What Is a Tomahawk Steak

by Joost Nusselder | Last Updated:  June 4, 2022

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What-Is-a-Tomahawk-Steak

Tomahawk steak is a 2-inch-thick beef ribeye with at least a 5-inch-long rib bone. The shape it is cut into looks like the single-handed tomahawk ax, which is where its name comes from.

This steak has caught the fancy of chefs and food lovers alike because of its looks. Butchers remove the excess meat so that you get a long handle with a hunk of meat at the top.

Tomahawk Steak vs Ribeye

Tomahawk-Steak-vs-Ribeye

Both tomahawk and ribeye (and prime rib for that matter) are steaks made from the meat on the ribs. The only difference is that the tomahawk is cut with the bone intact, while for making the ribeye, the bone is removed.

Apart from the bone, the size of both these steaks varies as well. Tomahawk steak is cut according to the size of the bone and is usually 2-inch thick.

Where to Buy Tomahawk Steak and Tomahawk Steak Price

The best place to get a tomahawk steak is your local butcher. We would recommend staying away from large chains as they will not give you the same level of customization.

If you do not want to strain your muscles to visit your local butcher, you can try purchasing it online. However, as they are huge, you will get it shipped to your doorstep at an inflated price.

Tomahawk steaks are expensive and would probably cost you two to three times the price of a ribeye. A steak that weighs 300 grams would cost you around $20.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Lakeside Smokers is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with BBQ Smoking (& Japanese food!) at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.