The USDA says that beef comes from cattle that are at least two years old.450 lbs of meat is typically produced from different parts of the cattle.Different parts of the cattle are classified into different cuts.In the United States, beef is the most popular meat in grocery stores.There are more than 60 different beef products at many grocery stores.It is hard to know the difference between the different cuts of beef.It is possible to determine the best cut for nutrition, cooking methods, price and/or flavor by knowing the difference between the cuts of beef.
Step 1: The eight main cuts of beef are listed.
These are the loin, brisket, chuck, shank, round, short plate, flank and rib.There are many different minor beef cuts from the 8 main cuts.Retail beef is usually labeled with some information.
Step 2: loin is the best choice for tender, delicious beef.
The loin is on top of the cow.A very tender cut of beef called loin can be cooked quickly without being toughened.The loin is not a heavy used muscle and does not have a lot of tissue.The most expensive cut of beef is loin.There are cuts from the loin.The loin can be divided into two parts.The short loin is more tender than the sirloin, which is still considered a prized cut.There are a number of cuts from the short loin area.A lot of the cuts from the sirloin area are center cut, tri-tip, roast, filet, coulotte and ball tip steak.
Step 3: Know the best cooking methods.
It is a good idea to cook loin with dry heat.This can be on a grill or in a pan.loin may toughen the meat if you cook it too much.The short loin area cooks well with thick and thin cuts of meat and will usually remain tender from rare to well done.When cooked well, the sirloin area will start to toughen.If cooking well, try to cut sirloin steak and other sirloin area beef, like tri-tip or coulotte, into thinner portions.Sirloin cooks well ifMarinated prior to cooking.
Step 4: For long slow cooking, choose brisket.
The breast of the steer is the brisket.It is tenderized with slow cooking.It has a lot of fat.It's usually used for BBQ or deli meat.The cuts from the brisket are known as the subprimal cuts.Most of the cuts of brisket are sold whole.There are a few subprimal cuts you can find.There is a difference between a leaner cut of meat and a more uniform cut.Know how to prepare and cook brisket.It will benefit from a dry rub and moist cooking.It is possible to apply a marinade up to 24 hours in advance.When brined before cooking, the salt helps create pockets in the muscle.It does well when smoked for a long time.For longer periods of time, the Brisket should be cooked at a lower temperature.When cooking at a high temperature, the fat and tissue in the meat will be harder to cook.The longer the cooking time, the more fat and tissue can be dissolved into the meat.
Step 5: chuck has a cost effective cut of beef.
Chuck meat comes from the shoulder of the cattle.The high use of this muscle makes the meat tough to cut.chuck can be prepared in many ways that overcome this toughness.You should know the cuts from the chuck.Chuck is either ground or whole muscle.Ground chuck is used in hamburgers and other ground beef products.Flat iron steak, Petite chuck tender roast and shoulder tender medallions are some of the more tender cuts of chuck.The other cuts of chuck are very good.They are top blade steak, cross rib roast, short ribs, stew meat, chuck arm roast and mock tender steak.Know the best ways to cook chuck.The ground chuck cooks well grilled or pan fried.Chuck roasts are best cooked at low temperatures for a long time.Chuck roast can be cooked in a crock pot.The key to a tender and moist roast is low heat for a long period of time.It works well for chuck cuts.When cooking with chuck steaks, a tenderizer will help tenderize the meat and keep it moist for shorter cooking methods.Marinate steaks for less than an hour.You should choose the thickness of the chuck steak based on how you plan to cook it.A thinner steak will work well for short cooking.A thicker steak will work well for cooking in liquids.
Step 6: A good choice for a beef cut is the shank.
The beef is in front of the brisket.Many recipes call for a gravy type of sauce when using this cut of meat.You should know the subprimal cuts.Lean beef can be ground for shaven if it is sold whole with the bone in.The meat can be found in a crosscut.Know the best ways to cook it.The best way to cook it is with moist heat and with the bone in.It's good to cook long at low heat.A rich, creamy sauce is created when the collagen is released during cooking.It's good for making soups.
Step 7: Round is an inexpensive cut of beef that can be used in many different ways.
The rump and hind leg are found on the back of the cattle.Round is considered a lean meat due to the high use of the muscle.The cuts from the round are known as the subprimal.Ground round is often sold as ground beef.There are many subprimal roast cuts.There are also rump roast, bottom round London broil, top round roast and eye of round Roast.There are some cuts from the round.There are also butterfly top round steak and sirloin tip side steak.
Step 8: Know the best way to cook round.
The ground round and small tender steaks can be pan fried or grilled.There are many ways in which the roast can be cooked.They are either with moist heat or with dry heat.Lower temperatures and longer cooking times will give the roast the best flavor.London broil is the exception to cooking roasts.Being grilled andMarinated benefits London broil the most.There are many ways to prepare steaks from the round.They all benefit from it.The steaks can be grilled after beingMarinated.Braising in a liquid is a good way to cook round steaks.It is important that you don't over-marinate.Due to the leanness of the meat, over-marinating will give the opposite effect.It is best to start with a shorter marinating time, such as 20 minutes at room temperature, and increase the time as needed.
Step 9: The short plate is for short ribs or fajita meat.
