Beef Marbling Usda

Steaks from an animal raised on grain will have more marbling than beef from a grass fed cow see the usda scale below.

Beef marbling usda.

Beef cuts with less marbling such as usda select can be cooked on the grill just like usda choice or usda prime grades but may need to be monitored a little closer and cooked a little less to keep it as tender as possible. It has slightly abundant. Anything graded below those three is not generally sold at the supermarket and may be used in ground beef. The beef grading system developed by the united states department of agriculture is a voluntary grading system based on the meat s maturity and level of fat marbling these two factors are indicators of the beef s tenderness.

Beef that is given a higher grade is usually from younger cattle and has more fat marbling. Usda prime beef has the highest marbling score or fat content followed by usda choice. Quality grades of carcass beef bullock prime. Graders evaluate the amount and distribution of marbling in the ribeye muscle at the cut surface after the carcass has been ribbed between the 12th and 13th ribs.

Beef carcass quality grading is based on 1 degree of marbling and 2 degree of maturity. Quality grades are widely used as a language within the beef industry making business transactions easier and providing a vital link to support rural america. Prime beef is produced from young well fed beef cattle. The usda grades beef based primarily on marbling though that s not the only critera.

The breed of cattle can play a role as well but diet and handling are the two major factors. Usda select has only slight marbling. These factors include carcass maturity firmness texture and color of lean and the amount and distribution of marbling within the lean. You ll see prime choice and select at your local supermarkets and you can more or less call those marbling scores.

For the prime grade the minimum degree of marbling required is a minimum slightly abundant amount for carcasses throughout the range of maturity permitted in the bullock class. The usda grade shields are highly regarded as symbols of high quality american beef.