Purchasing beef at the meat counter can be a daunting task if you’re new to the terminology. The first step in choosing meat is to match the cooking method to the cut of meat.

Some meat cuts are better for grilling, slow cooking, or braising. Most research in the meat industry is done on the rib muscle between the 12th and 13th rib, where information on meat quality is calculated to determine U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) beef grades.

All meat is inspected for health, sanitation and proper labeling in the United States, but only some is graded. Graded meat helps consumers choose to buy a consistent product. A beef carcass is graded based on palatability using tenderness, juiciness, and flavor scores, as well as a yield calculation based on cutability, or amount of meat vs. fat. USDA meat grading evaluates the amount of marbling or intramuscular fat, maturity, color, and texture.

The USDA grades beef as Prime, Choice, Select, and Standard for animals between 9-30 months of age. Prime carcasses have the highest value and fewer than five percent usually reach this classification. Most carcasses are Choice or Select and what is generally sold at a meat counter. Beef aficionados often look for a cherry-red color and consistent marbling of fat through the meat. Eating experiences can be greatly enhanced by understanding beef grading and making informed cooking choices.

For additional information about beef, visit www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/beef.

10 Common Cuts Cooking Method
T-Bone Grill/Pan Fry 
Rib Steak Grill/Pan Fry
Sirloin Steak Grill/Pan Fry
Flat Iron Steak Grill/Pan Fry
Flank Steak Marinate/Grill
Tri-tip Grill/Roast
Brisket Braise
Prime Rib Roast
Chuck Roast Braise/Roast
Rump Roast Braise/Roast

Table showing ten common beef cuts paired with their preferred cooking method.

BEEF GRADES

Image of red and black beef cows surrounding a black calf while all standing on green grass.

Photo: Inga Hawbaker, MSU Extension

The USDA grade shields are regarded as symbols of high-quality American beef. Quality grades are widely used as a measurable “language” within the beef industry, making business transactions easier and providing a vital link for beef producers.

A raw slab of prime beef with white marbling throughout.

Prime beef is produced from young, well-fed beef cattle. It has at least slightly abundant marbling (the amount of fat interspersed with lean meat), and is generally sold in upscale restaurants.

A raw slab of choice beef with some white marbling throughout.

Choice beef is high quality, but has less marbling than Prime. It has at least a small amount of marbling.

A raw slab of beef with little to very scarce amounts of white marbling.

Select beef is very uniform in quality and normally leaner than higher grades. It is fairly tender, but because it has less marbling, it may lack some of the juiciness and flavor of higher grades. It has at least a slight amount of marbling.

Standard and Commercial grades of beef may be sold as ungraded or as store brand meat. More mature animals, older than 30 months, usually make up Commercial, Utility, Cutter, and Canner grades of beef, which are seldom, if ever, sold at retail. Instead they are used to make ground beef and processed products.

 

Wendy Becker is the MSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources and 4-H agent in Roosevelt County.