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beef

 
(bēf) pronunciation
n., pl., beeves (bēvz), or beef.
    1. A full-grown steer, bull, ox, or cow, especially one intended for use as meat.
    2. The flesh of a slaughtered full-grown steer, bull, ox, or cow.
  1. Informal. Human muscle; brawn.
  2. pl., beefs. Slang. A complaint.
intr.v. Slang, beefed, beef·ing, beefs.
To complain.

phrasal verb:

beef up Informal.

  1. To make or become greater or stronger: beef up the defense budget.

[Middle English, from Old French buef, from Latin bōs, bov-.]

WORD HISTORY   That beef comes from cows is known to most, but the close relationship between the words beef and cow is hardly household knowledge. Cow comes via Middle English from Old English cū, which is descended from the Indo-European root *gwou-, also meaning "cow." This root has descendants in most of the branches of the Indo-European language family. Among those descendants is the Latin word bōs, "cow," whose stem form, bov-, eventually became the Old French word buef, also meaning "cow." The French nobles who ruled England after the Norman Conquest of course used French words to refer to the meats they were served, so the animal called by the Anglo-Saxon peasants was called buef by the French nobles when it was brought to them cooked at dinner. Thus arose the distinction between the words for animals and their meat that is also found in the English word-pairs swine/pork, sheep/mutton, and deer/venison. What is interesting about cow/beef is that we are in fact dealing with one and the same word, etymologically speaking.


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Bos, Bovidae

The flesh of a bovine animal. In butchery, "beef" is used generally to refer to the meat of a heifer, cow, bull, young bull, bullock or steer, even if the tenderness and flavor vary greatly. Bison (buffalo) meat can be used as well. The older the animal and the more it has worked, the tougher the meat.

Buying

About 30% of the animal represents the tender parts that are in demand and more expensive than the less tender parts. These latter parts, prepared properly (using a marinade, a mallet or tenderizer, or cooked slowly in a liquid) can yield equally good results.

The composition and fat content of the ground beef available on the market is variable. Beef containing more fat is less expensive to buy, but has a lower yield. Standard ground beef (highest fat content) can prove to be a good buy if the cooking fat can be drained (in a meat tomato sauce, for example). When it is not possible to drain the fat (in the case of a meat loaf, for example), choose leaner ground beef.
It is available in portions for braising or stewing, as chops or steaks for sautéeing, broiling or grilling, in fillets or roasting cuts.

Nutritional Information
The nutritional value of beef varies according to the breed of the animal and how it has been reared, as well as the cut, the cooking method and whether it has been degreased.

Excellent source: protein, potassium, zinc, niacin and vitamin B12. 

Good source: iron and phosphorus.

Beef can be a major source of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol.

Marbling (the layers of fat spread throughout the muscle of the meat) helps to make beef more tender, tasty and juicy, without significantly increasing the fat content of the cooked meat. In the United States, beef grading is based on the age of the animal, the proportion of meat to bone, and the amount of marbling.

To reduce fat intake:

      • choose lean cuts (inside round, eye of round, sirloin, etc.) and cooking methods that require less fat (grilling, roasting, braising, etc.)

      • reduce the portion-size of meat and remove visible fat before cooking

      • degrease the sauce by skimming the fat from 
 the surface

Serving Ideas

Beef is eaten hot or cold, raw (steak tartare) or cooked. Ground beef used in burgers, meat loaves, meat balls and sausages should be eaten well cooked, as it can carry a bacterium, E. coli, whose toxin can lead to serious and potentially fatal food poisoning. Beef is delicious cured and smoked. It can also be stir-fried, combined with vegetables and grains or noodles.

Storing

In the fridge: ground, 1-2 days; steaks, 2-3 days; roasts and cooked beef, 3-4 days.

In the freezer: ground and cooked, 2‑3 months; steaks and roasts, 10-12 months.

Cooking

Beef is eaten blue (raw on the inside with a slightly cooked outside), rare, medium-rare, medium (pink) or well done. 

A low temperature is recommended for semitender or tougher cuts. A higher temperature allows tender cuts to cook quickly.

degrees of doneness for tender cuts (oven at 320ºF/160ºC)approximate cooking time in minutes per kg (2 lb)meat temperature
blue25-35125ºF-130ºF/ 52ºC-55ºC
rare35-40130ºF-140ºF/55ºC-60ºC
medium40-45140ºF-150ºF/60ºC-65ºC
well done45-55150ºF-170ºF/65ºC-75ºC


Schema Boeuf Bf

rib roast (large end)

rib roast (large end)

blade roast

blade roast

beef

beef




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Flesh of mature cattle, as distinguished from veal, the flesh of calves. The best beef is obtained from steers (castrated males) and heifers (female cows that have not calved). Tenderness and flavour are improved by aging; in one common method, the carcass is hung for about two weeks at approximately 36 °F (2 °C). The world's primary beef producers and consumers are the U.S., the European Union, Brazil, China, Argentina, and Australia. Grading standards are relatively uniform; in the U.S., grades range from prime and choice to utility and canner. Beef provides protein and B vitamins; it also contains saturated fat, an excess of which can contribute to heart disease and other health problems. Beef is not eaten by Hindus because of the sacred status of the cow.

