To a person that does not commonly purchase meat, the deli counter can be a very intimidating place to be. There are so many selections to choose from when you are trying to find red meat, and many people don’t know where to look when it comes to purchasing good cuts of meat. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the common features of steaks to look for when purchasing beef so that you can know how to choose the right cuts for you and your family.
First off, you need to understand the USDA’s grading system when it comes to steak. There are three grades of beef sold under the USDA guidelines – Prime, Choice, and Select. Prime is the most expensive cut of beef, and it is usually from younger cows and features extensive marbling. Marbling is an aspect of beef that is important to understand. When small levels of fat permeate through the meat, causing it to have a marbled’ appearance like the stone of the same name, the beef is often very tender and consequently highly desired. It can be tough to find Prime USDA beef outside of restaurants, with only specialty butchers usually carrying the meat. The next step down in the quality of beef is...