Beef is a really versatile meat that can be used in many ways. Because cows are farmed in so many places, you can find beef dishes from all over the world. When you buy beef, whether from a butcher or elsewhere, you have a number of different cuts you can consider. Different cuts of beef are good for cooking in other ways and used in numerous dishes. Some cuts, like many steaks, do not need anything fancy to make them delicious. Other cuts can be great when combined with many other flavors using techniques such as marinating, baking, boiling and more.
There are many various cuts of beef, but here are some of the most common choices and how to cook them.
short waist
Short loin cuts include T-bone steaks, filet mignon, and Porterhouse steaks, in addition to roasts and tenderloin steaks. These types of cuts are usually best cooked over a dry fire, such as on a grill. They often do not need much extra flavor, and seasoning them well is a terrific way to cook them. Of course, there are some classic steak sauce which is a popular choice for enjoying quality steaks. These include peppercorn sauce, Béarnaise sauce, Diane sauce, blue cheese sauce, salsa verde, chimichurri, garlic herb butter and more.
brisket
The brisket is cut from the breast. It can be tough and chewy if not cooked properly but tender if cooked the right way. There are two main cuts of brisket, the flat cut, and the point cut. In the US, beef brisket is assumed of in two other ways. First, it’s a popular BBQ dish that is commonly smoked or boiled. Second, there’s Jewish beef brisket, which is boiled and often served on Jewish holidays. Brisket is one of those cuts of beef that usually should be cooked “low and slow”, which makes it perfect for grilling or for prolonged cooking in the slow cooker or oven.
Wings and Short Plates
Flank comes from the stomach muscles of the cow, which makes it a fairly tough cut of meat. However, this means it is an excellent choice for making stews or other dishes cooked in liquid. It’s normally cut into flank steak, which makes it perfect for recipes like ropa vieja Magic Slow Cooker. It is commonly found in Latin American or Asian cuisine. Short plates come from the stomach of a cow and can even become very tough if cooked the wrong way. Like the flank, it is beneficial because it stays moist and is great for the slow cooker.
Sirloins
The sirloin is cut from the back of the cow, past the loin. This is a tender and flavorful cut of beef, although not quite as tender as a loin cut. The sirloin cut includes several different steaks, such as top and bottom sirloin and tri-tip steaks. Like other types of steak, it is best cooked on the grill, but it can be delicious cooked in other ways as well. Grilling, sautéing or frying are all good options for cooking sirloin steak and getting the best results.
Ribs
Tender beef ribs are perfect for making a number of dishes, whether for grilling or exploring dishes from around the globe. These parts of the meat include rib steaks, prime ribs, short ribs and rib roasts. In order to get the tastiest out of the ribs, it is usually recommended to cook them over a dry fire for a long time. There are many barbecue recipes for ribs, but you can even explore some other options. You can find recipes with Asian flavors like spare ribs that you might get from your favourite Chinese food or try something like beef ragu short ribs.
Throw away
Chuck beef comes from the shoulder of a cow. It is tougher than some of the other cuts but also has plenty of flavor in it, so the benefits of slow cooking it using methods such as boiling or slow cooker cooking. The chuck cut offers a really affordable cut of beef, making it great if you are trying to stay on a budget or be frugal when buying your chops. If you have slow cookerBeef Chuck is great for making every kind of recipes in it, from stews to roasts.
Different cuts of beef are appropriate for various cooking methods and dishes. By exploring what’s available, you can find a number of delicious new dishes to try.