Have you ever got confused about the price tag of beef? Why do the price of two ribeye steaks differ far apart? This is probably because of their grades. For American beef, they are graded by the USDA beef grading system, and I will explain below. Let’s go!
Table of Contents
What is the USDA beef grading?
The USDA beef grading system has been developed and interpreted by The United States Department of Agriculture since 1927. They standardized the quality of beef and so it became a common language within the beef industry. Therefore, now we can select the beef easily with a certain quality.
The USDA divides beef into 8 different grades according to the tenderness, juiciness and flavor; and yield grades. Yield grades measure the amount of usable lean meat of the carcasses.
USDA Beef Grades
USDA Prime—Prime beef is the best grade which only applies to young, well-fed beef cattle. These beef have plentiful marbling and so they taste tender, juicy and flavorful. Only 2% of the total production of U.S. beef could get this grade, and is usually sold in restaurants and hotels. They are ideal for grilling or searing fast.
USDA Choice—Choice beef also has good tenderness and flavor but the amount of marbling is slightly lower than that of Prime. So if you want to enjoy high quality beef with a lower budget, opt for this grade. Premium cuts in Choice like ribeye are delicious as well.
USDA Select—Select beef is much leaner than the higher grades and hence it lacks some of the juiciness and flavor that the higher grades of beef possess. Yet, it has a fairly tender texture. Marinade and slow cooking could help elevate the tenderness and flavor.
USDA Standard & USDA Commercial—These two grades are frequently sold as ungraded or as store brand meat.
USDA Utility, USDA Cutter & USDA Canner —You can never see the retail stores sell these three grades directly as cuts of beef. Instead, you can find them in ground beef, processed meats and canned meats.
► Read More: 6 Beef Grading Systems In the World (with Complete Chart)
Is Angus better than Prime? (CAB beef vs Prime)
What is Angus Beef?
It is common to confuse Angus with USDA beef grading scale. Angus is the name of the breed of cattle which does not exactly indicate the quality or grade of beef. So actually, we cannot compare Angus to USDA Prime directly since they are not the same thing. However, Angus beef also has to be graded like other American beef, and they tend to get a higher grade as they have a better marbling when compared to most cattle.
Angus beef came from Scotland and a man called George Grant brought them to the United States in the 1870s. They are popular in the US now because of their superior quality.
What is Certified Angus Beef (CAB)?
Sometimes you may see a label “CAB” when you are buying Angus Beef. This stands for “Certified Angus Beef” and it is an honor only for the truly extraordinary Angus beef. To get this certification, the beef must be USDA Prime or Choice grades. Then, the professional graders will further examine based on 10 science-based specifications, for marbling, size and tenderness.
Only 3% of beef meets these standards and gets this prestigious CAB label. Angus beef with CAB guarantees you a high quality beef with rich marbling.
► Read More: What Is Angus Beef? Is It Better & Healthy? | All You Have to Know
Angus Beef vs USDA Prime
So which is better, Angus beef or USDA Prime beef?
In summary, we could not compare directly because one is the name of the breed and one is the grading of beef. Yet, we can still know about their levels roughly.
Angus beef has its advantages in terms of quality and the beef with Certified Angus Beef (CAB) is at USDA Choice to Prime. Therefore, if the CAB Angus beef is with the Choice grade, it is not as good as the Prime beef. But if the CAB Angus beef is graded as Prime originally, it is probably superior to other Prime grade beef thanks to its unique genes.
CAB USDA Prime > USDA Prime > CAB USDA Choice > USDA choice
Summary
By reading this USDA beef grading guide, you can now find the best beef for your next dinner! To buy CAB Prime, USDA Prime or Choice, it depends on your budget. All are high quality and delicious with an appropriate cooking method.
► Read More: Grass Fed Beef vs Grain Fed Beef
► Read More: 8 Primal Cuts of Beef to Learn Before Ordering Steaks
