Whether you go to the grocery store or the local butcher, you want to make sure you are buying the best cuts of meat out there!
Photos by: Pexels
There's nothing worse than going home and finding that the meat is either too greasy, too lean, or just not well cut at all. While sometimes you can just be unlucky with your choices, there are things you can do to help figure out which meat is good to buy. Here are some tips to ensure your dinner is a success.
Order from a reputable source
If you want to buy meat online and have it delivered to you, make sure you are buying from a reliable source. With no way to examine the meat, you have no idea what you are going to get beforehand. This can lead to many examples where you order and believe you are getting a good quality piece of meat, but later get disappointed when a bad piece comes. The professionals at Grutto recommend shopping online from companies that are reputable and known for their quality cuts of meat. These companies have their reputation at stake whenever they deliver. So you know you are going to get the most out of them. Looking at the company itself is one of the first things to look out for when buying meat.
The color
Most of the time when you are in the store, meat is packaged. It can do it hard to smell However, you can take a look at the color of the meat. Red meat should be dark red. If there are lighter colors on it, then you should seriously question the quality of the cut. A typical color for red meat is purple, red, or brown. If the red meat is brown, it is usually because it has been exposed to oxygen. While this isn't that big of a deal, it is something to watch out for when your meat is shrink-wrapped. Pork, on the other hand, should be light pink in color, almost like it is turning red, while game meat should be dark brown. The color of the chicken can also vary as it can be a lovely white to yellow. When buying, pay attention to the color of your meat.
The smell
If you have a chance to actually smell the meat, this is what you should do. While raw meat may not have the greatest odor Even for ordinary meat lovers, this habit should still be getting used to. Meat usually smells strange, but it shouldn't be too hot or too strong. If the smell is extremely offensive, there's a good chance the cut is rotten. If there is one smell that is off-line but not strong in any way, it's just the standard smell associated with raw meat. It can be difficult to tell the difference at first, but with practice you will tell when the meat is spoiled or okay.
The surface of the flesh
If you look at meat, you will notice lines on the surface that are meat fibers. Take a look at the grain of these fibers as they are a good indicator of the type of meat you are going to get. Course lines will result in a meat that is much tougher but can also pack a lot more flavor. Softer cuts of meat result in a much more tender cut. This is where preference comes down to and you can always add a little more seasoning to a delicate cut if you feel like the flavor isn't enough.
Look at the cut
Check out the actual cut of meat in the store or at the butcher's. Once a trained butcher has cut it, all of the cuts should be fairly even and look extremely similar. Generally, if meat is not smooth, it is a sign that an error occurred while cutting. Hence, you should take care to avoid this. This is especially important with chickens as an inexperienced butcher can leave small bones in them. Analyze your piece of meat and compare it to the others there to make sure you get one that has been cut properly.
The fat
Fat on meat is indicated by the white spots on the surface. This is known as marbling. You might not want a piece that is completely covered in fat, but You want some marbling as it will make a huge difference in taste. Typically, meat with fine marbling is generally of a much higher quality cut and offers great taste, albeit at a high price.
The date
Finally, take a look at the packaging of the meat and see when it needs to be sold. All meat has a best before date, and while you can eat it later, it usually loses a lot of its flavor and can cause some problems for you internally. When shopping for meat, look for meat with the latest expiration date as this will give you most of the time to prepare and store it. This is important when you want to cook something that will take a few days to prepare. Never neglect the information on the actual packaging, especially the date.
These are all things to look out for when buying meat from the butcher or the grocery store. All of these things may be difficult to remember at first, but with a little practice you will soon be able to find the best cuts of meat every time. Our final tip is don't go to lower-priced grocery stores if you want quality meat. While they will be cheaper there, the quality of the meat will also be lower. What are you looking for in your flesh?
