What’s the best beef for the grill, slow cooker, roasting pan, or wok? Cuts of Beef Certain cuts of beef are suitable for different cooking methods. Shoulder, chuck, and blade cuts require long, slow cooking to become tender, as do beef round and rump roasts. Flank steak, ribs, loin, and sirloin are the best choices for grilling or fast, high-heat cooking methods.
Brisket: From the chest region. Use to make corned beef or braises, or smoked for barbeque.
Chuck: These cuts are from the beef shoulder or front end; used as roasts and pot roasts.
Flank: Cuts of beef usually found as steaks; this is the cut often referred to as London Broil.
Loin and Tenderloin: These prime cuts are from the lower back. Cuts are very tender; strip steak, t-bones, and porterhouses come from this region.
Round: Cuts of beef from the hindquarters; usually found as cooking roasts and commonly referred to as rump roasts.
Sirloin: These cuts are taken from the small back region, above the rump; sirloin cuts are very versatile and can be found as steaks and roasts.
Skirt: The diaphragm muscle on the underside of the ribcage. Popular grilled, used in fajitas and carne asada.
Cooking beef
Stir-frying is a great method for cooking beef. It cooks quickly at high temperatures and preserves flavor. Stir-frying also requires very little added fat.
Grilling and broiling are methods that don’t require added cooking fat. For healthier grilling:
- Be sure to trim all visible fat from the beef prior to grilling or broiling.
- Consider precooking large pieces of meat in the oven to reduce time on the grill.
- Don’t let the flame flare up too much.
- Baste with citrus juices or broth instead of fat.
- Remove any blackened portions before serving.
Roasting is a slow method of cooking that allows the fat to drip away from the beef. Roast large cuts of beef with herbs and spices, and serve the beef with chutneys, salsas, or the juice that collects in the bottom of the pan.
Safety Tips
To prevent food-borne illnesses:
- Maintain your refrigerator temperature at 40 degrees F (4 degrees C)
- Store meat in the coldest part of the refrigerator, away from the door
- Make sure you seal the package of beef securely to prevent drips
- Store frozen beef at 0 degrees F (-18 degrees C)
- Defrost beef overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave on the defrost cycle, not at room temperature
- Do not eat raw meat
- Cook ground beef within one to two days of purchase; steaks, chops, and roasts within three or four days
- Always use a clean cutting board and clean utensils when handling beef. Preferably, have one cutting board designated for meat and one for fruits and vegetables.
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