Tip Top Meat
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Welcome
    • Certification
    • Events
  • Online Shop
    • My Account
    • Online Specials
    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Hampers
    • Lamb
    • Miscellaneous
      • Bacon
      • Braai Essentials
      • Dried Meats (Biltong)
      • Frozen Veg
      • Sauces
      • Spices
    • Pork
    • Sausages
    • Braai Packs
    • Make Your own Braai Pack
    • Caterers
    • Hams & Deli
    • Burgers
    • Frozen Fish
    • Supersaver Range
    • Superior Range
    • Other
  • Factory Store
    • Hampers
    • Tip Top Cafe
      • Menu
      • Cafe Specials
      • Platters
      • Hiring of Braai’s
    • Pensioner’s Day
  • Services
    • Tip Top Rewards
    • Deliveries
    • House Hold Brands
    • Sales Team
    • Merchandising
    • Promotions
    • Recipes
  • Specials
    • Competitions
  • Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Cart

Ed Blog Cuts of Meat, Fresh Meat, High Quality Meat, Meat Cut, Meat Cuts

Choosing the Right Meat Cuts

When it comes to choosing the right meat cut, it can be a difficult task for many. You can’t be 100% certain that the meat cuts you buy come from a reliable source. Spotting quality meat requires a keen eye! Before you buy meat, look out for the following:

  • Marbling, or signs of fat, adds to the overall taste and texture of the meat.
  • Cold meat should be firm to the touch.
  • When the grocers handle your meat cut, ensure they do not mishandle it.
  • If you don’t know your meat cuts, ask your grocer for advice. Establish a repertoire with them over time.
  • “Less but more” is sound advice when it comes to quality meat.

With these general points in mind, we have laid out the basics you need to keep in mind before you buy meat.

Meat Cut Marbling

Meat with Marbling
Marbling affects the taste and texture of most meat. The more marbling, the better the taste!

Marbling will affect the taste and texture of your meat cut. Basic rule of thumb: The more marbling there is, the better it will taste.

Marbling is important when it comes to your meat cuts. Marbling refers to the traces of fat found within the meat, giving it a deeper and more satisfying taste. Before you buy meat from a selection, feel it quite firmly. Cold fat is hard, and so should feel firm to the touch.

Quality meat will generally have a fatty coating to help keep its juices contained. This contributes to a much improved taste. Older animals will have yellowed fat. While less tender, they often have a deeper and more mature taste.

Buy Meat which is More Tender

You can eat meat cuts from veal, lamb, pork, and poultry directly. This is not so for beef, though, as it needs to tenderise over the course of about a week.

When choosing meat, tenderisation is crucial. Tenderisation helps to develop an excellent taste, and lose considerable liquid. Due to this, a tenderised meat cut is often more expensive.

Quality Meat had Quality Feed

Properly fed animals will grow meat and fat in natural proportions. Animals that have mostly fed on green grass will have much tastier meat. Not only that, but they will have a lot of marbling, too! Try to buy meat that you know has grazed properly.

Cow grazing
Grass fed cows are often said to have the best taste. Different feed gives different tastes.

Animals that graze properly grow meat and fat in natural proportions. Animals that have eaten green grass usually have tastier meat, with a lot of marbling! Do what you can to find out the feed given to your meat selection. Grass fed cows are often said to provide the best quality meat. Additionally, different feed will contribute to different tastes.

Quality and Quantity are not Mutually Exclusive

If you buy a cheaper meat cut, that doesn’t mean you’re getting “more” of it. The more likely case is that you’re paying for the added brine. You’re much better off selecting more expensive meat cuts, which are nicer and tastier.

Avoid losing the weight of those portions into a pool of liquid in the pan! When it comes to chicken, always go for whole chickens! They almost always have better value for money, better portions, and more meat!

Have a question or query? Contact Us Today!

Choosing Meat Cuts

The 7 Steps to Grilled Sausage Perfection

Related Posts

Grilling Sausages

Blog/

The 7 Steps to Grilled Sausage Perfection

For the first time chef, cooking up grilled sausage might seem like an easy affair. But, it is easier said than done! Grilled sausages need a certain level of care and preparation. If you know what cooking sausages is all about, then you will know the 7 steps needed to achieve this. Read on to […]

Lamb Cutlet

Blog/

Cuts of Lamb and You – Part 2

In our previous post, we discussed lamb cut variants, their characteristics, and how best to cook them. Here, we’ll continue to have a look at lamb cuts, from lean and juicy shoulder, to the wonderfully marbled lamb neck. There is a cut of lamb for all preferences out there! Shoulder Lamb Cut The shoulder is […]

Steak dish

Blog/

Cuts of Lamb and You – Part 1

Looking to make a memorable meal for friends and family from a cut of lamb? Instead of sticking to the same old lamb cut, why not spice things up? There is a whole world of nose-to-tail cooking to discover. What’s more, different lamb cuts offer a unique cooking and tasting experience. When it comes to […]

© Tip Top Meat 2021
Site created by Integrated Marketing Solutions