How to Select the Perfect Steak

A delicious meal starts with exceptional ingredients. If you’re ever confused about which cut of meat to buy, strike up a conversation with the butcher. Butchers know quite a lot about what makes a particular cut of meat well-suited to a particular cooking method. Your local butcher is a great resource, but you can also keep the following tips in mind for selecting a perfect steak.

Look for color and marbling.

Steak lovers prefer to see a nice, red color on their meat, along with a good dose of marbling. Marbling is the white fat on a cut of meat. You can determine how much marbling a steak has by checking its grade. Grades of steak are: Select, Choice, and Prime. Select steaks have the least amount of marbling. These are a good choice for people who are watching their calories. Prime steaks have the most amount of marbling, which is why they are so flavorful and juicy. Choice cuts fall between Select and Prime cuts.

Consider how you’ll cook it.

Some cuts of meat are better suited to specific cooking methods than others. Hanger steaks, for instance, are a great choice if you love dry rubs and sticky marinades. Porterhouse steaks, also known as T-bone steaks, are delicious grilled or broiled. Rib eye steaks are wildly popular because of their exceptional flavor. Grill rib eyes over a flame, sear on cast iron, or broil them. Rib eyes are forgiving of overcooking, which makes them ideal for people who love well-done meat. New York strip steaks are versatile, but be careful not to overcook them, as they can get too chewy.

Villa’s Market – Mesa Verde Dr. has skilled butchers at their shop, who provide high-quality steaks, pork, poultry, and seafood at reasonable prices. And if you’re in a hurry to get that steak on the grill, just ask for their pre-marinated cuts. A friendly staff member is also available at (520) 281-1717 to answer your questions.