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    Home » Kitchen Laughter Recipes Blog » Beef

    Grilled Ribeye Cap Steak {Spinalis Steak}

    Published: Oct 27, 2021 · Modified: Jan 5, 2023 by Jason C · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    These succulent Grilled Ribeye Cap Steaks are a classic and simple recipe that is arguably the tastiest cut of beef out there! Best of all, it is seared in a cast iron skillet which makes it one of the easier cuts to cook!

    grilled and seared ribeye cap steaks piled on a cutting baord.
    Seared Ribeye Cap Steaks
    Contents hide
    1 🍽️ Why This Works
    2 🥩 Ingredients
    3 ♨️ Equipment and Tools
    4 🔥 Instructions
    5 Oven Instructions
    6 Stove Top Directions
    7 Storage
    8 Serving Suggestions
    9 ❗ Expert Tips
    10 Recipe FAQ
    11 More Steak Recipes and Comparisons
    12 Seared Ribeye Cap Steak

    When grilling, we often say “this is the juiciest, most tender cut of meat I’ve ever had!” Hands down Wild Fork’s Ribeye Caps will hold the honor of this statement for us.

    ** We are not affiliated with this company nor have ever been paid to say anything. Their meat is simply scrumptious and you will see us sing their praises more and more as we are placing another order as we speak.

    🍽️ Why This Works

    Delicious – This is the best part of a rib roast and is naturally packed with flavor thanks to the higher fat content. You won’t want to add much more seasoning that salt and pepper, as you’ll savor every single melt-in-your-mouth bite.

    Simple – There is a little bit of prep work to get the steak ready, but once it is, it is a very simple fast sear in a preheated cast iron skillet.

    Wicked Tender – This is almost flat out fork tender (by the way, the beef tenderloin we received from them was fork tender!) but just shy of it. You can freeze it, defrost it and microwave it (yikes, right?) and it still turned out perfect. Yes, we did test the freeze/thaw/microwave method.

    🥩 Ingredients

    ingredient photo showing the beef ribeye cap steaks from wild fork.
    Just a Couple of Ingredients

    Ribeye Cap Steak – This is a premium cut of beef that you may need to special order. My local butcher wasn’t willing to cut it for me, so I ordered some form Wild Fork. You may hear this cut called a Calotte or even “Butcher’s Butter.” It is almost as tender as the tenderloin, but has every bit the flavor of a ribeye. Although we used prime version as shown in the photo, you may find a lower grade one when shopping. Read up on choosing prime vs choice.

    Ribeye Cap is the outer muscle of the ribeye and is sold flat like we purchased where you still have to roll it or some grocery stores will sell them already tied and rolled up.

    This is the king of all steaks.

    cross section of a ribeye roast with an arrow and line showing location of the cap.
    The Cap is the Outside Portion of the Roast (Photo credit: Picmonkey)

    Blue Cheese and Butter Topping (optional) – My intent was to mix these two items together and top the steak with it, but after I tasted the steak right off the grill, I didn’t think it needed it. We saved the mix for another day. This was one of the times when you just didn’t want to mix or cover any of the natural taste of the meat.

    ♨️ Equipment and Tools

    Cast Iron Skillet – Use a flat bottom skillet and preheat it on the grill.

    Butcher’s Twine – This holds the steaks in a circular form while searing. If you don’t have it, it will be found in the kitchen section at your local grocery store or near the butcher.

    🔥 Instructions

    process photos showing how to truss the ribeye cap, slice it, and sear on a cast iron skillet.
    Super Fast Searing in a Cast Iron Skillet

    Step One: Cut five or six pieces of butcher’s twine about twelve inches long and lay them on the sheet pan parallel to each other.

    Step Two: Place the ribeye cap on the twine and roll it into a long cylinder. Pull the twine tight and tie them off.

    Note: You will use a sharp knife to cut in between each piece of twine and this will serve as the final thickness of the steaks. This is the time to decide how well cooked you want the steaks. We opted for a medium rare cook, and cut the ribeye cap into 1 ½ inch slices. Since these will be quickly seared, the thicker you cut, the more rare the inside will remain after searing.

    Step Three: Cut between each segment of twine as seen in the photo above. Season each steak with a bit of sea salt and pepper.

    Step Four: Preheat the grill to 400 degrees on direct heat. Place your skillet in the center of the grill to heat up.

    Step Five: Place the steaks on the skillet. Let them sear for three minutes, turn them over and sear for another three minutes. Check the temperature to make sure it reached the desired temperature.

    Oven Instructions

    Step One: Remove the steak from the refrigerator and allow to sit on counter 20 minutes to come to room temperature. Pat dry the meat.

    Step Two: Heat the oven to broil for 9-12 minutes in a cast iron skillet or broiler tray make a medium rare cut of meat.

    Stove Top Directions

    Step One: Remove the steak from the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes to bring to room temperature.

    Step Two: Heat up the stove top to medium temperature with a heavy duty cast iron skillet ON TOP OF THE STOVE WHILE PREHEATING. It is important that the skillet heat up before putting on the steak.

    Step Three: Season steak and sear for 7-8 minutes, turning at the half way point for a medium rare (130 degrees) steak that is about 1 inch thick.

    chart showing the desired final temperature and how long you need to cook on the grill, skillet and oven broil.
    Quick Reference Chart for Desired Temperature

    Storage

    Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.

    Freeze in a sealed container for up to one month. Remove and put in the refrigerator the night before you plan to eat it.

    Reheat on a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes for each side.

    Serving Suggestions

    Grilled Broccolini

    Grilled Sweet Onions

    Grilled Beer Corn on the Cob

    Smoked Butternut Squash

    ❗ Expert Tips

    The thickness of your cut is critical to the final cooked temperature. I cannot stress this enough. Because we are searing at a high temperature, we really don’t have a lot of options to keep this on the grill longer to bring it up to temperature. The difference between well-seared and burnt is pretty small.