For more information on beef, visit Britannica.com.

Flesh of the ox (Bos taurus); flesh from young calves is veal. A 150-g portion of most cuts is a rich source of protein, niacin, iron, and vitamin B12; a good source of vitamin B2 and copper; a source of vitamins B1, B6, and selenium; contains 20-30 g of fat, of which half is saturated (lean part is 5% fat); supplies 350-500 kcal (1470-2100 kJ).

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1

Beef, the meat of an adult (over 1 year) bovine, wasn't always as popular as it is today. America has had cattle since the mid-1500s, but most immigrants preferred either pork or chicken. Shortages of those two meats during the Civil War, however, suddenly made beef attractive and very much in demand. Today's beef comes from cows (females that have borne at least one calf), steers (males castrated when very young), heifers (females that have never borne a calf) and bulls under 2 years old. Baby beef is the lean, tender but not too flavorful meat of a 7- to 10-month-old calf. Meat packers can request and pay for their meat to be graded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The grading is based on three factors: conformation (the proportion of meat to bone), finish (proportion of fat to lean) and overall quality. Beginning with the best quality, the eight USDA grades for beef are Prime, Choice, Select, Standard, Commercial, Utility, Cutter and Canner. The meat's grade is stamped within a purple shield (a harmless vegetable dye is used for the ink) at regular intervals on the outside of each carcass. USDA Prime and the last three grades are rarely seen in retail outlets. Prime is usually reserved for fine restaurants and specialty butcher shops; the lower-quality grades are generally only used for sausages and in cured and canned meats. Ideally, beef is at its best-both in flavor and texture-at 18 to 24 months. The meat at that age is an even rosy-red color. If the animal is over 21⁄2 years old it is usually classified as "well-matured beef" and, though more full-flavored, the meat begins to toughen and darken to a purplish red. Slow, moist-heat cooking, however, will make it perfectly delicious. To store fresh beef: If the meat will be cooked within 6 hours of purchase, it may be left in its plastic-wrapped package. Otherwise, remove the packaging and either store unwrapped in the refrigerator's meat compartment or wrap loosely with waxed paper and keep in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 2 days for ground beef, 3 days for other cuts. The object is to let the air circulate and keep the meat's surface somewhat dry, thereby inhibiting rapid bacterial growth. Cooked meat should be wrapped airtight and stored in the refrigerator. Ground beef can be frozen, wrapped airtight, for up to 3 months, solid cuts up to 6 months. See also baron; brains; brisket; chuck; club steak; delmonico steak; entrecôte; filet mignon; flanken; flank steak; heart; kidney; kobe beef; liver; london broil; minute steak; new york steak; noisette; porterhouse steak; pot roast; prime rib; rib; rib roast; rib steak; round; shank; shell steak; short loin; short ribs; sirloin; skirt steak; sweetbreads; t-bone steak; tongue; tripe

also beef up

noun

  1. Solid and well-developed muscles: brawn, bulk, muscularity. See body/spirit.
  2. An expression of dissatisfaction or a circumstance regarded as a cause for such expression: complaint, grievance. Informal gripe, grouse. Slang kick. Idioms: bone to pick. See happy/unhappy.

verb

    To express negative feelings, especially of dissatisfaction or resentment: complain, grouch, grump, whine. Informal crab, gripe, grouse, kick. Slang bellyache, bitch. See feelings, happy/unhappy.

phrasal verb - beef up

    To make or become greater or larger: aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build, build up, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, grow, increase, magnify, mount, multiply, proliferate, rise, run up, snowball, soar, swell, upsurge, wax. See increase/decrease.

