Type of Meat Page

Pork Cuts

These are the typical cuts of pork. The terminology may change from region to region. There are between four and six large cuts: the shoulder (blade and picnic), loin, belly (spare ribs and side) and leg. We typically see specific cuts at the store which are used to obtain different kinds of meat, such as tenderloin and ham.

Beef Shank

The beef shank is the shank (or leg) portion of a steer or heifer. In Britain the corresponding cuts of beef are the shin (the foreshank), and the leg (the hindshank). Due to the constant use of this muscle by the animal it tends to be tough, dry, and sinewy, so is best when cooked for a long time in moist heat. It is an ideal cut to use for beef bourguignon. As it is very lean, it is widely used to prepare very low-fat ground beef. Due to its lack of sales, it is not often seen in shops....

Flank steak

The flank steak is a beef steak cut from the abdominal muscles or lower chest of the cow. The cut is common in Colombia, where it is known as sobrebarriga, literally meaning “over the belly”. A thin flank steak in South America is known as a matambre.A relatively long and flat cut, flank steak is used in a variety of dishes including London broil and as an alternative to the traditional skirt steak in fajitas. It can be grilled, pan-fried, broiled, or braised for increased tenderness. Grain...

Beef Plate

In U.S. butchery, the plate of beef (also known as the short plate) is a forequarter cut from the belly of the cow, just below the rib cut. It is typically a cheap, tough, and fatty meat. In U.K. butchery, this cut is considered part of the brisket. It is used for two kinds of steak: skirt steak, used for fajitas, and hanger steak. It may also be cured, smoked, and thinly sliced to make beef bacon. The beef navel is the ventral part of the plate, and it is commonly used to make...

Brisket

Brisket is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of beef or veal. The beef brisket is one of the nine beef primal cuts, though the precise definition of the cut differs internationally. The brisket muscles include the superficial and deep pectorals. As cattle do not have collar bones, these muscles support about 60% of the body weight of standing/moving cattle. This requires a significant amount of connective tissue, so the resulting meat must be cooked correctly to tenderize the...