When you're shopping for steak, it can be overwhelming to figure out which cut to purchase.
Beef is generally divided into eight primal sections, and those are cut into the sub-sections that a butcher divides even further into the portions you buy at the store.
If you're looking for the most tender portion, though, narrow down your search to filet mignon.
Filet mignon is a favorite on steakhouse menus and one of the best steak cuts to buy for a reason.
It's taken from the long, narrow tenderloin muscle, which runs along the backbone of the cow in the loin primal section
It's shaped like a dagger, and the tip-like portion that tapers toward the ribs is where the filet mignon comes from.
The cow doesn't use the tenderloin muscle much throughout its life
Enjoying the most tender cut of steak goes beyond choosing filet mignon in general. You also need to consider the quality of the meat