I’ll admit that we rarely cook steak in our home. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy it – a good steak is among my favorite dishes. Growing up in an Argentinian household, my family typically enjoyed a steak dinner at least once a week. And if we ever had a large gathering, you can bet we fully embraced the asado. But, when my wife and I are cooking for each other, we usually opt for simpler dinners. That might change now that we’ve tried KOW.
Part of my reticence in cooking steak is our lack of access to quality cuts. Back home, my mother would take nearly weekly trips to the Argentine butcher (shoutout Pampita, for anyone in the New Jersey/New York area). And while I had heard plenty about online meat retailers, I had never given them a shot – until now.
I was offered the chance to sample a few of KOW’s exceptional American Wagyu cuts and was blown away. KOW Cattle Company brings with it 125 years of experience operating a family-run farm in southwest Iowa. In fact, KOW was the first farm to bring Wagyu to the United States back in the ’70s. Now, KOW is trusted across the country by home cooks and pros alike to provide excellent cuts of American Wagyu. KOW ships all of its meats frozen which can then be defrosted in a refrigerator or stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
We decided to test out KOW’s offerings, a Filet and a Rib Eye, alongside a cut of ribeye from our local grocery store. We seasoned all of them with some sea salt and cooked them on a cast iron skillet until medium rare. At first bite, the grocery store steak wasn’t half bad. But, once we tried a bite of the rich and buttery soft American Wagyu, there was simply no comparison. Both the Rib Eye and Filet were exceptional, providing a depth of flavor I rarely come across.
KOW isn’t cheap – both the Filet (7 oz.) and Rib Eye (12 oz.) are $95, which is a stark contrast to the $22 pound of steak from the grocery store. But the price difference is representative of the difference in quality. We certainly won’t be adding American Wagyu to our weekly grocery list, but for an occasional splurge KOW is more than worth the cost.
TrueTested by Cool Material is your source for product reviews that are honest, hands-on, personal, and compact. Our team puts tech, style, and gear through the paces to bring you recommendations, key takeaways, and standout features. What else should we cover? Write us on Instagram.
The Best American Wagyu Cuts from KOW for 2024
American Wagyu Rib Eye
Not only did the Rib Eye taste great, it was incredibly easy to cook. We simply seasoned it with salt and flipped it a couple of times in a cast iron skillet. For the price, it was reassuring to know we wouldn't miss up this delicious steak.
Buy: $95American Wagyu Outside Skirt
The Outside Skirt boasts impressive marbling and great flavor - slice it up to include in stir fry or simply grill it and top with some chimichurri.
Buy: $77American Wagyu "KOWBOY" Tomahawk Rib Eye
This is the showstopper - combining the flair and aesthetics of a tomahawk steak with the unimpeachable quality of KOW's Rib Eye. Bust out this bad boy to impress your next dinner guests.
Buy: $232American Wagyu Filet
The Filet offers excellent flavor with a buttery soft texture. It's a thicker cut so it may require a little more care and attention when grilling but it's still a fool-proof cut of beef.
Buy: $95