Testicles vs Top Sirloin — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Testicles (testicles (criadillas/Rocky Mountain Oysters)) and Top Sirloin (top sirloin) are not the same cut: Testicles is offal primal (Removed at castration — sold as a standalone cut); Top Sirloin is sirloin primal (Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin).
Canonical entities: Testicles · Top Sirloin
Side-by-side
| testicles | top sirloin | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | offal | sirloin |
| Muscle / location | Removed at castration — sold as a standalone cut | Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin |
| Character | Bull testicles. Sold and prepared as a standalone cut across multiple cultures. Known as criadillas in Spain and Latin America, Rocky Mountain Oysters in the US west, and Prairie Oysters in Canada. Typically peeled, sliced, and deep-fried or grilled. | A large, lean cut from the hip section. The top sirloin butt (NAMP 184) is the main muscle group. Versatile — grilled as steaks, roasted whole, or cut into kabobs. Moderate tenderness with good beefy flavor. Not to be confused with sirloin cap (coulotte/picanha) which sits on top of it. |
Key differences
- Different primals: offal 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
Testicles
Pick Testicles when you want its specific marbling/texture profile: Bull testicles. Sold and prepared as a standalone cut across multiple cultures. Known as criadillas in Spain and Latin America, Rocky Mountain Oysters in the US west, and Prairie Oysters in Canada. Typically peeled, sliced, and deep-fried or grilled.
Top Sirloin
Pick Top Sirloin when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: A large, lean cut from the hip section. The top sirloin butt (NAMP 184) is the main muscle group. Versatile — grilled as steaks, roasted whole, or cut into kabobs. Moderate tenderness with good beefy flavor. Not to be confused with sirloin cap (coulotte/picanha) which sits on top of it.
Testicles and Top Sirloin are different canonical muscles/primals: Testicles is offal (Removed at castration — sold as a standalone cut); Top Sirloin is sirloin (Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the 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: testicles (what-is) · top sirloin (what-is) · testicles hub · top sirloin hub