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- ABOUT USDA BEEF GRADES
-
- There are eight grades that span
- the range of beef quality. The
- lowest three are rarely sold in
- the retail environment. Instead,
- they are used for ground beef,
- hot dogs or other processed meat
- products.
-
- The most common quality sold at
- the retail level is Choice. Here
- are the grades and a description
- of each:
-
- PRIME -- this is the ultimate in
- tenderness, juiciness and flavor.
- It is heavily marbled, meaning it
- has a lot of fat flecks in it.
-
- CHOICE -- similar to PRIME in
- juiciness and flavor, but doesn't
- have the same amount of fat.
-
- GOOD -- a little more lean than
- the higher grades, it is tender
- but lacks some of the juiciness.
-
- STANDARD -- is much leaner and has
- very little fat. It still is tender
- because it comes from young animals.
- It is mild in flavor because it is
- not as marbled as the higher grades.
- Most cuts will come out somewhat dry
- unless prepared with moist heat.
-
- COMMERCIAL -- this grade is produced
- only from mature animals, and has
- marbling similar to the higher grade
- cuts and so it is just as juicy. It
- requires long and slow cooking to be
- as tender, however.
-
- CUTTER / UTILITY / CANNER -- these
- are the lower grades referred to above.
-