    Tie the butcher’s twine tightly. While you will roll the ribeye cap into a cylinder, the butcher’s twine will hold it in shape. As it cooks, the meat will shrink slightly and it is possible that the twine will become dislodged. It is best to tie these tight.

    There is no need to pre-oil the skillet. The ribeye caps have a high amount of fat that will render quickly.

    cutting board with ribeye cap steaks seared and dripping juices with veggies on the side.
    So Tender and Delicious!

    Recipe FAQ

    How much does a ribeye cap cost?

    This is definitely one of the more expensive cuts of meat and it is commonly found between $25 – $35 per pound.

    What is another name for a ribeye cap steak?

    You won’t find this cut of meat often, but when you do, it can go by many names. I’ve seen it referred to as Calotte, Butcher’s Butter, Rib Cap, or even Spinalis Dorsi. If you see it, though, definitely grab some as it is a superior cut of beef.

    What is the cap on a ribeye steak?

    It is the outer muscle found on the ribeye roll.

    Where is the best places to buy ribeye cap?

    Always start with the butcher, Wild Fork or even Costco sells them from time to time.

    What is ribeye cap vs ribeye steak?

    The cap has the outer muscle still attached as showed on the photo above. The steak has this muscle removed.

    Can I marinade a ribeye cap?

    There is no need to marinade this cut. It is already wicked tender and the taste alone is out of this world. You will not want to mask it too much or don’t spend the money as it’s not a cheap cut of beef.

    More Steak Recipes and Comparisons

    New York Strip vs Ribeye

    Ribeye vs Sirloin

    Ribeye vs Porterhouse

    Prime Rib vs Ribeye

    Can You Grill Frozen Steak?

    Flank vs Skirt Steak

    Porterhouse vs T-Bone Steak

    How to Tell if Steak Has Gone Bad

    Related Recipes

    • How to Grill a Reverse Sear Cowboy Ribeye {60 Minutes}
    • Herb Butter Grilled Ribeye Steak {15 Minutes}
    • How to Smoke a Prime Rib
    • Grilled Herb Crusted Flat Iron Steaks {15 Minutes}

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

    seared ribeye cap steak trussed and seared on the grill in a cast iron skillet.

    Seared Ribeye Cap Steak

    This succulent seared Ribeye Cap Steak is a classic high end cut of beef that packs an amazing amount of flavor into each bite!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 minutes
    Total Time: 16 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 265kcal
    Author: Jason

    Equipment

    • Cast Iron Skillet
    • Butcher's Twine

    Ingredients

    Blue Cheese Butter

    • 2 ounces Blue Cheese room temperature
    • 5 tbsp Butter room temperature
    • 1 tbsp Parsley minced

    Ribeye Cap Steak

    • 1 ½ lbs Ribeye Cap Steak
    • Salt and Pepper

    Instructions

    Blue Cheese Butter

    • Plce the cheese, butter and parsley in a bowl and mash into a paste.
    • Mound the butter into a one inch cylinder on a piece of plastic wrap forming a tube. Refrigerate or freeze until it is firm.

    Ribeye Cap Steaks

    • Cut 5-6 pieces of Butcher's Twine into twelve inch sections and lay them spread evenly on a cutting board.
    • Lay the Ribeye Cap Steak on the twine and roll it up into a long cylinder.
    • Pull the twine tightly an tie them off into knots. Use a sharp knife to cut in between each piece of twine and turn the beef into round sections. Note: cut these sections thicker for more rare steak and thinner for more well done.
    • Preheat the grill to 400 degrees and place the cast iron skillet on the grate to heat up. After it is up to temperature, place the ribeye cap steaks on the skillet and let them sear for three minutes on each side.
    • Remove after both sides have been seared and serve. Test it out first to see if you want to apply the blue cheese butter.

    Notes

    Blue Cheese Butter is optional. 
    Butter Storage: Store leftover butter in the refrigerator for up to 2 months, sealed tight. 
    Oven Instructions: 
    Step One: Remove the steak from the refrigerator and allow to sit on counter 20 minutes to come to room temperature. Pat dry the meat.
    Step Two: Heat the oven to broil for 9-12 minutes in a cast iron skillet or broiler tray make a medium rare cut of meat.
    Stove Top Instructions: 
    Step One: Remove the steak from the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes to bring to room temperature.
    Step Two: Heat up the stove top to medium temperature with a heavy duty cast iron skillet ON TOP OF THE STOVE WHILE PREHEATING. It is important that the skillet heat up before putting on the steak.
    Step Three: Season steak and sear for 7-8 minutes, turning at the half way point for a medium rare (130 degrees) steak that is about 1 inch thick.
    Storage:
    Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    Freeze in a sealed container for up to 1 month. Remove and put in the refrigerator the night before you plan to eat it.
    Reheat on a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes for each side.
    Thickness of Cut: The thickness of your cut is critical to the final cooked temperature. I cannot stress this enough. Because we are searing at a high temperature, we really don’t have a lot of options to keep this on the grill longer to bring it up to temperature. The difference between well-seared and burnt is pretty small. 
    Tie Butchers Twine Tight: Tie the butcher’s twine tightly. While you will roll the ribeye cap into a cylinder, the butcher’s twine will hold it in shape. As it cooks, the meat will shrink slightly and it is possible that the twine will become dislodged. It is best to tie these tight.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 251mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenlaughter or tag #kitchenlaughter!
    Grilled Ribeye Cap Steak {Spinalis Steak}Grilled Ribeye Cap Steak {Spinalis Steak}
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