A5 Wagyu beef ribeye from Japan. Top-scoring, imported Japanese Wagyu beef, the highest possible ranking, antibiotic- and hormone-free. From Kuroge cattle, this A5 Wagyu is raised by Japanese beef masters who follow traditional methods to produce beef that is recognized around the world for its marbling, velvety texture and sweet flavor. Only a small percentage of all the Wagyu produced in Japan scores this high, and we import a limited amount for our chefs and home cooks.

Whatever you do, never overcook this Wagyu beef. Keep it rare, or you lose too much of the precious fat.

The serving size for Wagyu beef this rich is 3 - 4 ounces; think of it as the beef equivalent of foie gras. So you will not be enjoying a 24-ounce Wagyu steak. This piece of beef can serve 30-40 people; to serve only a few, cut off a 16-ounce steak.

Before cooking, allow the steak to come to room temperature, causing the fine network of fat to warm up. You will be searing it for such a short time that some of the fat might still be cold if you do not take this step.

Cooking

Heat a cast iron skillet or grill to the highest possible level. The hottest you have ever heated a skillet would be almost hot enough. Season the steak simply with salt and pepper, in order to allow the extraordinary flavor to shine. Sear the Wagyu for a very short time on each side. Keep in mind that you can lose 20% of the weight while searing, much like foie gras.

Let it rest a moment (it’s still virtually raw inside, so not too long), and then cut into serving portions of 3 - 4 ounces each.

You could also cut a half-inch thick steak, and char the exterior of the beef with a torch, leaving the inside rare.

Many chefs cut A5 Wagyu into carpaccio and serve it raw. For the beef to be cut wafer thin requires that it be very cold before you slice it. Chefs often freeze it for a short time to ensure the desired carpaccio thinness.

Storing

If you are not serving the entire ribeye at one dinner and want to store the rest of it, then cut it into several 16-ounce portions. You must vacuum seal – oxidation is the enemy of fat – and then freeze the steaks. Because there is so much fat, Wagyu will freeze nicely and be ready for another special occasion.