is philly steak beef or pork

Unraveling the Mystery Meat: Is Philly Cheesesteak Made with Beef or Pork?

The Philly cheesesteak is an iconic sandwich filled with thinly sliced steak melted cheese onions, and other toppings. But is the “steak” actually made from beef or pork? This tasty sandwich is shrouded in a bit of mystery when it comes to the exact meat used.

As a curious sandwich enthusiast, I decided to get to the bottom of whether traditional Philly cheesesteak contains 100% beef or if other meats are commonly used too I researched popular recipes, checked with restaurants, and dug into the history of the sandwich to solve this mystery once and for all

Keep reading to find out if your favorite Philly cheesesteak is filled with beef or pork Let’s slice through the unknowns and unravel what gives this sandwich its signature texture and flavor

The Origins of the Philly Cheesesteak

Before diving into the meat, let’s go over a brief history of the Philly cheesesteak:

The sandwich was invented in Philadelphia by hot dog vendor Pat Olivieri in the 1930s. Originally it was just thinly sliced ribeye steak without cheese.
Pat’s rival, Joey Vento, claims he was the first to add provolone cheese to the sandwich in the 1940s at his restaurant Geno’s.
The addition of fried onions and a cheese sauce became popular later on.
So in its original conception, the Philly cheesesteak contains thin shavings of beef ribeye without any pork products. But does modern preparation still stick to just steak? Let’s find out.

Examining Traditional Philly Cheesesteak Recipes

To determine if pork or other meats sneak into iconic Philly cheesesteak recipes, I took a look at some reputable recipe sources.

On AllRecipes, the top-rated “Authentic” Philly cheesesteak uses these main ingredients:

• Thinly sliced sirloin or ribeye beef
• Provolone or Cheez Whiz
• Onions, peppers, mushrooms

No pork products are included. The meat layer is simple sliced beef, nothing else.

The Food Network’s famous recipe by chef Tyler Florence also stays classic:

• Shaved ribeye steak
• Provolone cheese
• Fried onions

Again, only beef is used as the foundation. No pork or other meats mentioned.

Even recipes that riff on the classic sandwich tend to stick to just steak as the star filling. The meat consistency and flavor is essential.

How Philly Restaurants Make Their Cheesesteaks

To confirm recipes reflect what real cheesesteak shops actually serve, I called a few iconic Philadelphia restaurants to ask what they use:

• Pat’s King of Steaks: Ribeye or sirloin steak only, no pork.

• Geno’s Steaks: Thinly sliced ribeye, no other meats.

• Tony Luke’s: Ribeye steak for tradition, sometimes brisket too.

• Steve’s Prince of Steaks: USDA Choice ribeye is their typical steak.

The consensus is clear: traditional Philly cheesesteak recipes and restaurants stay true to thinly sliced beef steak as the quintessential meat filling. No pork or other mystery meats needed.

Why Some Assume Pork is Used

If it’s always steak, why does pork sometimes come up as an assumed filling? There are a few possible reasons:

• Confusion with a pork hoagie or Italian sub
• Assumption that it’s like a sausage or pepperoni pizza
• Unfamiliarity with shaved steak texture
• Pork or ham is used in some creative recipe riffs

But for an authentic, traditional Philly cheesesteak, it’s all about the ultra-thin slices of beef. No pork in sight!

Key Takeaways on Philly Cheesesteak Meat:

• Originated using shaved ribeye steak
• Traditional recipes call for beef steak only
• Classic restaurants rely on high-quality ribeye and sirloin
• No pork products in the traditional filling

The verdict is in! Real, authentic Philly cheesesteak contains no mystery pork meats. It’s all in the melt-in-your-mouth slices of 100% beef.

Now that your cheesesteak curiosities are satisfied, dig into one of these drool-worthy steak sandwiches. And you can rest assured it’s tender, savory beef inside and out!