasting tray or disposable foil tray if your barbecue is not lidded).
Cook for the times listed. To prevent the outside of the meat from burning, stand by the barbecue as you cook with a pint of water to hand. If the flames flare up, dampen the heat by flicking water on the coals until the flames die down.
Leave to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
How long to cook on the barbecue
—
Rare
3 to 4 minutes per side
Medium-rare
4 to 5 minutes per side
Medium
5 to 7 minutes per side
Well-done
7 to 8 minutes per side
Steak cooking with our EXPERT chefs
Steak cooking with our EXPERT chefs
Learn how to achieve a restaurant‐style dinner without having to leave the house. The classes cover choosing your cut, from rump, sirloin and fillet to ribeye, tomahawk and T-bone, and how to cook to perfection, the right size cut for your dish, plus sauces and accompaniments.
WATCH Alex
Watch as Alex Szrok, Waitrose Cookery School chef, explains how to choose the cut of steak that’s right for you.
WATCH Charmaine
Charmaine Katz, chef tutor at Waitrose Cookery School, shows how to pan-fry a perfect medium-rare steak.
What to serve with fillet steak
What to SERVE with fillet steak
The ultimate side dishes for fillet steak
To make...
Every home cook’s secret weapon – keep a flavoured butter to hand to melt over meat, fish, filled pasta and vegetables.
Follow these simple steps for the best homemade chips, which are fluffy on the inside, crisp on the outside.
Fondant potatoes are a restaurant classic and with good reason - potatoes are cooked in rich stock until lusciously soft, with a satisfying crispy top. A special side to a roast or steak.
And to buy...
Sauces & butters for steaks to buy
Making steak for 10 or more people?
Making steak for 10 or more people?
Take the stress out of dinner parties – you cook delicious steaks, and we’ll do the rest. Order freshly prepared dishes to your door with Waitrose Entertaining. Choose from vegetables & sides, and don’t forget desserts, fresh fruit & cheese.
5 TIPS for cooking the ultimate fillet steak
5 tips for cooking the ultimate fillet steak
?uuid=5702c33c-33e5-4903-a0da-7f41f70b5429&$Waitrose-Image-Preset-95$&wid=2400&fit=constrain%2C0)
Before cooking, let the meat come to room temperature for about 30 minutes. Pat it dry with kitchen paper.
The best way to make sure the steak is cooked the way you like it is to use a probe thermometer: rare will read 48ºC, medium-rare 52ºC, medium 58ºC, medium-well 62ºC and well-done 68ºC.
To help the steak cook evenly, baste it with melted butter as it cooks – or use melted beef fat for added flavour.
After cooking, let your steak rest on a wire cooling rack over a tray in a warm place for 5-10 minutes (depending on the size). Resting allows the meat to relax and retains the flavourful juices.
Finish with a sprinkle of salt.
Discover our steak hub with guides to other cuts: sirloin, ribeye, rump and tomahawk.
Amazing fillet steak recipes
Amazing fillet steak RECIPES
Different ways to turn fillet steak into a main event.
This has a great blend of flavours and offers something a bit different to the usual sausage and bacon brekkie.
Steak, grilled little gem & gorgonzola butter
A rich, cheese-rippled butter, good steak and elegantly charred little gem – supper from just 6 ingredients.
Peppered fillet steak with tarragon & mushroom sauce
This is the ultimate ‘treat’ dinner and a great cut to cook for one. The quick mushroom sauce works well tossed through cooked pasta or pearled spelt.
The best TOOLS for cooking steak
A digital food probe thermometer will eliminate guesswork.
A cast-iron pan will retain the heat as you cook.
If you prefer stainless steel, use a large ovenproof frying pan with a heavy base.
Good tongs will help you sear and turn with ease.
Best of British beef
Waitrose is first for animal welfare. Our beef is sourced with care from British farms who we know and trust – some we’ve worked with for more than 30 years.
All our beef is from British farms
We work with farmers who share our award-winning welfare standards. Our beef cattle have about 30% more space than the Red Tractor standards and live on open pasture during the warmer months.