🥩 Understanding Beef Quality and Grades
In the US, the USDA rates beef quality based on marbling (fat content within the muscle). The grades are:
• Prime - highest quality
• Choice - good quality
• Select - basic quality
Key insight: More marbling = better taste and tenderness!
Important distinction: Angus is a cattle breed, not a grade. Angus beef can be Prime, Choice, or Select quality.
Select grade characteristics:
- Darker appearance
- Minimal marbling
- Mostly pure muscle
💡 Shopping tip: Look for visible white streaks of fat throughout the meat for the best flavor and texture.
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Lessons from LIP #192
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