Petite Tender vs Striploin — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Petite Tender (petite tender (teres major)) and Striploin (striploin (strip steak)) are not the same cut: Petite Tender is chuck primal (Teres major muscle, tucked alongside the shoulder blade); Striploin is loin primal (longissimus dorsi (short loin)).
Canonical entities: Petite Tender · Striploin
Side-by-side
| petite tender | striploin | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | chuck | loin |
| Muscle / location | Teres major muscle, tucked alongside the shoulder blade | longissimus dorsi (short loin) |
| Character | A small, narrow muscle from the shoulder that resembles a miniature tenderloin in shape and tenderness. Only about 250-350g per side, making it one of the lowest-yield cuts on the animal. Extremely tender but relatively unknown outside professional kitchens. | Leaner than ribeye; the classic strip steak muscle running along the short loin. |
Key differences
- Different primals: chuck vs loin.
- Texture and slicing: compare fibrous, grain-heavy cuts vs more tender steak-style muscles based on each cut’s description.
- Retail naming diverges by country—always map through a canonical cut when translating menus or labels.
When to use each
Petite Tender
Pick Petite Tender when you want its specific marbling/texture profile: A small, narrow muscle from the shoulder that resembles a miniature tenderloin in shape and tenderness. Only about 250-350g per side, making it one of the lowest-yield cuts on the animal. Extremely tender but relatively unknown outside professional kitchens.
Striploin
Pick Striploin when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: Leaner than ribeye; the classic strip steak muscle running along the short loin.
Petite Tender and Striploin are different canonical muscles/primals: Petite Tender is chuck (Teres major muscle, tucked alongside the shoulder blade); Striploin is loin (longissimus dorsi (short loin)).
Choose based on tenderness, marbling, grain direction, and how you plan to cook (sear vs braise vs slice thin).
Read the full guides: petite tender (what-is) · striploin (what-is) · petite tender hub · striploin hub