Sirloin vs Ribeye: Two Great Steaks Compared!

Whether you’re out to dinner at a steakhouse and trying to decide what to order or buying steak to grill at home, ribeye and sirloin are popular choices. Most people wonder which one is better – the sirloin or the ribeye? You may have even asked the last time you dined out.

When you’re preparing steak at home, knowing more about them will help you make a decision for your ultimate steak feast. The differences between each of these steak cuts give them both advantages and disadvantages over one another. Depending on what’s important to you will reveal your best option when it comes to sirloin or ribeye.

Comparing Ribeye and Sirloin

Ribeye comes from the area of ribs six through twelve. It has plenty of marbling which makes the meat tender and moist for incredible flavor. You can buy them with or without the bone though if you’d like to have it bone-in, you may see it as a “cowboy steak” or “tomahawk steak” on the label.

Sirloin is a bit larger and much leaner than ribeye. It doesn’t have that marbling so while it is flavorful, it’s not quite as beefy as the ribeye, nor as tender.

Sirloin tends to have more of a chew to it though it’s not tough. Dry-aging can give your sirloin a deeper flavor if that’s what you like.

Tenderness and Flavor

As mentioned, the flavor a steak has is related to its fat content. Since ribeye has much more marbling, it will have more flavor. But if you dry age your sirloin, you can add more beefy richness to the taste without having fatty meat.

Both cuts are tender though with ribeye coming out slightly more on top than the sirloin. The fat marbling will render on your grill which will leave it with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

(See Ribeye vs Picanha for another great comparison!)

Cost

The price of the steak cuts you buy will depend on several factors. Ribeye tends to be more expensive than sirloin due to that rich marbling. It usually earns the USDA prime cut rating too, which can contribute to a higher cost. Other things that could make the price change are how available the cut is, the thickness, and the grade.

If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, sirloin may be the right fit for you. However, it may be worth your while to splurge on that ribeye for a special occasion.

Nutrition

Beef often gets a bad reputation for being unhealthy. However, you can enjoy steak in your diet if you think about your health needs. Generally, the cut with higher protein content will be the one with fewer calories. If this is a concern for you, then you may want to skip the ribeye. That marbling makes it have a higher caloric intake over sirloin steak.

As an example, if you had a 3.5-ounce serving of ribeye steak, it will have roughly 249 calories. The same sized serving of sirloin will have around 183 calories. Since these are small sizes and you’re likely to go for something a bit larger (perhaps 6-ounces, 9-ounces, or even more), you can quickly see how the calories add up. That doesn’t even include whatever else you’re serving with your steaks like loaded baked potatoes, creamed spinach, Caesar salad, and dinner rolls. For the health-conscious steak eater, it’s best to choose the sirloin over the ribeye.

Which one wins?

The winner is merely a matter of opinion. To one person, the ribeye would reign supreme with its marbling and depth of flavor in relation to tenderness. Sirloin may be more approachable though with its cost, health factors, and ease of use in the kitchen and on the grill.

Both are delicious cuts of steak though so regardless, you’ll satisfy your beef cravings. In the end, it’s all up to you and what you plan on doing with your sirloin or ribeye.

Sirloin is Better if You Want…

Sirloins are ideal for those that crave more versatility. You can turn them into kabobs or make them into fajitas. You can also work this cut into a variety of cuisines with ease. With sirloin steak, it is very easy to cook even for a novice griller or chef, and it tends to be the more economical choice among top steak options. Additionally, sirloin is phenomenal on the grill. There’s just no beating that tenderness and taste.

Ribeye is Better if You Want…

Ribeye is the best choice for you if you want to celebrate. Even if the reason you’re celebrating is just to have big, beefy flavor, that’s reason enough! The ribeye cut is excellent cooked on your grill (Traeger Smoked Ribeye with Reverse Sear). It’s fattier and richer in flavor, and it’s even more tender than that sirloin.

Choosing ribeye for most people is best when you want to make a grand impression. There’s little you need to do with it too. Just fire up the grill and cook it to your desired level of doneness, then serve it with a robust red wine.

Certainly, it’s a tough choice when it comes to these cuts of steak. But neither of them is a tough cut of steak. Following the recommended grill times for the thickness and cut of each will ensure that your steak – be it sirloin or ribeye – comes out with the perfect texture and flavor that everyone will love at your dinner table or backyard cookout.

References:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/imps
https://www.bbqdryrubs.com/sirloin-vs-ribeye
https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/cuts/cut/2468/ribeye-steak
https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/cuts/cut/44495/top-sirloin-steak-center-cut