Idioms beginning with beef:
beef up

In addition to the idiom beginning with beef, also see where's the beef.


n

Definition: complaint
Antonyms: compliment, praise

n

Definition: power
Antonyms: impotence

beef, flesh of cattle prepared for food. It has become one of the chief products of the meatpacking industry and is sold either chilled, frozen, or cured. The leading beef consumers, as well as exporters, are the U.S., the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. The carcasses, after being dressed, are split in half along the back and then cut into fore- and hindquarters. In the United States, beef usually reaches local dealers in this form and is cut by them into portions, e.g., shank, round, rump, loins (roasts and steaks), flank, rib (roasts), chuck, plate, and brisket. In addition, the heart, kidneys, liver, tongue, stomach wall (tripe), and tail are edible. The tenderest beef comes from steers (castrated males) and heifers (females that have not calved). The meat should be a clear, light-red color and firm. Beef from older cattle is converted into various products, such as beef extract, sausage, corned beef, and canned or potted products. Beef is a source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins, but many health professionals, stressing risks of heart disease and cancer from eating too much saturated fat, have urged cattle growers to produce leaner, organically fed beef and have encouraged the public to choose leaner cuts, serve a three-ounce portion, and reduce the frequency of beef in the diet.

Bibliography

See J. Simpson and D. Farris, The World's Beef Business (1982); J. Ubaldi, Jack Ubaldi's Meat Book (1987).


Nutritional Values:

The Nutritional Value for: beef

Top

Description Quantity Energy
(calories)
Carbs
(grams)
Protein
(grams)
Cholesterol
(milligrams)
Weight
(grams)
Fat
(grams)
Saturated Fat
(grams)
canned, corned 3 oz 185 0 22 80 85 10 4.2
cooked, bottom round, lean only 2.8 oz 175 0 25 75 78 8 2.7
cooked, bottom round, lean+ fat 3 oz 220 0 25 81 85 13 4.8
cooked, chuck blade, lean only 2.2 oz 170 0 19 66 62 9 3.9
cooked, chuck blade, lean+fat 3 oz 325 0 22 87 85 26 10.8
dried, chipped 2.5 oz 145 0 24 46 72 4 1.8
Word Tutor:

beef

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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: The flesh of a steer, cow, or bull.

pronunciation Using words to describe magic is like using a screwdriver to cut roast beef. — Tom Robbins, U.S. novelist; wrote novels Skinny Legs and All 1990, Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas 1994.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

noun
noun, orig US

1:
beef to the heel(s) of a person: massive, bulky, brawny. (1867 —) .

2:
A protest, (ground for) complaint, grievance. (1899 —) .
Daily Express The beef is, Why should every battle we fight have to be a 'Battle of Britain?' (1945). verb

3:
intr. orig US To complain, grumble, protest. (1888 —) .
H. Croome Stop beefing, Frank. You'll be seeing her again soon enough (1957).

4:
trans. US To knock down. (1926 —) .
A. Hyder 'Yo' kills niggers?' 'Like flies,' Charley assured her. 'You want me to beef a few for you?' (1934).

5:
to beef (something) up to strengthen; to add vigour, power, or importance to. (1941 —) .
New Scientist The Defense Department has spent $50 billion building and beefing up the non-nuclear elements of the armed forces (1966).

[In sense 4, from the earlier sense, to slaughter (an ox, etc.) for beef.]


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1. the meat of cattle other than the young calf. It may be bullock, yearling, bull, cow beef or beef treated in various ways including corned, biltong, jerked or its origin may be specified, e.g. grass-fed, lot-fed. See also meat.
2. pertaining to cattle used for the production of beef.

  • baby b. — slaughter cattle weighing 700–1000 lb at 9 to 15 months of age and grading good or better for quality.
  • block b. — beef suitable for sale as blocks for conversion at the retail site into consumer cuts.
  • boning b. — beef suited for manufacturing and processing.
  • b. breeds — include aberdeen angus, afrikander, aquitaine blond, beevbilde, belgian blue, belted galloway, bonsmara, boran, braford, brahman, brangus, braunvieh, charbray, charolais, chiana, chiangus, devon, drakensberger, droughtmaster, fulani, galloway, gelbvieh, hariana, hereford, japanese black, limousin, maine-anjou, meuse-rhine-yssel, murray grey, n'dama, pinzgau, polled Hereford, romagna, santa gertrudis, salers, shorthorn, simmental, south devon, texas longhorn, west highland and many other less well known indigenous breeds.
  • b. feedlot — see feedlot.
  • b. grading — grading of carcass beef according to quality for the information of the consumer and to provide the trade with a basis for pricing. The grade allotted depends on local requirements for consumers but usually takes into account marbling with fat, absence of excess fat, age and cutability.
  • hamburger b. — see hamburger beef.
  • b. herd — comprises the bulls, the mature cows, the heifers yet to calve for the first time, the yearlings including bred heifers and calves not yet weaned. Where calves are not sold off for fattening elsewhere there will also be a bullock group.
  • b. industry — includes the beef production, breeding, fattening, marketing, slaughtering and processing and sale of the end product.
  • b. measles — see taenia saginata.
  • b. production systems — include extensive grazing, intensive grazing, feedlot, cow–calf operations or suckler herds, breeding herds.
  • b. production targets — see performance target.
  • b. tapeworm — see taenia saginata.
Random House Word Menu:

categories related to 'beef'

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
For a list of words related to beef, see:

  See crossword solutions for the clue Beef.
An uncooked rib roast
Beef is the meat of cattle, such as this Glan Cattle cow

Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East (including Pakistan and Afghanistan), Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in Africa, parts of East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Beef is considered a taboo food in some cultures, especially in Indian culture, and thence is eschewed by Hindus and Jains;[1] it is also discouraged among some Buddhists.

