Petite Tender vs Sirloin Cap — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Petite Tender (petite tender (teres major)) and Sirloin Cap (sirloin cap) are not the same cut: Petite Tender is chuck primal (Teres major muscle, tucked alongside the shoulder blade); Sirloin Cap is sirloin primal (top sirloin cap (coulotte)).
Canonical entities: Petite Tender · Sirloin Cap
Side-by-side
| petite tender | sirloin cap | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | chuck | sirloin |
| Muscle / location | Teres major muscle, tucked alongside the shoulder blade | top sirloin cap (coulotte) |
| 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. | Triangular cap on the top sirloin; prized as picanha in Brazil. |
Key differences
- Different primals: chuck vs sirloin.
- 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.
Sirloin Cap
Pick Sirloin Cap when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: Triangular cap on the top sirloin; prized as picanha in Brazil.
Petite Tender and Sirloin Cap are different canonical muscles/primals: Petite Tender is chuck (Teres major muscle, tucked alongside the shoulder blade); Sirloin Cap is sirloin (top sirloin cap (coulotte)).
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) · sirloin cap (what-is) · petite tender hub · sirloin cap hub