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Beef

Beef
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At a Glance

Beef refers to the meat that comes from the cattle animal. While beef offers many cuts, the meat is commonly enjoyed in the form of steak, ground meat (hamburger), or long-cooking roasts. Beef is an excellent source of protein, as well as zinc, iron, and B vitamins. For the most nutritious, best-quality meat, buy from a butcher or farmer. Store your meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. For safety reasons, the USDA recommends cooking beef to 145°F.

Overview

Beef refers to the meat that comes from the cattle animal.

Cattle are farmed throughout the US and Canada, but the majority of cattle farming takes place in the American Central Plains and parts of the Midwest. In Canada, beef cattle are farmed in the Prairie Provinces (especially Alberta), as well as Ontario and Quebec.

Most people are probably familiar with Angus beef, though there a number of other varieties. Some of the most popular breeds of beef cattle in the US include Hereford, Gelbvieh, Limousin, and Simmental, though there are others.

A standard diet for conventionally-raised beef cattle is largely corn-based (though in Western Canada, barley is commonly used instead of corn). Some amount of forage (grass, silage or legumes) is usually included in this diet. Alternatively, pastured or “grass fed” beef cattle graze on grass.

Beef cuts

Beef offers numerous cuts for popular consumption.

Preferred (and more expensive) cuts typically come from the rib, loin, and sirloin. These cuts of meat come from the top to midsection of the animal’s body, so they are less muscular and therefore more tender than other cuts.

Rib cuts include prime rib, rib eye, cote de boef, and bone-in rib steak.

Loin and sirloin cuts include striploin, tenderloin, sirloin steak, sirloin roast, and T-bone steak.

The lower, belly area of the animal is where plate and flank cuts come from: these are usually eaten as steaks, such as bavette, flank steak, skirt steak, and hangar steak. These cuts can be slightly tougher (which can be offset by proper cooking and cutting), but offer a desirable rich, beefy flavor.

Longer-cooking cuts tend to be tougher but have plenty of flavor if prepared properly. These include:

  • Chuck: pot roast, short ribs, stewing beef
  • Breast & foreshank: beef shank and brisket
  • Round: eye of round, sirloin tip, and silverside roast

In addition to these cuts, beef offers other edible ‘variety meats’ including:

  • Organ meats such as the heart and liver
  • Oxtail (the upper part of the tail)
  • Osso bucco and/or bone marrow (the lower foreshank including the bone)
  • Beef tongue
  • Sweetbreads (the thymus gland or pancreas)
  • Tripe (stomach)

These cuts are less popular in the Western diet, but they are embraced by some cultures, frugal cooks, adventurous eaters, and chefs. Those who embrace these more unusual cuts praise them for exceptional taste and nutritional value.

Ground beef is perhaps the most common form of beef. Of course, it forms what might just be America’s favorite food: the hamburger. Ground beef is also used in many other popular American dishes, including spaghetti with meat sauce, chili, meatloaf, and more.

Ground beef can come from various parts of the animal, but chuck is ideal as it offers a good balance of meat, fat, and rich flavor.

Identification

Though it varies slightly by cut, raw beef is typically a deep red color, which may appear somewhat purple, brown, or blue. Beef cuts that contain fat may have white “marbeling” throughout them – meaning you can see the lines of fat cutting through the meat.

Cooked beef should be somewhere on the spectrum of reddish-brown in color. For example, fully cooked ground beef will look brown, but over-cooked meat may appear grey in color.

In general, here’s how a steak should look when cooked, according to typical guidelines:

  • Steak cooked well-done will be brown all the way through
  • A medium steak will have a bit of pink in the center when cut into
  • A medium-rare steak will be red-pink in the center
  • A rare steak will be red all the way through, and may even have a hint of blue in the center

Nutrition Info

Three ounces of pan-browned lean ground beef (with a fat content of 15%) contains: 218 calories, 23.6g of protein, and 13.0g of fat.

Ground beef is an excellent source of zinc, iron, and B vitamins including B12 and B3.

Selection

Many cuts of beef can be purchased fresh from the meat department of your grocery store. Your grocery store may also have some beef available frozen.

One of the best ways to get quality meat – and to get more information about the beef, its origin, and how to prepare it – is to buy from a local butcher.

