Whats the best grade of beef? Choice, Select, ? What are all the different grades of beef available?

Answer 1

In the US your Prime beef is generally selected for restaurant use, and the choice, select and standard grades are sold in market, there is a small amount of prime released for sale in grocery stores, but the major differences with it as here in Canada, we grade A,AA and AAA. The structure of the meat is what make the difference, fat meat to lean ratio, colour, age and the muscle texture.

The higher grades have more even and better structure to the flesh and colour is red not dark or overly soft and mushy. Some large restaurant chains age there meat in a dry room extracting the moister to make it tender and flavourful. At the grocery stores it wet aged, in the packages, it is mostly down 20-28 days. If you want the best quality try getting your steaks and roasts from the gourmet counter or a specialty meat store.

I was a chef for 20 yrs in Canada and we used both Canadian and USDA Prime and Choice meats, mostly Prime Ribs and striploins from the US as the feed used and the size of the cut were bigger than that available in Canada, we do not grain feed as much here, it is grass fed and then grain and salt are added in the feedlots before processing.

Answer 2

Reverand les is correct. After the grades you also have the different cuts, things like chuck roast, strip steak and a whole lot more. It seems like every grocery chain is trying to fool you with a bunch of new names. I think if they could they would tell you that their beef is better because it was raised on an uphill slope making the beef better than that raised on a downhill slope. I think we as customers are just dumb enough to believe that too.

Answer 3

Best grade is fillet steak from the loin area. Very nice with a red wine, bacon and mushroom sauce. mmmmm I better start avoiding these food threads.

Here's some pics and description of all the different cuts...

http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/beef_chart.htm

http://www.certifiedangusbeef.com/chef/cuts.php

Answer 4

In order of best to not the best: prime, choice, select, and standard.