Beef muscle meat can be cut into steak, roasts or short ribs. Some cuts are processed (corned beef or beef jerky), and trimmings, usually mixed with meat from older, leaner cattle, are ground, minced or used in sausages. The blood is used in some varieties of blood sausage. Other parts that are eaten include the oxtail, tongue, tripe from the reticulum or rumen, glands (particularly the pancreas and thymus, referred to as sweetbread), the heart, the brain (although forbidden where there is a danger of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, BSE), the liver, the kidneys, and the tender testicles of the bull (known in the US as calf fries, prairie oysters, or Rocky Mountain oysters). Some intestines are cooked and eaten as-is, but are more often cleaned and used as natural sausage casings. The lungs and the udder are considered unfit for human consumption in the US. The bones are used for making beef stock.

Beef from steers and heifers is equivalent, except for steers having slightly less fat and more muscle, all treatments being equal. Depending on economics, the number of heifers kept for breeding varies. Older animals are used for beef when they are past their reproductive prime. The meat from older cows and bulls is usually tougher, so it is frequently used for mince (UK)/ground beef (US). Cattle raised for beef may be allowed to roam free on grasslands, or may be confined at some stage in pens as part of a large feeding operation called a feedlot (or concentrated animal feeding operation), where they are usually fed a ration of grain, protein, roughage and a vitamin/mineral preblend.

Beef is the third most widely consumed meat in the world, accounting for about 25% of meat production worldwide, after pork and poultry at 38% and 30% respectively.[2] In absolute numbers, the United States, Brazil, and the People's Republic of China are the world's three largest consumers of beef. On a per capita basis in 2009, Argentines ate the most beef at 64.6 kg per person; people in the US ate 40.2 kg, while those in the EU ate 16.9 kg.[3]

The world's largest exporters of beef are Brazil, Australia, and the United States. Beef production is also important to the economies of Argentina, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Russia, and Uruguay.

Contents

History

The flesh of bovines has been eaten by hunters from prehistoric times; some of the earliest known cave paintings, such as those of Lascaux show aurochs in hunting scenes. Domestication of cattle occurred around 8000 BC, providing ready access to beef, milk and leather.[4] Most cattle originated in the Old World, with the exception of bison hybrids. Examples include the Wagyū from Japan, Ankole-Watusi from Egypt, and longhorn Zebu from the Indian subcontinent.[5] It is unknown when exactly cooking beef came into being. Cattle were widely used across the Old World for draft animals (oxen), milk production, or specifically for meat production, depending on local needs and resources. With mechanization of farming, some breeds were specifically bred to increase meat yield, like Chianina and Charolais or to improve texture, such as the Murray Grey, Angus or Wagyū. Some breeds (dual-purpose) have been selected for both meat and milk production, e.g. Brown Swiss (Braunvieh).

Etymology

The word beef is from Latin bovīnus (cognate to beef), in contrast to cow, which is from Middle English "cou" (both words have the same Indo-European root *gʷou-[6]). After the Norman Conquest, the French-speaking nobles who ruled England naturally used French words to refer to the meats they were served. Thus various Anglo-Saxon words were used for the animal (such as nēat, or cu for adult females) by the peasants, but the meat was called boef (ox) (Modern French boeuf) by the French nobles —who did not often deal with the live animal— when it was served to them.

This is one example of the common English dichotomy between the words for animals (with largely Germanic origins) and their meat (with Romanic origins) that is also found in such English word-pairs as pig/pork, sheep/mutton and chicken/poultry.[7]

Cuts

Beef is first divided into primal cuts. These are basic sections from which steaks and other subdivisions are cut. Since the animal's legs and neck muscles do the most work, they are the toughest; the meat becomes more tender as distance from hoof and horn increases. Different countries and cuisines have different cuts and names, and sometimes use the same name for a different cut.

The American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead wrote in the American Anthropological Journal of the American Anthropological Association, "cultures that divide and cut beef specifically to consume are the Koreans and the Bodi tribe in East Africa. The French and English make 35 differentiations to the beef cuts, 51 cuts for the Bodi tribe, while the Koreans differentiate beef cuts into a staggering 120 different parts."

