How to Cook Elk Sirloin

You may have to look harder to find it, or even order it direct from a farm, but once you sample elk, you may find yourself hooked for life — not on the antlers, but on the meat. Farm-raised elk meat is surprisingly lean, tender and flavorful, which means that it requires minimal fuss and seasonings to prepare it. Lower in fat and cholesterol than beef and even chicken, elk sirloin should be cooked to a state of rare or medium-rare.

Remove the steak from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you cook it so that it reaches room temperature. Wash the steak and pat it dry.

Coat the elk sirloin with olive oil. Add some herbs or seasonings, if you like, such as onion powder, garlic powder, garlic salt or minced garlic. The oil will keep the sirloin moist as you cook it.

Set your stove or outdoor grill to “high.” Melt some butter in a skillet. Spray your grill with nonfat cooking spray or melt some butter on a grill rack or a sturdy piece of aluminum foil.

Cook the elk sirloin for two minutes. Flip it over with tongs and cook it for another two minutes. Do not use a fork; piercing the meat will unleash the juices in the meat.

Remove the sirloin from the heat and insert a meat thermometer in the thickest region. It should register at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit for rare, 111 degrees for medium-rare and 129 degrees for medium. Avoid the danger zone for cooking elk; it should be cooked to no more than 140 degrees. It begins to dry out at 150 degrees, resulting in bland and chewy meat.

Let the sirloin rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Use this down time to grill some mushrooms and red onions to accompany your steak, if you like.

Items you will need

• Elk sirloins
• Olive oil
• Seasonings (onion powder, garlic powder, garlic salt or minced garlic, all optional)
• Butter
• Nonfat cooking spray
• Tongs
• Mushrooms and red onions (optional)

References

• Montana Elk Company: Guidelines to Use to Create a Great Meal
• The Elk Ranch: Elk Cooking Guidelines
• U.S. Premium Elks, Inc.: How to Cook Elk Meat
• Eating Elk: Cooking Elk On The BBQ - Tender Steaks & Round Steaks
• The Elk Ranch: Barbeque Elk Steaks with Mushrooms

Resources

• Montana Elk Company: Linda’s Elk Tenderloin in Phyllo Pastry with Madeira Sauce
• Real Simple: How to Store Food in the Refrigerator

About the Author

With education, health care and small business marketing as her core interests, M.T. Wroblewski has penned pieces for Woman's Day, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal and many newspapers and magazines. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Northern Illinois University.

Photo Credits

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