How to Grill a Snake River Farms American Wagyu Tri-Tip

How to Grill a Snake River Farms American Wagyu Tri-Tip

The tri-tip is a delicious cut named for its triangular shape. Too large to be called a steak and too small to be called a roast, the tri-tip's mid-size creates options. It can be cut into steaks or roasted whole.


The city of Santa Maria, located in California’s Central Coast region is famous for their love of the tri-tip. Meat mythology says the tri-tip was discovered by Bob Schutz, a local butcher, in the 1950s. The cut was generally thrown into the grinder for hamburger, but there was plenty of ground beef in the store and Bob put it on the shop’s rotisserie oven. It became an instant hit, and he started labeling it as a grilling specialty.


In Santa Maria this crescent shaped roast is prepared using salt and pepper and grilled until it is just medium rare. It’s served with garlic toast, salsa and pinquito beans. The beans and salsa are a nod to the Mexican vaqueros, some of the early settlers of the region.  

Steps to Grill a Snake River Farms American Wagyu Tri-Tip

1. Trim - Remove any sections of silver skin. There is a fat cap and if it’s thick, it’s fine to trim it however do not remove it all. Fat equals flavor and the melting cap will infuse the meat with juicy flavor. 
   
   
2. Prepare the Grill - If using a charcoal grill, set it up for two-zone cooking. To do this, arrange all the lit charcoal on the “hot side” and leave the “cold side” empty.
   
   If using a gas grill, heat it to high and allow to come to temperature. 
   
   
3. Season - The traditional Santa Maria method is to use coarse salt and pepper. You can also use your favorite rub or one of the Snake River Farms dry seasonings. If you have time, cover and refrigerate for an hour to allow the seasoning to set into the meat. After an hour, let the tri-tip rest at room temperature for another hour to temper. 
   
   
4. Grill It - Set your tri-tip on the grill. Use the hot side of the charcoal grill or place in the center of the gas grill. Sear one side so it is golden brown. This takes about 5 to 8 minutes depending on your grill.
   
   Turn the roast and sear the other side in the same way.
   
   When both sides are seared, move the tri-tip to the cool side of the charcoal grill. If using a gas grill, turn the heat to medium.
   Flip the tri-tip about every 10 minutes. Use a thermometer to monitor the internal temperature, checking the thickest part of the roast. The target temp is 130°F for medium rare. The tri-tip is a large cut of beef and the cook time can take about 30 minutes.
   
   When the tri-tip hits 130°F, remove it from the grill and allow to rest, loosely covered with foil. 
   
   Alternate Method - Some grilling pros prefer the reverse sear method for the tri-tip. This is like reverse searing a steak, where the beef is brought to the target temp on the cool side of the grill, the final seared before serving. 
   
   
5. Slice - The tri-tip is a crescent shaped muscle from the sirloin primal. Slicing against the grain is extremely important in order to serve the tender pieces of tri-tip. Slicing with the grain will result in a very chewy serving.
   
   The grain runs across the short side of the tri-tip. Cut the roast in half and rotate each piece 90 degrees. Cut slices to your desired thickness (we like slices about 3/8” thick). Use a cutting board with a gutter to catch the juices. They are worth saving to serve with the tri-tip. 
   
   
6. Serve - The tri-tip is traditionally served with thick slices of grilled crusty bread, fresh salsa and slow-cooked pinquito beans, but we think it’s delicious served with just about anything! 

The SRF tri-tip has the rich juicy taste that only comes from American Wagyu beef.

The tri-tip is easy to prepare on the grill and makes a memorable meal. It is important to slice this cut properly, so it is tender and not chewy. The grain of the tri-tip runs the short side of the cut. It’s natural to cut it along the short side, but cut the roast in half, turn it and cut against the grain. Take a look a the tri-tip before cooking and it’s easy to locate the grain. This will jog your memory when it’s time to serve the final grilled tri-tip.