Let's Talk About USDA CHOICE Beef (#KnowYourBeef) - Meat N' Bone

Let's Talk About USDA CHOICE Beef (#KnowYourBeef)

· Updated Posted by Meat N' Bone

Americans eat more meat per person than almost any other country in the world. Only Luxembourgers eat more meat than Americans do but still the average American consumes about 270 lbs of meat per year (yikes!). In order to feed our people, we need to produce A LOT of beef.

Thankfully these days, the United States produces some of the best beef in the world. The average steak sitting in your local supermarket is usually better than what you will find in almost every other country in the world. Our supply chain is of extremely high quality and has been refined over the last 50 years.

Unfortunately, our USDA Quality Grades are not as refined. The USDA grades billions of dollars worth of beef any given year. Only about 2% of the beef gets the USDA Prime Label, but almost HALF of it (45%) grades as USDA Choice.

To the uneducated beef lover, Prime is Prime and Choice is Choice. In reality, the very best Choice steak is closer to USDA Prime than it is to USDA Choice.

Confusing? Yes it is.

And this is why beef prices vary so much from supermarket to supermarket and why Meat N' Bone's USDA Choice beef can be slightly pricier than what you will find in our local supermarket.

percent of intramuscular fat for USDA quality beef

Beef Is A Commodity

If a price is too good to be true, well it probably is the case. If two steaks of the same grade are priced too differently, they are probably not the same grade.

We sell Premium Quality Meats at Supermarket Prices. But our meats are leaps and bounds above ANYTHING your supermarket butcher has to offer.

What Else Makes Meat N' Bone Special?

We only source from specific farms and vendors and each one is vetted for high quality. If we cannot find a product, we mark it out of stock. We do not sacrifice quality.

Aside from the grading of our beef, our aging standards are far superior than those of your supermarket butcher which ages beef, at most, for about as week. All of our premium cuts are dry aged for 21 to 30 days and then wet-aged for another 30-50 days. This guarantees tenderness, texture and flavor.

We hand-cut EVERY steak, which means we inspect each piece carefully, we trim away the fat and we make every steak meet our rigorous standards. Last but not-least we vacuum-seal, which makes a HUGE difference.

Good meat is not cheap and cheap meat is not good.

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About Let's Talk About USDA CHOICE Beef (#KnowYourBeef)

Americans eat more meat per person than almost any other country in the world. Here's how to know if the quality of your beef is living up to expectations.

Questions

What is the difference between USDA Prime and USDA Choice beef?

Only about 2% of U.S. beef is graded Prime, while 45% is Choice. However, the very best Choice steak is closer to USDA Prime than it is to lower-grade USDA Choice. This is why beef prices vary so much from supermarket to supermarket and why Meat N' Bone's USDA Choice beef can be slightly pricier than what you will find in a local supermarket.

Why is Meat N' Bone's USDA Choice beef pricier than supermarket beef?

Meat N' Bone sources from specific farms and vendors that are vetted for high quality. Beyond grading, their aging standards are far superior to supermarket butchers. All premium cuts are dry aged for 21 to 30 days and then wet-aged for another 30-50 days, guaranteeing tenderness, texture and flavor. Every steak is hand-cut, carefully inspected, trimmed, and vacuum-sealed to meet rigorous standards.

How does Meat N' Bone age its beef?

All premium cuts are dry aged for 21 to 30 days and then wet-aged for another 30-50 days. This is significantly longer than most supermarket butchers, which age beef for at most about a week.

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What makes Meat N' Bone steaks different from supermarket steaks?

Meat N' Bone hand-cuts every steak, inspecting each piece carefully, trimming away the fat, and ensuring every steak meets rigorous standards. They vacuum-seal all products, which makes a huge difference. Additionally, they only source from specific vetted farms and vendors, and if a product cannot be found at the desired quality, it is marked out of stock rather than compromising on quality.

Does Meat N' Bone ever compromise on quality?

No. Meat N' Bone only sources from specific farms and vendors that are vetted for high quality. If they cannot find a product at the desired quality level, they mark it out of stock. They do not sacrifice quality.

How much meat does the average American consume per year?

Americans eat more meat per person than almost any other country in the world. Only Luxembourgers eat more meat than Americans do, but the average American still consumes about 270 lbs of meat per year.

What percentage of beef grades as USDA Choice?

The USDA grades billions of dollars worth of beef any given year. Only about 2% of the beef gets the USDA Prime Label, but almost HALF of it (45%) grades as USDA Choice.

Why do beef prices vary so much between supermarkets?

If a price is too good to be true, it probably is. If two steaks of the same grade are priced too differently, they are probably not actually the same grade. Beef is a commodity, and quality standards, sourcing, aging, and handling practices vary significantly between retailers.