A common dilemma among steak lovers has to do with deciding between Porterhouse and New York Strip steaks when dining out or grilling at home. It’s also understandable since both of these delicious cuts offer such great flavors, but there are notable differences between them that you’ll want to consider.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into the Porterhouse vs New York strip steak debate to help you pick your favorite! We’ll cover everything from marbling and cost to preparation techniques — so keep reading for all your steak conundrums answered.
Table of Contents
What Is Porterhouse Steak?
A porterhouse steak is a cut of steak taken from the back of the animal near the ribs. It contains two parts—a strip loin and a tenderloin—each connected by a T-shaped bone. The strip loin portion has more flavor while the tenderloin portion is more tender. This combination makes for an incredibly tasty and juicy cut of steak with a distinctly beefy flavor amplified by the varying textures.
Porterhouse steaks are usually thicker than other steaks, ranging from 1 to 2 inches thick. This means that grilling porterhouse steak takes longer, since they need to be cooked slowly over low heat to ensure even cooking throughout. They can be grilled, pan-seared, or broiled all with excellent results.
What Is New York Strip Steak?
A New York Strip steak is a cut that comes from the short loin section of a cow. Its rich flavor and tender texture make it one of the most popular cuts of steak on the market today. The name “New York strip” originates from Delmonico’s restaurant in Manhattan, which first served this cut in the 19th century. However, it’s sometimes referred to as shell steak, Kansas City strip steak, or top sirloin steak.
Unlike other fattier and more popular cuts like the ribeye, the New York strip steak is more muscly, which affects cooking times. As far as the nutritional benefits of New York strip steak go, it has more protein than Porterhouse, and fewer calories and fat.
What Is the Difference Between Porterhouse Steak and New York Strip Steak?
Porterhouse steak and New York Strip steak are two of the most popular cuts of steak available today. Both steaks come from the same part of the cow, yet they differ in taste, texture, fat content, and cook time. Let’s discuss their differences further below.
Cost
The difference between Porterhouse steak and New York Strip steak when it comes to cost is significant. Porterhouse steak is considered a more premium cut of beef, and typically costs more than New York Strip steak. The price varies depending on the steak shops you visit, so check out all your options before stocking up.
Size
A Porterhouse steak tends to be much larger than a New York Strip steak, averaging about twice the size of its counterpart. The specific size varies based on the cut but in most cases, Porterhouses will weigh anywhere between 16 ounces to 24 ounces, while New York Strip steaks are typically between 8 ounces to 12 ounces.
Appearance
In addition to sheer size differences between these two cuts of steak, they also differ slightly in their appearance. A Porterhouse steak has an unmistakable T-shaped bone dividing the strip and tenderloin portions, while a New York Strip steak is strictly a strip of meat.
Texture
The Porterhouse is more tender due to its higher fat content, making it extremely juicy and succulent. Meanwhile, the New York Strip steak is slightly firmer, resulting in a denser and chewier steak. This doesn’t mean it’s bad though, since some individuals prefer chewy steaks.
Taste
Perhaps the most notable difference in taste between the two is that the Porterhouse tastes richer because of the combination of the types of beef. In contrast, the New York Strip can be more one-dimensional when it comes to flavor profiles.
Bone Content
The Porterhouse has a T-shaped bone while the New York Strip is purely meat with zero bones.
Fat Content
When it comes to fat content, the difference between a Porterhouse steak and a New York Strip steak depends on the specific cut. Porterhouse steaks typically contain more fat than New York Strip steaks because they are cut from different parts of the cow. Porterhouse steaks are cut from the larger end of the short loin, which includes both the strip and tenderloin, while New York Strip steaks are cut from just the strip portion. This means that Porterhouse steaks usually include some tenderloin, which is considerably fattier than the strip portion.
Porterhouse Pros and Cons
Despite being a crowd favorite, a Porterhouse steak isn’t perfect. Buying and cooking it has downsides too, and we’ll discuss them below.
Pros
- It is one of the most tender steaks you can get, with a rich flavor and great marbling that melts in your mouth.
- It’s one of the largest steaks you can purchase, meaning that it can easily feed more than one person, and provide an impressive presentation on the plate.
- It has an intense flavor due to its size, allowing for more surface area to be caramelized when searing or grilling.
- One side of the steak is leaner than the other – allowing for more options when considering how to cook it up and please different palates at once.
- The additional intramuscular fat helps keep it moist during cooking while adding a nice texture to each bite.
Cons
- A porterhouse steak tends to be pricier– making it less affordable for those on a budget. If you want to have this cut weekly, you have to splurge on it.
- The two types of meat mean longer cooking times to ensure everything is cooked through without getting rubbery.
- You can end up with a lopsidedly cooked steak if you forget that it has two different types of meat on either side of the bone.
- You will end up wasting food if you cook it and you’re not that hungry.
- You need to get your timing and seasoning skills right because the two distinct meat sections will require different levels and styles of cooking. It is an ambitious meal, so make sure you practice beforehand!
New York Strip Steak Pros and Cons
If you’re interested in making some good New York Strip steak, consider these pros and cons before you buy one from the store or order online.
Pros
- It has great flavor because of its marbling of fat and lean meat.
- It offers a good balance of lean and fatty flavors, which makes it versatile enough to handle different cooking techniques and seasonings.
- Since it’s smaller, it can easily be portioned into individual steaks appropriate for single-sized meals.
- Since the steaks are relatively thin, they cook quickly and evenly, reducing your prep time significantly.
Cons
- It’s one of the more expensive steaks on the market, which could discourage consumers who don’t want to splurge on this meal option.
- If not properly seasoned and cooked, the high-fat content could lead to a lack of juiciness or flavor.
- This cut shrinks significantly after cooking, so if you cut it too small you might end up with a lot smaller serving size.
- The thinner portion makes it prone to overcooking, especially by inexperienced cooks. Overcooking will destroy its texture, taste, and plating appeal.
Conclusion
When deciding between porterhouse steak and New York Strip steak, both cuts offer unique advantages. No matter which one you choose, there’s no denying that both have earned their places as some of the most popular cuts of beef in the world! So, consider everything in this article before buying or ordering your preferred cut online!