Best Ways to Prepare Wagyu

Wagyu beef is a Japanese delicacy that is known for its velvety flavor, tenderness and rich fat content. It is very easy to visit a Zagat rated, Michelin star or fine dining restaurant and enjoy ordering this specialty off of the menu. But a lot of people prefer to buy steaks online and prepare them at home. This is of course a great option if you’re looking to save a little money, or if you just want to show off your cooking skills. However, preparing wagyu steaks is not as easy as preparing your typical run of the mill USDA beef. There are certain techniques that should be followed in order to produce the best tasting meal and to capitalize on the natural goodness of what is known as the world’s best beef. Here, we take a look at some of the best ways to prep Wagyu beef.

Searing over an open flame – Searing Wagyu steaks over a very hot flame is a great method for maintaining the juiciness of the inside of the meat while allowing the outside to get a little crispy. Searing and Wagyu go hand and hand and you can’t go wrong.

Pan searing – You can just as easily cook Wagyu in a hot iron clad skillet for a few minutes on each side. Keep seasoning simple with just some salt and pepper, so as to not taint the natural flavor of the meat. After cooking for a few minutes on each side, place in the oven for another couple of minutes. When the steak is done cooking, place on a cutting board and let the meat rest for a short time.

Fajita style – Many Japanese like to prepare Wagyu beef by cutting into thin slices, marinating in soy sauce and then searing. The natural fattiness of the meat absorbs the flavor of the marinade, so steer clear of marinades that have a lot of vinegar. If you’re looking for something a little more exotic, try a sweet marinade flavored with berries.

It is very important not to overcook Wagyu beef due to the high fat content. Because of this, Wagyu beef is rated on a twelve point marbling scale. In fact, some cuts of Kobe beef can rate off this scale as well, with as much as ninety percent fat to ten percent meat. Your best bet for the highest quality of Wagyu beef for home preparation is either to journey to Japan or to look for kobe steaks online.