Comments on: Understanding the USDA Beef Grading System

By: jack

jack — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:53:56 +0000

Costco has prime its a small selection but I bought the rib eye and bbq it and it was so succulent and had such a buttery taste to it. My friend craved it for weeks after the b.b.q. It was a few more dollars at costco but it was so worth it!

By: Fred Cory

Fred Cory — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:03:00 +0000

It often takes a trained eye to tell what’s being sold. Generally, Choice meat will be lighter in color with noticeable marbeling and white firm fat. When the meat appears darker, and the fat takes on an oily more yellowish appearance, it is a good indication that it is well below Choice grade. Ask the meat department manager. If you feel you can’t trus him, and they are cutting meat in the back room, ask to see a ’sub-primal’ cut, like a short loin or rib. The USDA grade stamp should still be there before they start to trim it. If they won’t show it to you proceed to the store manager and demand that they show you what they are selling. Alternatively, go to a retail market you can trust.

By: KMN

KMN — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:56:01 +0000

Is it a bad sign when beef has not been graded? A supermarket in my area is advertising “grass fed” beef, but does not state a grade. The cost is lower. Possibly, its an appeal to people who may think that, for both the animal and the consumer, grass fed is more healthy than beef that’s finished on corn.

By: Craig Curtis

Craig Curtis — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:09:17 +0000

Once beef has been cut, trimmed, and packaged, the grading legend (label) has been removed. How does the consumer know that the grade of beef being advertised is true? EG. I suspect my local market is purchasing select beef and advertising, and selling, it as choice beef. They can get away with selling it at choice prices because the select label has been trimmed off before the packaging process. How is the consumer to know that this isn’t happening?

By: marke

marke — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:05:37 +0000

Hi I have a question I am being told that there is 12 levels of choice graded beef can you explain this all i can find ongradeing beef is prime choice select ect nothing breaking each grade down to levels. Thank you for any information