See the external links section below for links to more beef cut charts and diagrams.

American primal cuts

American cuts of beef.

The following is a list of the American primal cuts. Beef carcasses are split along the axis of symmetry into "halves", then across into front and back "quarters" (forequarters and hindquarters). Canada uses identical cut names (and numbering) as the U.S. system, except the part designated as "round" is known as "hip" in the Canadian system.[8]

Forequarter cuts

  • The chuck is the source of bone-in chuck steaks and roasts (arm or blade), and boneless clod steaks and roasts, most commonly. The trimmings and some whole boneless chucks are ground for hamburgers.
  • The rib contains part of the short ribs, the prime rib and rib eye steaks.
  • In Asia, brisket is used primarily for stews (e.g., five-spice beef, curry beef brisket;) while Westerners tend to use it for barbecue, corned beef or pastrami.
  • The foreshank or shank is used primarily for stews and soups; it is not usually served any other way due to it being the toughest of the cuts.
  • The plate is the other source of short ribs, used for pot roasting, and the outside skirt steak, which is used for fajitas. The remainder is usually ground, as it is typically a cheap, tough, and fatty meat.

Hindquarter cuts

  • The loin has two subprimals, or three if boneless:
    • the short loin, from which the T-bone and Porterhouse steaks are cut if bone-in, or strip steak (Kansas City strip) is cut if boneless,
    • the sirloin, which is less tender than short loin, but more flavorful, can be further divided into top sirloin and bottom sirloin (including tri-tip), and
    • the tenderloin, which is the most tender can be removed as a separate subprimal, and cut into filet mignons, tournedos or tenderloin steaks, and roasts (such as for beef Wellington). They can also be cut bone-in to make parts of the T-bone and Porterhouse loin steaks.
  • The round contains lean, moderately tough, lower fat (less marbling) cuts, which require moist cooking or lesser degrees of doneness. Some representative cuts are round steak, eye of round, top round and bottom round steaks and roasts.
  • The flank is used mostly for grinding, except for the long and flat flank steak, best known for use in London broil, and the inside skirt steak, also used for fajitas. Flank steaks were once one of the most affordable steaks, because they are substantially tougher than the more desirable loin and rib steaks. Many recipes for flank steak use marinades or moist cooking methods, such as braising, to improve the tenderness and flavor. This, in turn, increased the steaks' popularity; when combined with natural leanness, increased prices have resulted.

UK primal cuts

British cuts of beef.

Dutch primal cuts

Dutch cuts of beef.

Other Dutch cuts (not primals)

  • Tongue is considered the cheapest piece of beef; it is used in certain styles of sausages such as the frikandel, though not as the main ingredient.
  • Tail, though not on the image shown, is used extensively in stews.

Special beef designations

Beef rump steak on grill pan, cooked to medium rare
  • Certified Angus Beef (CAB) is a specification-based, branded-beef program which was founded in 1978 by Angus cattle producers to increase demand for their breed of cattle, by promoting the impression that Angus cattle have consistent, high-quality beef with superior taste. The brand is owned by the American Angus Association and its 35,000 rancher members. The terms Angus Beef or Black Angus Beef are loosely and commonly misused and/or confused with CAB; this is especially common in the foodservice industry. The brand or name Certified Angus Beef cannot be legally used by an establishment that is not licensed to do so. Known as Aberdeen Angus beef in the UK, and marketed there as higher quality and associated with stricter animal welfare rules. Notable for the herd being free of BSE during the BSE epidemic in the UK.
  • Certified Hereford Beef is beef certified to have come from Hereford cattle.
  • Grass-fed beef cattle have been raised exclusively on forage. Grain-fed beef cattle are raised primarily on forage, but are "finished" in a feedlot.
  • Kobe beef is from cattle of the Wagyū breed, raised and fattened in the hills above Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. During the fattening period, the cattle are hand-fed (using high-energy feed, including beer and beer mash) for tenderness and high fat content, and hand-massaged to reduce stress.
  • Halal beef has been certified to have been processed in a prescribed manner in accordance with Muslim dietary laws.
  • Kosher beef has been certified to have been processed in a prescribed manner in accordance with Jewish dietary laws.
  • Organic beef is produced without added hormones, pesticides, or other chemicals, though requirements for labeling it organic vary widely.
  • The  European Union recognises the following Protected Designation of Origin beef brands:[10]
 Spain - Carne de Ávila, Carne de Cantabria, Carne de la Sierra de Guadarrama, Carne de Morucha de Salamanca, Carne de Vacuno del País o Euskal Okela
 France - Taureau de Camargue, Boeuf charolais du Bourbonnais, Boeuf de Chalosse, Boeuf du Maine
 Portugal - Carne Alentejana, Carne Arouquesa, Carne Barrosã, Carne Cachena da Peneda, Carne da Charneca, Carne de Bovino Cruzado dos Lameiros do Barroso, Carne dos Açores, Carne Marinhoa, Carne Maronesa, Carne Mertolenga, Carne Mirandesa
 United Kingdom - Orkney Beef, Scotch Beef, Welsh Beef
 Belgium - Belgian Blue