When buying meat, here are some things to check for:

  • Expiry date. Ideally the expiry date is at least several days away. The more time the better – that means more freshness!
  • Color. Avoid meat that looks grey or dull. The exception to this is aged meat: a properly aged steak will show its age and look dark, maybe even discolored. Well-aged steaks can be a real treat: if this is something you’d like to try, just ask your butcher.
  • Signs and seals, indicating the meat’s grade, type and where it came from. If you want to know where your meat came from and be assured of its quality, you may look for country of origin labels, beef grade labels, and other USDA assurances. For more on beef grades and other safety information, visit the USDA website.
  • Fat content. If you’re buying steak, some thick white marbling through the meat is probably a good thing. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a lean cut (such as loin), it should be solid red all the way through. Ground beef can typically be purchased as medium, lean, or extra-lean; while lean is considered standard, the choice is up to you.

Storage

Beef should be stored in the refrigerator and cooked before its expiry date. If you’ve purchased meat from a butcher and it’s wrapped in paper (not thoroughly sealed) you may want to put the package in a freezer bag to keep it fresh.

If you won’t be eating the meat within a couple days (or before the expiry date), you can freeze it to extend its lifespan. Generally, meat in the freezer will be good for a couple of months. Make sure it is wrapped in a tightly sealed heavy-duty freezer bag to avoid freezer burn.

Once cooked, beef will last about 4-5 days in a sealed container in the fridge.

Remember that frozen meat, once defrosted, cannot be re-frozen.

Preparation

Beef preparation depends greatly on the cut, the recipe, and your personal preference.

In general, tender cuts require less cooking time: steaks, for example, can be seared in a skillet and then broiled until desired doneness.

Tough, hardy cuts such as beef brisket are best cooked ‘low and slow’ so they have time to become tender.

Ground beef requires little preparation. It’s quick and easy to cook and can be added to a variety of different dishes, making it a common favorite.

To cook ground beef, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a sauté pan at medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the beef, and use a spatula to quickly break the meat up in the pan so that it doesn’t stick together. Stir it occasionally. Once the meat has been seared you should see some dark brown (but not black) carmelization occurring. At this point, turn the heat to medium-low and continue cooking until the meat is thoroughly cooked – it should all be brown colored, not pink.

A note about safety: The USDA recommends cooking beef until 145°F for safety reasons. This recommendation is especially important for ground beef. When preparing meat, remember to wash your hands and all other cooking surfaces and utensils after they have touched raw meat.

Recipe: Red wine braised beef with tomatoes and herbs

Beef

This dish is a showstopper. Rich and hearty, save it for a lazy winter Sunday dinner with friends and family. It goes perfectly with roasted vegetables or over polenta. And don’t forget the vino!

Ingredients

stewing beef, short ribs or oxtail cut into 1-2" cubes
2 pounds
olive oil
1tbsp
white onion, cut into large dice
1
garlic, smashed
4 cloves
carrots, peeled, cut into 1" pieces
2
whole tomatoes (2 x 14oz, 454g)
2 cans
red wine, dry (cabernet or barolo)
1/2 bottle
kosher salt
1 tbsp
bay leaves
2 fresh
basil
1 stem
rosemary
1 spring
sage, fresh
3 leaves
parmesan shavings
for garnish
basil leaves
for garnish

Directions

Prep Time: 30 minutes   Cook Time: 180 minutes   Yield: 6 servings

Set a large dutch oven or stock pot over high heat.  Season the beef with kosher salt, and add the oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot (but not burning) add the beef in a single layer. Sear the beef, browning on all sides. Remove the beef to a plate or tray. Add the carrots, onions, garlic and herbs, and stir. Deglaze the pot with the wine, cook for a minute or two and add the beef and any drippings back to the pot. Add the tomatoes and bring up to a slow simmer. Turn the heat down to medium-low. Every 15 minutes or so, remove the scum and fat that rises to surface, using a ladle or a spoon. Cook uncovered for about 3 hours, or until the meat is starting to fall apart, and the sauce is rich and thick.  Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes. Garnish with parmesan shavings and ripped basil leaves.

Store leftovers in fridge.

Enjoy!

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At a Glance

Beef refers to the meat that comes from the cattle animal. While beef offers many cuts, the meat is commonly enjoyed in the form of steak, ground meat (hamburger), or long-cooking roasts. Beef is an excellent source of protein, as well as zinc, iron, and B vitamins. For the most nutritious, best-quality meat, buy from a butcher or farmer. Store your meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. For safety reasons, the USDA recommends cooking beef to 145°F.