Preparing Beef Tenderloin In The Oven - Follow These Steps

Beef Tenderloins can be cooked not only by searing in a pan. Roasting in the oven also offers a great method to prepare juicy, tender tenderloin. You just have to do it right. Here you will learn how to proceed.

How To Buy Quality Meat For Your Oven-Baked Beef Tenderloin

A high-quality tenderloin is essential for a tender meat experience. Tenderloin is generally considered the best and leanest cut you will find. Of course, there are quality differences even with this cut. Buy from a trusted supplier who ensures healthy animal husbandry and allows the meat enough time to age.

Wondering how to recognize well-aged beef? Pay attention to the color. Meat that hasn't aged long appears bloody and has a fresh red color. Properly aged meat takes on a dull, matte tone. The color becomes darker red or even slightly brownish.

If you want to roast your whole beef tenderloin in the oven, you need a sufficiently large piece. If you are cooking for four people and also serving a side dish like potatoes, you should calculate around 600 grams.

Prepare Your Beef Tenderloin Before Cooking In The Oven

Found the right meat? Then preparation can begin. First, decide whether you want to prepare a marinated tenderloin or not. For marinating, place the tenderloin in a plastic bag the evening before, add plenty of olive oil and herbs to taste, and place the sealed bag in the refrigerator. You can use the following herbs, for example:

Rosemary
Thyme
Sage

Even non-marinated beef tenderloin gets a great flavor when you prepare the whole beef tenderloin in the oven and later season it properly. Take the meat out of the refrigerator an hour before cooking to bring it to room temperature.

Rinse the meat briefly and then pat it dry roughly with a paper towel. Remove small layers of fat on the surface and residual sinew. Chefs call this process "trimming." Now season the tenderloin on both sides with freshly ground salt and pepper.

Prepare The Oven

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and preheat the oven in convection mode . While the oven is preheating, line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the large piece of beef tenderloin on it and also add the desired vegetables. Finally, drizzle both with a little olive oil.

Alternatively, you can also prepare the tenderloin in a baking dish. You can use a smaller roasting pan or a clay baker for this. With baking dishes, you should definitely make sure to grease them with oil.

How To Bake Your Whole Beef Tenderloin In The Oven

When roasting on an open baking sheet, the tenderloin needs about 20 minutes at 180°C. Baking in a baking dish promises even more tender meat. In that case, the meat stays in the oven at 80°C for much longer. Proceed as follows:

Briefly sear the tenderloin on both sides in the roasting pan for about four minutes.
Place the tenderloin with the hot roasting pan in the oven.
Add wine or broth to the roasting pan to taste.
Let the meat bake at 80°C for an hour.
Take it out and check the core temperature with a thermometer.
Continue baking the tenderloin for another 30-45 minutes until it reaches a core temperature of 55-70/80°C.
Now take it out of the oven, wrap it in aluminum foil, and let it rest for a few minutes.

Already feeling hungry and wondering if this resting phase is really necessary? You shouldn't skip it. While the tenderloin rests, the meat relaxes, and the juices are evenly distributed inside. This is crucial for an excellent taste experience.

Want To Perfect Your Oven-Baked Beef Tenderloin?

With a marinade, you can add aromatic accents according to your personal preferences. Beef tenderloin can be combined in many ways. Use fresh herbs. Adding lavender blossoms to the marinade can create a unique accent.

The sauce also plays a crucial role in accompanying the tenderloin. You can use an intense gravy or a special red wine sauce. Complementing with Cumberland sauces from England also provides a nice variation.

Before you serve the tenderloin, you should cut into it a little. Visually check if it is tenderly pink inside. If it still seems somewhat raw, this gives you the opportunity to finish cooking it. If you have some experience preparing beef tenderloin in the oven or use a meat thermometer, you will usually find the right moment on your own.

Serving Suggestions And Garnishes For Oven-Baked Beef Tenderloin

With great garnishes and side dishes, a beef tenderloin looks even more appealing. You can use various kinds of vegetables or salad. Choose something that contrasts well with the color of the meat. Potatoes, French fries, and croquettes are also often served as side dishes with oven-baked beef tenderloin.

Cut the tenderloin with a sharp, large knife. Cut against the grain. You should slice it right before serving. This way, the pink inside of the meat doesn't fade and remains visibly appealing on the plates. You can cut the meat strips either large or bite-sized if you want them to look particularly attractive.