USDA beef grades

Inspected carcasses tagged by the USDA

In the United States, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) operates a voluntary beef grading program. The meat processor pays for a trained AMS meat grader to grade whole carcasses at the abattoir. Users are required to comply with Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) grade labeling procedures. The official USDA grade designation can appear in one or any combination of the following ways: container markings, individual bags, legible roller brand appearing on the meat itself, or by a USDA shield stamp that incorporates the quality and/or yield grade.

There are eight beef quality grades. The grades are based on two main criteria: the degree of marbling (intramuscular fat) in the beef, and the maturity (estimated age of the animal at slaughter). Some meat scientists[who?] object to the current scheme of USDA grading since it is not based on direct measurement of tenderness, although marbling and maturity are indicators of tenderness. Most other countries' beef grading systems mirror the US model. Most beef offered for sale in supermarkets is graded US Choice or Select. US Prime beef is sold to hotels and upscale restaurants. Beef that would rate as US Standard or less is almost never offered for grading.

  • U.S. Prime - Highest in quality and intramuscular fat, limited supply. Currently, about 2.9% of carcasses grade as Prime.[11]
  • U.S. Choice - High quality, widely available in foodservice industry and retail markets. Choice carcasses are 53.7% of the fed cattle total. The difference between Choice and Prime is largely due to the fat content in the beef. Prime typically has a higher fat content (more and well distributed intramuscular "marbling") than Choice.
  • U.S. Select (formerly Good) - lowest grade commonly sold at retail, acceptable quality, but is less juicy and tender due to leanness.
  • U.S. Standard - Lower quality, yet economical, lacking marbling.
  • U.S. Commercial - Low quality, lacking tenderness, produced from older animals.
  • U.S. Utility
  • U.S. Cutter
  • U.S. Canner

Utility, Cutter, and Canner grade are rarely used in foodservice operations and primarily used by processors and canners.

There are five beef yield grades - 1 to 5, which estimate the yield of saleable product, with YG 1 having the highest and YG 5 the lowest. Although consumers rarely see or are aware of it, yield grade was an important marketing tool for packers and retailers. The conversion from carcass and bone-in primals to boneless, trimmed cuts has reduced the importance.

Traditionally, beef sold in steakhouses and supermarkets has been advertised by its USDA grade; however, many restaurants and retailers have recently begun advertising beef on the strength of brand names and the reputation of a specific breed of cattle, such as black Angus.[12][13]

Aging and tenderization

Further information: Meat#Conditioning, Meat preservation

To improve tenderness of beef, it often is aged (i.e., stored refrigerated) to allow endogenous proteolytic enzymes to weaken structural and myofibrillar proteins. Wet aging is accomplished using vacuum packaging to reduce spoilage and yield loss. Dry aging involves hanging primals (usually ribs or loins) in humidity-controlled coolers. Outer surfaces dry out and can support growth of molds (and spoilage bacteria, if too humid), resulting in trim and evaporative losses. Evaporation concentrates the remaining proteins and increases flavor intensity; the molds can contribute a nut-like flavor. The majority of the tenderizing effect occurs in the first 10 days, although two to three days allow significant effects. Boxed beef, stored and distributed in vacuum packaging, is, in effect, wet aged during distribution. Premium steakhouses dry age for 21 to 28 days or wet age up to 45 days for maximum effect on flavor and tenderness. Meat from less tender cuts or older cattle can be mechanically tenderized by forcing small, sharp blades through the cuts to disrupt the proteins. Also, solutions of exogenous proteolytic enzymes (papain, bromelin or ficin) can be injected to augment the endogenous enzymes. Similarly, solutions of salt and sodium phosphates can be injected to soften and swell the myofibrillar proteins. This improves juiciness and tenderness. Salt can improve the flavor, but phosphate can contribute a soapy flavor.

