Wagyu Tomahawk Steak: Grill or Smoke It

Tomahawk stake is the ultimate centerpiece for any special occasion or celebration, but how do you get it to be delicious and flavorful with texture? Here is a good recipe to try out.
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Jeremy Bivens
Jeremy Bivens
Research Writer
Jeremy Bivens is a passionate writer and grilling enthusiast. He's been working as a freelance journalist for over 15 years now and has a particular interest in food writing read more
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Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams
Expert Consultant
Claims that grilling is the art that he has been learning all his life long and is not planning to stop. Has been grilling for as long as he can remember. Author of numerous read more
Last updated: August 29, 2023
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Wagyu Tomahawk steak is a popular highly prized meat cut. Tomahawk is a meat cut from a cow and Wagyu is a breed of premium cattle. Essentially, the two terms mean tomahawk steak cut from a Wagyu cow. The Tomahawk cut, also known as bone-in ribeye is a big, thick-cut ribeye with a long bone still attached. The bone gives it its signature look and flavor. The best way to cook a Tomahawk steak is grilling, but you can also smoke, pan-sear, or oven-broil it to your liking.

This guide has straightforward instructions and tips on cooking Wagyu Tomahawk steak to perfection. The recipes will help you get the tender and juicy meat cuts you are craving whether you grill or smoke the steak.

What is a Tomahawk Steak Wagyu?

Wagyu Tomahawk Steak: Grill or Smoke It
Wagyu beef Tomahawk steak is a high-value meat cut from the premium breed Wagyu cattle.

Wagyu Tomahawk steak is basically the rib eye cut from a Wagyu cow with the bone left in. The rib eye is a long loin that runs the upper cavity under a cow’s rib cage. Wagyu beef has a pink appearance and tastes tender because of well-distributed fat cells.

According to Business Insider, Trusted Source The rarest steak in the world can cost over $300. Here's why wagyu beef is so expensive. Wagyu beef from Japan is the most prized beef in the world. www.businessinsider.com , Wagyu has a premium price point because cows are bred for physical endurance to gain more intramuscular fat cells. The Japanese government also regulates its production to maintain its quality and value.

American vs. Australian vs. Japanese Wagyu Tomahawk Steak

Japan, the United States, and Australia are distinctly different environments and this affects the taste and quality of Wagyu from the regions. If raised outside Japan, Wagyu is rarely a full-blooded Japanese breed.

In Japan, all Wagyu cattle descend from Japanese brown cows, Japanese Shorthorn, Japanese black, and Japanese Polled cows. According to an article by the Washington post Trusted Source Beef At Both Ends Of The Scale It used to be that we hungered for a big, well-marbled steak we could cut with a fork. Then came a revolution in eating habits, and still later the McLean Deluxe. www.washingtonpost.com , the Japanese Wagyu Tomahawk steak is characterized by a buttery, subtly sweet flavor with the right amount of umami.

In the United States, only 5000 cows bred for American Wagyu are full-blood Wagyu. The American Wagyu Tomahawk Steak has grown more popular because Japan no longer exports the cow breed as they deem it a national treasure. The US Wagyu is highly marbled (not as much as the Japanese Wagyu), but it is absolutely delicious and will melt in your mouth.

In Australia, it is hard to come by pure breed Wagyu cattle as they have been cross-bred with other highly-coveted cattle. If you are lucky, you can encounter a full-blooded Wagyu stateside. The Australian Wagyu is raised more quickly than the Japanese Wagyu, thus less expensive. The Wagyu grading system in Australia is different from the other two countries. The scoring is based on marbling and it falls between 0 and 9. Any Wagyu that is better than 9 is scored as 9+.

Wagyu Tomahawk Steak: Grill or Smoke It 2

Wagyu Tomahawk Steak - Recipe

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Course Main Course
Servings 1 person
Calories 462 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Grill
  • 1 grill tongs
  • 1 Meat thermometer
  • 1 Aluminum foil

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Wagyu Tomahawk
  • 1 barbecue rub

Instructions
 

  • Remove the steak from the fridge 30 to 40 minutes before cooking to let it thaw.
  • Season the steak with Barbecue rub or barbecue sauce as desired.
    Wagyu Tomahawk Steak: Grill or Smoke It 4
  • Preheat the grill to high.
  • Place the steak over the hottest part of the grill and sear both sides for 2 minutes each.
    Wagyu Tomahawk Steak: Grill or Smoke It 6
  • Move the steak to medium, ash-covered coals and grill for 20 minutes or until the meat thermometer is 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Rest the steak for 5 minutes before serving. The 5 minutes are for carryover cooking as the meat’s final temperature rises to 135 degrees.
    Wagyu Tomahawk Steak: Grill or Smoke It 8

Notes

The heat from carryover cooking pulls juices in the meat toward the surface. If you cut the meat immediately, the juices will end up on your plate instead of your steak. Letting the steak rest for 5 minutes before serving gives the juices time to sink back into the meat making it moist and flavorful.
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Nutrition

Calories: 462kcal

When are the stakes done?

You can cook the steak to your desired doneness. Medium rare is the best-recommended doneness. The steak will be medium-rare if it cooks to 130 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 to 30 minutes depending on how thick it is.

Be sure to use a meat thermometer like the MEATER Plus to get your desired doneness.

How to store it and reheat it?

To store leftover Wagyu Tomahawk steak, wrap it well in aluminum foil and put in the refrigerator. When you want to eat it, remove it from the fridge and let it get to room temperature before reheating and searing it.

According to Insider, Trusted Source 4 Ways to Reheat Steak for Juicy, Tender Results You can use the oven, microwave, stovetop, or air fryer to reheat your leftover steak and still keep it juicy. www.insider.com the best way to reheat any steak is in a low-temperature oven for about 30 minutes. You can also reheat it in a microwave, air fryer, or skillet.

Final Thoughts

Wagyu Tomahawk Steak is a meat masterpiece. If done right, Wagyu tomahawk is flavorful, juicy, and tender. Cooking Wagyu to mouth-melting perfection requires some skill. We have provided all the pro tips on how to grill any type of Wagyu, including the popular a5 Wagyu Tomahawk steak or the Australian Tomahawk steak. The recipe will give you the ultimate classical and impressive presentation of a flavorful Wagyu Tomahawk steak with texture.

You can cook the steak to your preferred doneness but medium-rare is the best recommended. Use a meat thermometer for perfection. Serve the steak with something light like Chimichurri as it is heavy. You can store the leftovers in the fridge and reheat them in the oven on low heat.

References

1.
The rarest steak in the world can cost over $300. Here
Wagyu beef from Japan is the most prized beef in the world.
2.
Beef At Both Ends Of The Scale
It used to be that we hungered for a big, well-marbled steak we could cut with a fork. Then came a revolution in eating habits, and still later the McLean Deluxe.
3.
4 Ways to Reheat Steak for Juicy, Tender Results
You can use the oven, microwave, stovetop, or air fryer to reheat your leftover steak and still keep it juicy.
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