There is a short plate underneath the ribs of the cattle.There are rib bones in this cut.It isn't a lean cut of meat.There are cuts from the short plate.The short plate contains short ribs and skirt steak.The short ribs have more bone than the skirt steak.Know how to cook a short plate.Before cooking skirt steak and short ribs, it is important to remove the membrane on one side.When cooked, the meat will become tough because it does not allow direct heat to penetrate.The skirt steak can be cooked in a pan or on the grill.It needs high heat to develop flavors and should not be cooked well.If you slice it after it is cooked, it will be very thin.It's better to cook short ribs with moist heat on lower temperatures.They pair well with high flavor braising liquids, such as dark beer.
Step 10: flank is a good cut of beef that can feed a lot of people.
There is a flank on the underside of the cattle.Flank is a tough cut of beef.The flank has cuts from the subprimal.Flank steak or flap are the subprimal cuts.Flank steak can be found in most supermarkets.Know the best ways to cook flank.Flank benefits from aMarinated for no more than an hour.It can be grilled, broiled or pan seared.Flank also benefits from cooking.
Step 11: Ribs are a tender cut of beef.
The cattle's ribs are the source of the rib cut.It is used to make steaks, roasts and ribs.The rib is cut from the subprimal.The steak cuts are Delmonico, filet of rib, cowboy steak, rib steak and ribeye steak.Boneless roast cuts include prime ribeye roast.Back ribs and short ribs are contained in the cuts.Know how to prepare and cook rib.It is possible to cook cuts of beef from the rib.The ribs are slightly tougher but all the cuts are very tender.The steaks can be cooked in a variety of ways.They will cook quickly if the cut is thick.Steaks from the rib are usually tender even when cooked well.If you want to get the best steak, look for good marbling.Roasts from the rib cook well.Before cooking the roast, pat it with a towel and then roast it in an oven.Braising is not a good method for cooking a roast from the rib because it can toughen the meat.Braising is the best method for the rib cuts.
Step 12: Know the quality indicators for beef.
Quality beef can be found in most grocery stores.There are some quality indicators to look for when buying beef.It is a good idea to have the cut in mind before you go shopping.
Step 13: The meat should be kept in a cooler at the grocery store.
You want the meat to be cold from the time it leaves the manufacturing plant until you buy it in order to get the best quality.The meat should not be purchased if it doesn't feel cold in the store.
Step 14: Check the color of the meat.
If you want to evaluate the color, buy beef in clear packages.It should be red.There should be no gray or brown spots.If you want to avoid buying lower quality beef, you will need to examine the beef for discoloration.
Step 15: The beef package has a certain amount of moisture.
The beef is less free and will be in the package.The meat may have been mishandled if there is an excess of water in the package.
Step 16: It's a good idea to choose beef that isn't soft.
Bigger cuts of beef should be more firm than smaller cuts.
Step 17: Choose the thickness and cut it.
If the meat has a rough cut, you don't want to buy it.When beef is cut to the same thickness, it cooks more evenly.If it is not even, you may have some parts that are not perfect.A thinner cut is usually the best for steaks that need to be cooked quickly.
Step 18: You should get the right amount of fat.
For leaner cuts, such as eye of round or sirloin steak, choose beef with the least amount of visible fat.If you are cooking a ribeye steak or a chuck roast, the fat and marbling are important to the flavor.There should be no large fat lines running through the meat.Roasts can benefit from having a layer of fat or larger fat lines because they will melt into the meat.
Step 19: Before buying, check the packaging.
The meat should be completely sealed.After exposure to oxygen, vacuumed sealed beef becomes a bright red color.If you purchase vacuum sealed meat and it is bright red before you open it, the package may have been compromised and you may not want to buy it.You can see what you're getting with clear packages.Ground beef can be purchased in tubes.The ground beef is still fine to eat, but it may be a higher fat content or lower quality.If the package has not been compromised, it is still safe to eat.When buying beef from a butcher, make sure it is wrapped in sanitary packaging and sealed completely.
Step 20: Understand the labels on the beef cuts.
It is important to know how to handle the beef and if it is right for your application.The meat is clearly labeled with the cut information.There are some cuts that have the same name.If you don't know the cut of beef, you may buy the wrong one.Know which health claims can be used with beef.Extra lean health claims can be made for beef.In order to be considered lean, it must have less than 10 g of total fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat and 95 percent of cholesterol.In order to be considered extra lean, it must have less than 5 g of total fat, 2g of saturated fat and 95 grams of cholesterol.The American Heart Association check mark can be found on some packages of beef.This is not a health claim, but an endorsement from the American Heart Association because of the benefits of that cut of beef.
Step 21: Understand how the system works.
Many companies pay to have USDA graded to help consumers understand the difference in beef.Prime is characterized by high marbling and tenderness.Choice is the most popular grade.It has some characteristics.Select applies to very lean cuts of beef.The quality of the meat is dependent on the amount of fat and how tender it is.
Step 22: The meat must have a sell by date.
Sell by dates can help determine how meat should be stored.The meat should be cooked in a day if it is close to the sell by date.The meat should freeze well if it isn't close to the sell by date.
Step 23: Purchase and store beef in a cold area.
Colder temperatures can affect the growth ofbacteria.bacteria can grow on the surface of meat if it gets too warmCooking the muscle tissue may not kill it, but it will make a person ill.
Step 24: All ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160F (70C) and all other beef cuts should not be touched.
You can eliminate most risk of food poisoning with the help of these specifications.
Step 25: Know which cuts are more likely to be contaminated.
According to the National Institute of Health,Salmonella may be found more from loin, rib or chuck cuts.The round and sirloin areas of the cattle may contain E.coli.Before purchasing these cuts of beef, it is important to make sure they are handled and stored correctly at home.