Cooking and preparation

Dry heat

Roast beef cooked under high heat
Method Description
Grilling is cooking the beef over or under a high radiant heat source, generally in excess of 650 °F (343 °C). This leads to searing of the surface of the beef, which creates a flavorful crust. In the U.S.A., Australia, Canada, the UK and Germany, grilling, particularly over charcoal, is sometimes known as barbecuing, often shortened to "BBQ". When cooked over charcoal, this method can also be called charbroiling.
Broiling is similar to grilling, but specifically with the heat source above the meat. Outside North America, this is known as grilling.
Roasting is a way of cooking meat in a hot oven, producing roast beef. Liquid is not usually added; the beef may be basted by fat on the top, or by spooning hot fat from the oven pan over the top. A gravy may be made from the cooking juices, after skimming off excess fat.
Stirfrying is a typically Chinese and Asian way of cooking. Cooking oil with flavourings such as garlic, ginger and onions are put in a very hot wok. Then slices of meat are added, followed by ingredients which cook quicker: mixed vegetables, etc. The dish is ready when the ingredients are 'just cooked'.

Internal temperature

Beef can be cooked to various degrees, from very rare to well done. The degree of cooking corresponds to the temperature in the approximate center of the meat, which can be measured with a meat thermometer. Beef can be cooked using the sous vide method, which cooks the entire steak to the same temperature, but when cooked using a method such as broiling or roasting it is typically cooked such that it has a "bulls eye" of doneness, with the least done (coolest) at the center and the most done (warmest) at the outside. While searing and the Maillard Reaction are important to the final flavor of a piece of beef, the degree of doneness is also important. A chef can judge the degree of doneness of steak using the finger touch test,[14] without a meat thermometer. Temperature ranges can be found at Temperature (meat).

Moist heat

Moist heat cooking methods include braising, pot roasting, stewing and sous vide. These techniques are often used for cuts of beef that are tougher, as these longer, lower temperature cooking techniques have the potential to tenderize the meat better than high-heat, dry techniques.

simmering meat, whole or cut into bite-size pieces, in a water-based liquid with flavourings. This technique may be used as part of pressure cooking.
cooking meats, in a covered container, with small amounts of liquids (usually seasoned or flavored). Unlike stewing, braised meat is not fully immersed in liquid, and usually is browned before the oven step.
Sous-vide, French for "under vacuum", is a method of cooking food sealed in airtight plastic bags in a water bath for a long time—72 hours is not unknown—at an accurately determined temperature much lower than normally used for other types of cooking. The intention is to maintain the integrity of ingredients and achieve very precise control of cooking.
Beef roasted with vinegar and sliced with spiced paste, often called "cold beef".

Meat has usually been cooked in water which is just simmering, such as in stewing; higher temperatures make meat tougher by causing the proteins to contract. Since thermostatic temperature control became available, cooking at temperatures well below boiling, 52 °C (126 °F) to 90 °C (194 °F), for prolonged periods has become possible; this is just hot enough to convert the tough collagen in connective tissue into gelatin through hydrolysis, with minimal toughening. With the adequate combination of temperature and cooking time, pathogens, such as bacteria will be killed, and Pasteurization can be achieved. Because browning (Maillard reactions) can only occur at higher temperatures (above the boiling point of water), these moist techniques do not develop the flavors associated with browning. Meat will often undergo searing in a very hot pan, grilling or browning with a torch before moist cooking (though sometimes after).

Thermostatically controlled methods, such as sous-vide, can also prevent overcooking by bringing the meat to the exact degree of doneness desired, and holding it at that temperature indefinitely. The combination of precise temperature control and long cooking duration makes it possible to be assured that Pasteurization has been achieved, both on the surface and the interior of even very thick cuts of meat, which can not be assured with most other cooking techniques. (Although extremely long-duration cooking can break down the texture of the meat to an undesirable degree.)

Beef can be cooked quickly at the table through several techniques. In hot pot cooking, such as shabu-shabu, very thinly sliced meat is cooked by the diners at the table by immersing it in a heated pot of water or stock with vegetables. In fondue bourguignonne, diners dip small pieces of beef into a pot of hot oil at the table. Both techniques typically feature accompanying flavorful sauces to compliment the meat.

Raw beef

Sliced beef.

Steak tartare is a French dish made from finely chopped or ground (minced) raw meat (often beef). More accurately, it is scraped so as not to let even the slightest of the sinew fat get into the scraped meat. It is often served with onions, capers, seasonings such as fresh ground pepper and Worcestershire sauce, and sometimes raw egg. The Belgian dish filet américain is also made of finely chopped ground beef, though it is seasoned differently, and either eaten as a main dish or can be used as a dressing for a sandwich. Kibbeh nayyeh is a similar Lebanese dish. And in Ethiopia, a ground raw meat dish called tire siga or kitfo is eaten.

Carpaccio of beef is a thin slice of raw beef dressed with olive oil, lemon juice and seasoning. Often, the beef is partially frozen before slicing to allow very thin slices to be cut.

