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]]>Source: Beefitswhatsfordinner.com
Thanks to America’s beef producers, there are beef choices to satisfy all tastes, schedules and budgets. Don’t let choosing the right cut become confusing. This helpful chart can serve as your guide to find the best cut for your needs, whether it’s a weeknight family dinner or a special celebration. Above all, matching the correct beef cut to the appropriate cooking method is the key to moist, tender and flavorful beef.
Fresh ground beef may vary in color during its shelf life. If exposed to oxygen through the permeable plastic wrapping, a package of ground beef may appear bright red on the surface, while the interior remains purplish-red. With extended exposure to oxygen, beef’s cherry-red color will take on a brown color.
These color changes are normal, and the ground beef remains perfectly wholesome and safe to eat if purchased by the “sell by” date on the package label.
Most tender steaks come from the center (rib and loin sections) of the animal and are usually cooked by dry-heat methods. You can find tender steaks at different price points.
Premium steaks, such as strip (top loin), T-Bone, Porterhouse, ribeye, rib and tenderloin, usually have a higher price per pound, but you can also find tender steaks that are a good choice for family meals such as ranch (shoulder center), top sirloin, flat iron (shoulder top blade), chuck eye and round tip.
Less-tender steaks are from the more exercised fore- and hindquarters of the animal and benefit most from moist-heat cooking. These cuts include full-cut round, eye round and bottom round; chuck shoulder, chuck 7-Bone, chuck arm and chuck blade; flank and skirt. Some of these less tender cuts, including top round steak, may be cooked with dry heat after tenderizing in a marinade.
A roast is a cut of beef, thicker than two inches, that is suitable for cooking by dry heat on a rack in a shallow open pan in the oven or in a covered grill (indirect heat).
Premium oven roasts, including rib, ribeye, top loin and tenderloin are typically more costly, but ideal for holiday entertaining and other special occasions. Plan to order the type and size of roast you’d like ahead of time to ensure you get your first choice.
For everyday family meals, casual gatherings, and for the health-conscious, the round and bottom sirloin cuts are leaner and economical. Moderately priced roasts include tri-tip, round tip, rump, bottom round and eye round.
Consider a boneless roast for large parties or buffets as it will streamline carving and serving.
Pot roasts also come from the fore- and hindquarters of the carcass. These muscles are more heavily exercised and contain more connective tissue, making them less tender. Moist-heat cooking takes more time, but the results are worth waiting for. The beef becomes fork-tender and develops a savory depth of flavor unique to slow-cooked beef.
Pot roasts from the chuck have more fat, and thus more flavor, than those from the round, but many beef chuck and round cuts can be used interchangeably in pot roast recipes, requiring only slight adjustments in cooking times. Take advantage of this fact when the cut specified in a recipe is not available, when certain cuts are on special or to accommodate family preferences.
Beef brisket is a boneless cut from the breast section, the underside of the forequarter. Available as a fresh cut, it is best prepared by using braising or stewing techniques. Brisket is also processed into corned beef, a technique that brines the meat. Corned beef is also prepared using most-heat cookery.
There are several cuts of brisket available, including whole brisket, point half/point cut brisket, flat half/flat cut and middle cut. The point half is sometimes also called thick cut. The flat half, often referred to as first cut is less fatty and is often the most popular for making braised beef brisket. All the cuts have a layer of fat that can be trimmed, but adds to the flavor and tenderness of the final cooked dish.
Your goal when stir-frying beef is to have uniform size pieces to ensure even cooking. You may save time by purchasing packages of pre-cut beef, but it may more economical to slice your own. Almost any tender beef cut, such as sirloin, top sirloin, tri-tip, ribeye, top loin or tenderloin may be trimmed and cut into the appropriate size strips for use in beef stir-fry recipes. Even some less tender cuts, such as flank, top round and round tip steaks, are suitable for stir-frying. Remember this cook’s tip, too: Place meat in freezer for thirty minutes and it will be easier to cut into thin slices.
One of the homiest comfort foods, beef stew practically cooks itself as it slowly simmers on the stove. Beef for stew is boneless, pre-cut cubes, typically from the chuck or round. The ideal size for uniform cooking is about a 3/4 to 1-1/2 inch cube.
If you prefer to cut your own cubes, any chuck or round cut -except top round – may be used. Trim the excess fat and cut into the appropriate size for your recipe.
Kabobs are a great crowd pleaser, whether you grill them outdoors or broil them indoors. You can turn a party interactive, by having your guest prepare their own skewers with their choice of vegetables,
Beef for kabobs is usually cut into 1 to 1-1/2 inch boneless pieces from the sirloin or round. Cubes cut from the round will benefit from a tenderizing marinade. Look for packages that have the most uniform size pieces.
You can trim any tender cut into the appropriate size cubes, taking care to keep the piece size as uniform as possible. Top sirloin or tenderloin are especially good choices.
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Place tenderloins in large self-sealing bag; pour marinade over. Seal bag and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.
Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Remove tenderloins from marinade (discard remaining marinade), pat dry and place in shallow roasting pan. Roast tenderloins for 20-25 minutes, until internal temperature (measured with a meat thermometer) is 160 degrees F. Remove from oven, slice enough to serve. (One tenderloin serves 3 to 4.)
Wrap and refrigerate leftovers up to three days.
Purchased fajita marinade from the store makes this a quick meal. Have warm flour tortillas, sauteed onions and bell peppers and salsa available for your table. Other ideas included for leftovers.
Calories: 131 calories
Protein: 24 grams
Fat: 3 grams
Sodium: 500 milligrams
Cholesterol: 75 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 1 grams
Carbohydrates: 1 grams
Chops are best prepared by grilling directly over the coals.
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]]>Heat oven to broil. Coat a large baking pan with cooking spray. Arrange pork chops and vegetables in a single layer on baking pan. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, oil, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and fennel seed. Brush mixture on both sides of pork. Broil 5 to 6 inches from heat for about 6 to 10 minutes, or until pork has internal temperature on a thermometer reads 160 degrees F and vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove from oven; divide pork and vegetables among pita pocket breads. Add 1 slice of cheese to each sandwich.
Makes 8 sandwiches (4 servings).
What better way to eat your vegetables than from an Italian-inspired pita sandwich? Use different colored bell peppers for a festive look. Serve with Jicama Salad with Chile and Lime and fresh sliced tomatoes.
Calories: 188 calories
Protein: 21 grams
Fat: 6 grams
Sodium: 280 milligrams
Cholesterol: 75 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 2 grams
Carbohydrates: 21 grams
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]]>Heat nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork and onion; cook and stir until evenly browned. Stir in tomatoes and tomato sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in squash and pasta. Cook for 2-5 minutes or until heated through.
Serves 4
This dish makes pantry staples into a quick weekday meal. Serve with a crisp green salad and French bread.
Calories: 300 calories
Protein: 30 grams
Fat: 9 grams
Sodium: 400 milligrams
Cholesterol: 70 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 27 grams
Fiber: 4 grams
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]]>Place ribs in a large bowl or resealable plastic bag, set aside. In 4-cup glass measure, stir together vinegar, water, oil, molasses, salt, red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper until salt is dissolved. Remove 1/2 cup marinade; set aside. Add remaining marinade to ribs; seal bag and marinate for 4 – 6 hours in the refrigerator. Remove ribs from marinade; discard marinade.
Prepare medium-hot fire; grill ribs over indirect heat for 50 to 60 minutes or until pork is tender and the internal temperature reaches 160º F. Baste ribs twice with reserved sauce mixture during last 15 minutes of grilling.
Serves 6.
Give a vinegar-based sauce a try with these hearty ribs. Serve with hush puppies, corn on the cob, Easy Baked Beans, and your favorite cornbread.
Calories: 198 calories
Protein: 14 grams
Fat: 14 grams
Sodium: 355 milligrams
Cholesterol: 51 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 5 grams
Carbohydrates: 2 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
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]]>Spray cookie sheet with nonstick spray. Separate biscuits and flatten on cookie sheet, leaving space between so edges do not touch. Spread 1 teaspoon pizza sauce on each biscuit. Top each biscuit with 1 tablespoon of diced ham and 1 tablespoon shredded cheese. Bake in a 400 degrees F. oven for 8-10 minutes or until biscuits are light brown and cheese is melted.
Serves 10.
This is a perfect recipe for beginner cooks. Kids of all ages will enjoy making their own mini-pizzas. Serve individually as a snack or appetizer. For a complete meal, serve two pizzas with a salad and fresh fruit.
Calories: 100 calories
Protein: 6 grams
Fat: 4 grams
Sodium: 240 milligrams
Cholesterol: 15 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 1 grams
Carbohydrates: 10 grams
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]]>The degree of leanness
Modern-day production has reduced pork’s fat content.In fact, pork is a major contender in the lean meat category and many cuts of pork are as lean or leaner than chicken. For example, pork tenderloin is just as lean as a skinless chicken breast with 2.98 grams of fat per 3 ounce serving and meets the government guidelines for “extra lean.” For the leanest cuts of pork, look for the words “loin” on the label.
How you’ll cook it
If time is limited, you’ll want to select a smaller cut, like pork chops that cook quickly. If you’re entertaining and have several other dishes to prepare, you may want to choose a roast that can be put in the oven and requires very little attention.
What Kind of Meat?
Listed first on every label, this indicates whether the cut is pork, beef, lamb or veal.
What Part of the Pig is this Cut From?
This is known as the “primal” or “wholesale” cut and specifies which part of the animal the meat comes from.This information is a good indicator of the relative tenderness of the cut and can help the shopper decide which method of cookery to use when preparing the cut.This part of the label may read shoulder, loin, leg, etc.
What is the Retail Cut?
This part of the label gives the shopper the specific name of the smaller cut taken from the primal cut.This part of the label may read blade roast, rib chop, sirloin roast, etc.
