How do you cook a tri-tip so it is tender?
On stovetop, heat on high until pan is very hot, then add tri-tip, fat side down. Turn heat to medium-high and sear roast for about 4 minutes. Turn the roast and put it in the oven. Cook it for about 10 minutes a pound, checking with an instant-read thermometer until it reaches 130 degrees for medium-rare.
For a 1½- to 2-pound tri-tip roast: Grill 35 to 40 minutes for medium rare (135°F) and 40 to 45 minutes for medium (150°F). Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness. Remove meat from the grill. Cover meat with foil; let stand for 15 minutes.
The tri-tip steak is best cooked using fast-cooking methods, meaning less time in the kitchen and more time for eating. This particular cut comes from the bottom sirloin, which also makes a delicious roast. So if you're looking for a low and slow way to cook tri-tip, you'll want to use a tri-tip roast instead.
Tri tip is a steak-like cut with very little connective tissue, and that means it should be cooked to the same doneness as a steak would be: 130°–135°F (54–57°C) for medium-rare or 135°–145°F (57–63°C) for medium. The temperature to cook the tri tip at is kind of up to you.
Take care when slicing your tri tip – an incorrect cut can take the meat from tender and juicy to tough and chewy. Tri tip has two distinct grain patterns: one vertical and one horizontal. For best results, cut the steak in half where the two grains intersect.
Slicing tri tip
While the tri tip is a steak-like cut, it has very long muscle fibers, and long muscle fibers mean stringy, chewy steak if you don't handle them correctly. You have to cut across the grain of the meat fibers to shorten the individual fiber pieces you'll be eating.
For best results cook the tri-tip on low for 8 hours. The long slow cooking process will break down the fibers and make this beef cut so tender. If you don't have all day then you can cook it on high heat for 4 hours. However, it will definitely be more tender if you cook it on low.
Here's a tri tip temp chart to help you out…
Medium rare tri tip (130-140°F) is red to pink inside. Medium tri tip (140-150°F) is mostly pink. Medium well (150-160°F) has just a slight bit of pink inside. Well cooked (160°F) has no red or pink inside.
Rare: 120°F. Medium-Rare: 130°F. Medium: 140°F. Medium-Well: 150°F.
Place the uncooked flat side of the tri tip down on the pan. Turn off the burner. Transfer skillet seared beef to the oven to bake at 425°F for about 12 minutes per pound.
What is the best temperature to cook tri-tip?
The ideal cooking temperature for a tri-tip cut is 200-250 °F or 93-121 °C (for indirect heat). This will enable you to cook the meat slowly over low temperature. It ensures an even cook helps avoid overcooking the outside of the meat.