To create delicious meals for your family, it’s important to ensure you’re always working with the perfect ingredients. And even though various cuts of meat may come from the same animal, they offer a variety of tastes and textures that make them ideal in different dishes. Yet, many people struggle to understand these differences and may choose the wrong cut for their meal. Thankfully, the following list outlines common cuts and the recipes that work best for them.

Different Cuts of Meats You Should Understand

1. Loin

When you want the most tender meat available, you should choose either the strip loin or tenderloin cuts. The strip loin is often used to create a juicy and succulent New York strip steak, which thrives with the addition of a garlic-herb crust. The tenderloin, on the other hand, is often preferred to create filet mignon, which is a well-loved steak that’s often wrapped in bacon and topped with garlic.

2. Chuck

The chuck steak is extracted from the animal’s shoulder. Because this is a frequently used muscle, it tends to be very large, lean, and tough, but also full of flavor. It also includes a significant amount of connective tissue. Due to these qualities, most recipes involving beef chuck require you to break down the collagen and large muscular components. For example, it is commonly used in stews, because stewing in the broth for hours helps soften the meat. Additionally, it may also be ground to create delicious and juicy hamburgers.

3. Flank

The flank refers to the animal’s side, and produces a long thin piece of steak. The long fibers of the flanks muscles make it imperative to cut properly. Ask your butcher to score the steak against the grain to give you a “map” of how to cut it best. This is a very lean piece of meat and is best cooked medium rare to medium at most.

 

Choosing the perfect cut of meat is critical in ensuring your recipe is delicious and cooked to perfection. The experts at Butcher & Bird, based in Honolulu, HI, provide high-quality cuts at affordable prices. Committed to providing excellent service, their professional butchers will advise you on the best way to prepare and cook your meat. To learn more about this local business, give them a call today at (808) 762-8095. You can also like them on Facebook for more information.