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Beef is the name given to meat obtained from the carcasses of cattle. Each primary beef cut is known as a primal cut, which are groups of muscles from the same area of the beef carcass. The beef primal cuts include the chuck, rib, short loin, round, brisket, plate, and flank.

Tips on Selecting Cuts | Terms | Description of Cuts | Inspection and GradingRead the Label | Look and Feel | Quantity to Buy | Purchasing in Quantity When shopping for pork there are several things that you need to consider so that you will be assured of purchasing the correct quantity, quality and type of pork to satisfy your needs.

Pork is the meat from the carcass of a pig. The carcass is generally split into two sides of pork, each consisting of four primal cuts. Each primal consists of subprimal cuts that are divided into several specific market ready cuts.

Types of Lamb | Shoulder | Breast and ForeshankRib | Loin/Flank | Leg | Variety Meats | Special-Order Cuts Lamb, the meat from the carcass of a young sheep, is a lean red meat with a mild, but distinctive flavor.

Beef cuts should be selected according to the planned method of cooking. For example, if beef is to be cooked on a grill, a tougher cut from the round or plate should not be purchased, unless the intention is to tenderize the meat before cooking it.

There are numerous pork products available, consisting of fresh, frozen, cured, smoked, uncooked, fully cooked, and many heat-n-serve products. Some products are available breaded, seasoned or marinated.

When roasting beef it is important to select the proper cut of roast beef to produce moist and tender meat when the roast beef is cooked to the desired doneness. Using the proper beef cooking times and temperatures is critical to the end results.

Whole Lamb Baby Lamb, sometimes called Hothouse Lamb, is milk-fed lamb that is not more than 10 weeks old. It usually weighs less than 20 pounds and the meat is very pale pink in color.

Learning about various cuts can make shopping for beef a much easier experience. A general knowledge of beef cuts and how they are best used will help you select the proper cut for a particular recipe.

Whole Primal Cuts Whole primal beef cuts may be purchased from a butcher or meat locker or it may be possible to obtained them from a special order from some food stores.

Cuts of Ham | Ham Types | Smoked Ham | Water contentBone-In / Boneless | Cooked / Uncooked Cuts of Ham Hams are cuts of pork that come from the hind leg. The different cuts from the ham are shown below.

General Guidelines | Charcoal Grill | Gas Grill | Doneness Rotisserie cooking requires three key components: The spit assembly, a means to turn the spit, and a heat source for cooking.

Pot Roasts Cuts from the chuck are among the most popular cuts for pot-roasting (braising). They have plenty of connective tissues that melt when the meat is pot-roasted making it tender and flavorful.

Pork Roasts Generally a larger cut that is used to serve several people. Roasts can range in size from as small as 2 lbs. up to 20 lbs. or more. They are available from almost all the primal cuts and vary in tenderness and leanness, depending on the cut they are taken from.

Oven Roasts A cut of lamb suitable for oven roasting is usually a minimum of 2 inches thick. If not overcooked, the dry heat of oven roasting enhances the flavor and tenderness of the lamb.

The food label on packaged beef provides a variety of information designed to make shopping as easy as possible. The label provides the following information depending on the type of beef product that is purchased: Description of Beef Cut The label on raw beef cuts contains the name of the primal cut the beef was taken from, the name of the retail or market ready cut, a short description (bone-in or boneless), the total weight, and cost per pound.

SteaksSteaks are among the most popular fresh beef cuts. The best steaks, in terms of tenderness, are from the loin and include the Filet mignon, Porterhouse, T-bone, and top loin strip.

The Thicker Cut Thicker cuts of meat can be a challenge to grill so that they have a nice flavorful, crisp outer surface with a juicy tender middle. They are cuts that are too thick to be grilled with just direct heat but are not as thick as a cut that requires a long period of indirect heat, such as a roast.

Miscellaneous CutsSome fresh beef cuts or scraps are ground, rolled, tenderized, cubed, or sliced in food stores or meat markets into various products that add convenience for the consumer.

Ribs The beef carcass has 13 pairs of ribs, but not all of the ribs are included in the rib primal cut. The first 5 ribs are part of the chuck cut in the front of the animal.