You may or may not have heard that goat is the most widely-eaten meat, globally. Well, not quite. It’s actually poultry that steals the show in terms of global meat popularity.
After that, it’s pork, then we have the beef eaters. Whether you’re a red meat fan or not, it’s always good to know what goes into the best steak. You never know when you’ll need to impress die-hard beef eaters at your next dinner party.
Here’s what goes into the makings of a truly great steak.
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Choosing the Best Steak Begins with Aging
When you’re looking for a cut of beef that has top-quality tenderness and flavor, the first thing to consider is the age of the meat.
This is a process that develops all the best characteristics of steak, either by wet or dry-aging. Dry-aging allows beef to age in controlled conditions for several weeks. While wet-aging allows the meat to age in its own juices.
The longer a cut of beef ages, the better the flavor and tenderness. Some of the best steak cuts for dry-aging include rib-eye, sirloin, and New York strip cuts, aged for an average of 14 days.
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Always Look for Good Marbling
Let’s be honest, all the best flavors in life come from fat. And this is what gives the best quality steak its flavor and tenderness. This fat is called marbling, which looks like little white specks, weaving throughout a cut of beef.
You want to choose a cut of steak that has a good, even spread of marbling throughout it. Not only does this make for the best cut, but beef marbling contains oleic acid, which actually lowers cholesterol levels.
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Consider the Grade of Meat
All cuts of beef rank on a USDA scale in terms of their quality, i.e. grade. When you choose a steak, you always want to look for the word ”prime” in the title.
This is the highest quality beef you can find on the market today. Whether you choose to gift a steak box to a devoted beef eater or impress them with your cooking skills, prime beef is your go-to.
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It’s All About the Cooking Method
Finally, the way in which you cook a top-quality cut of beef makes all the difference. In the world of devout steak fans, overcooking is the ultimate sin.
Cooking steak is all about the right seasoning and using either a griddle or cast iron pan. This is to ensure there is an even spread of heat to cook your steak perfectly.
If you cook a piece of steak fast and hot enough, you’ll produce a mouthwatering end result. As for seasoning, keep it simple. All you need is a good crack of chef’s salt and black pepper on either side of the steak and you’re good to go.
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If you have a love for all things food, cooking, and entertaining, we hope this guide on choosing the best steak has prepared you for your next dinner party!
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