Number of people to be served
The “average” serving size for pork is 3 ounces of cooked meat.Start with 4 ounces of boneless, raw pork to yield 3 ounces of cooked pork. A 3-ounce serving is about the size of a deck of cards.
Cost
To get the most for your money, take the time to figure out the cost per serving. Some boneless cuts may seem more expensive, but actually are a better buy because you are not paying for the bone. Calculating cost per serving is a better measure of value and can be calculated with this formula:
What about freezing ham?
The National Pork Board does not encourage freezing cooked ham, since it affects the quality and mouth-feel of the meat However, leftover ham for use in soups or casseroles can be cut up into slices or cubed and stored in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
Can I brown my fresh pork this morning, put it the refrigerator and finish cooking it tonight?
Never brown or partially cook any meat.
Is it safe to eat leftover food that was left out on the counter to cool at dinnertime, then forgotten until morning? No. Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees F, some doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. Some types will produce toxins that are not destroyed by cooking.
Pathogenic bacteria do not generally affect the taste, smell, or appearance of a food. In other words, one cannot tell that a food has been mishandled or is dangerous to eat. If a food has been left in the “Danger Zone” – between 40 and 140 degrees F – for more than 2 hours, discard it, even though it may look and smell good. Never taste a food to see if it is spoiled. It is always best to use the rule of “When in doubt, throw it out.”
What is the best way to thaw frozen pork?
The best way to defrost pork is in the refrigerator in its wrapping. Follow these guidelines for defrosting pork in the refrigerator:
Can I use my microwave to defrost pork?
Follow the microwave manufacture’s guidelines for defrosting meat. Cook meat immediately after microwave thawing.
My roast isn’t thawed completely, but I need to get my meal started. Can I still cook it?
It is safe to cook frozen or partially-frozen pork in the oven, on the stove or grill without defrosting it first; the cooking time may be about 50% longer. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. It is best if frozen pork roasts are cooked at an oven temperature of 325 degrees F. Do not cook frozen pork in a slow cooker.
Can pork be refrozen if it has thawed?
According to the USDA, once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through defrosting. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods
What about trichinosis?
Because of modern feeding practices, trichinosis is a no longer a concern. Although trichina is virtually nonexistent in pork, if it were present, it would be killed at 137 degrees F. That’s well below the recommended end cooking temperature for pork, which is 160 degrees F.
How long can I keep my fresh pork in the refrigerator?
Sealed, prepackaged fresh pork cuts can be kept in the refrigerator 2 to 4 days; sealed ground pork will keep in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If you do plan on keeping the raw, fresh pork longer than 2 to 3 days before cooking it, store it well-wrapped in the freezer.
What length of time can I keep pork in the freezer?
Generally, fresh cuts of pork, like roasts, chops and tenderloin can be kept well-wrapped in the freezer up to 6 months. Well-wrapped ground pork can be kept for about 3 months in the freezer.
How do I properly wrap my fresh pork to keep it in the freezer?
Follow these steps to help keep your pork fresh in the freezer
How long can I store ham or other smoked products in the refrigerator?
Whole smoked ham and whole ham slices can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or the use by date on the label. Smoked sausages, hot dogs, bacon and other luncheon meats can be kept for up to 7 days.
What about freezing ham?
The National Pork Board does not encourage freezing cooked ham, since it affects the quality and mouth-feel of the meat However, leftover ham for use in soups or casseroles can be cut up into slices or cubed and stored in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
I have leftovers from a big roast, how long can I keep them?
Leftovers should be placed in the refrigerator within 1 to 2 hours of serving. Store cooked leftovers in the coldest part of the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Well-wrapped leftovers can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Can I brown my fresh pork this morning, put it the refrigerator and finish cooking it tonight?
Never brown or partially cook any meat.
Is it safe to eat leftover food that was left out on the counter to cool at dinnertime, then forgotten until morning?
No. Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees F, some doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. Some types will produce toxins that are not destroyed by cooking.
Pathogenic bacteria do not generally affect the taste, smell, or appearance of a food. In other words, one cannot tell that a food has been mishandled or is dangerous to eat. If a food has been left in the “Danger Zone” – between 40 and 140 degrees F – for more than 2 hours, discard it, even though it may look and smell good. Never taste a food to see if it is spoiled. It is always best to use the rule of “When in doubt, throw it out.”
What is the best way to thaw frozen pork?
The best way to defrost pork is in the refrigerator in its original wrapping.
Follow these guidelines for defrosting pork in the refrigerator:
My roast isn’t thawed completely, but I need to get my meal started. Can I still cook it?
It is safe to cook frozen or partially-frozen pork in the oven, on the stove or grill without defrosting it first; the cooking time may be about 50% longer. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. It is best if frozen pork roasts are cooked at an oven temperature of 325 degrees F. Do not cook frozen pork in a slow cooker.
Can pork be refrozen if it has thawed?
According to the USDA, once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through defrosting. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods
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