Beef Cuts Guide

Beef cuts can be confusing – there are so many options!

The main cuts may sound familiar: chuck, rib, brisket, sirloin. But each of these can be divided into more specific cuts that vary in taste and tenderness.

 Image from Business Insider

Chuck roasts and ribs

The forequarter of the animal provides the chuck cuts. This meat comes from the neck, upper arm and shoulder and makes good stew meat and pot roasts. It’s also good for ground beef.

Prime rib, ribeye, and rib roast

The forward ribs of the animal become the classic prime rib. Ribeye steak and rib roast also come from this area. These cuts are delicious and tender.

Short loin steaks

This area contains the best cuts of steak – T-bone, porterhouse, and strip. When you order beef through a locker, you can choose how thick you want these cut. Brian likes his T-bones at least an inch thick!

Sirloin and tenderloin

The sirloin area at the far end of the back provides sirloin steaks that are great for grilling and the tenderest cut of beef, the tenderloin. There is also delicious roast and barbecue potential from the bottom of the sirloin.

Round steak, rump roast, and tip steak

The round roughly corresponds to the back leg of the animal. Rump roast, round steak, and tip steak come from this area. Meat in the legs tends to be more lean, so it makes good sandwich meat.

Brisket

Brisket is one of the tastiest cuts of beef and our personal favorite at BJK Farms! This delicacy comes from the chest and is excellent for smoking or barbecuing.

Shank

The shank is the animal’s upper leg muscle and is one of the toughest cuts. It’s used in the Italian dish osso buco.

Short ribs & skirt steak

From the forward part of the belly. These cuts can be braised or made into ground beef.

Flank steak

Flank steak is delicious on the grill. It’s also often used for ground beef.

Bones and organ meat

Beef bones make delicious broth, which has many health benefits. Dogs love beef bones too! Organ meat is very nutritious and some people enjoy beef heart, tongue, or liver.

Whatever cuts sound best to you, our lockers can accommodate!

Corn-fed vs. grass-fed beef

Cattle that are fed only grass, hay, and other plant foods take at least twice as long to reach harvest weight as corn-fed cattle do. Since grass-fed beef is from older animals, it is tougher and stringier. This is why many people prefer corn-fed to grass-fed beef.

Beef is a great addition to a healthy diet. Corn-fed and grass-fed beef contain the same nutrients, with only miniscule differences in fat composition. Grass-fed beef tends to be leaner than corn-fed beef, detracting from its taste, but you can get both types of beef with the same fat content. If you want to compare tastes for yourself, make sure that the fat content in your test meat is the same for an accurate comparison.

For more information about beef and nutrition, check out the Beef and Nutrition powerpoint below.

Beef and Nutrition – Powerpoint