Yukhoe is a variety of hoe, raw dishes in Korean cuisine which is usually made from raw ground beef seasoned with various spices or sauces. The beef part used for yukhoe is tender rump steak. For the seasoning, soy sauce, sugar, salt, sesame oil, green onion, and ground garlic, sesame seed, black pepper and juice of bae (Korean pear) are used. The beef is mostly topped with the yolk of a raw egg.

Cured or smoked beef

Bresaola is an air-dried, salted beef that has been aged about two to three months until it becomes hard and a dark red, almost purple, colour. It is lean, has a sweet, musty smell and is tender. It originated in Valtellina, a valley in the Alps of northern Italy's Lombardy region. Bündnerfleisch is a similar product from neighbouring Switzerland.

Pastrami is often made from beef; raw beef is salted, then partly dried and seasoned with various herbs and spices, and smoked.

Corned beef is a cut of beef cured or pickled in a seasoned brine. The corn in corned beef refers to the grains of coarse salts (known as corns) used to cure it. The term corned beef can denote different styles of brine-cured beef, depending on the region. Some, like American-style corned beef, are highly seasoned and often considered delicatessen fare.

Beef jerky is dried, salted, smoked beef popular in the United States.

Biltong is a cured, salted, air dried beef popular in South Africa.

Spiced beef is a cured and salted joint of round, topside, or silverside, traditionally served at Christmas in Ireland. It is a form of salt beef, cured with spices and saltpetre, intended to be boiled or broiled in Guinness or a similar stout, and then optionally roasted for a period after.[15]

Religious prohibitions

Hindus and Indian Buddhists consider killing cattle and eating beef a taboo, and Jains are forbidden to eat any kind of meat. Bovines have been highly revered as sacred to mankind in Indian culture [16] due to the critical role of cattle, especially cows, as a source of milk, and dairy products, and their relative importance to the pastoral Vedic people allowed this special status; and this rose to prominence with the advent of the Jain tradition and Hindu Golden-age during the Gupta period.[17] The slaughter of cattle has been likened to the matricide in these cultures, due to the idealisation of the cow providing milk and sustenance for society.

During the season of Lent, Catholics traditionally give up all meat and poultry products as a religious act of fasting. Prior to Pope Paul VI's Paenitemini, canonical law strictly stated meat was forbidden on all Fridays, a violation of which could be a mortal sin. Pope Paul VI's revisions relaxed the policy; now, the common interpretation is that meat is only forbidden on Ash Wednesday and Fridays in the season of Lent, although the fact that some form of penance is still asked of Catholics on Fridays leads many to continue the traditional abstention from beef and poultry.

Jews refrain from eating meat and poultry (and drinking wine, among other restrictions) during The Nine Days of mourning leading up to the fast of Tisha B'Av.

Nutrition and health

Ground Beef 15% fat, broiled
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 1,047 kJ (250 kcal)
Carbohydrates 0 g
- Starch 0 g
- Dietary fiber 0 g
Fat 15 g
- saturated 5.887 g
- monounsaturated 6.662 g
- polyunsaturated 0.485 g
Protein 26 g
Water 58 g
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.046 mg (4%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.176 mg (15%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 5.378 mg (36%)
Vitamin B6 0.383 mg (29%)
Folate (vit. B9) 9 μg (2%)
Vitamin B12 2.64 μg (110%)
Choline 82.4 mg (17%)
Vitamin C 0 mg (0%)
Vitamin E 0.45 mg (3%)
Vitamin K 1.2 μg (1%)
Calcium 18 mg (2%)
Iron 2.6 mg (20%)
Magnesium 21 mg (6%)
Manganese 0.012 mg (1%)
Phosphorus 198 mg (28%)
Potassium 318 mg (7%)
Sodium 72 mg (5%)
Zinc 6.31 mg (66%)
Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database

Beef is a good source of protein and minerals such as zinc, selenium, phosphorus and iron, and B vitamins.[18] Red meat is the most significant dietary source of carnitine and, like any other meat (pork, fish, veal, lamb etc.), is a source of creatine.

Health concerns

A study released in 2007 by the World Cancer Research Fund reported “strong evidence that red meat and processed meats are causes of bowel cancer” and recommends people eat less than 500 grams (18 oz) of cooked red meat weekly, and as little processed meat as possible. The report also recommends that average consumption in populations should not exceed 300 grams (11 oz) per week, stating this goal "corresponds to the level of consumption of red meat at which the risk of colorectal cancer can clearly be seen to rise."[19] Lean beef, with its high selenium and vitamin B12 content, may actually lower the risk of colon cancer.[18] The Harvard School of Public Health recommends consumers eat red meat sparingly as it has high levels of undesirable saturated fat.[20]

Some cattle raised in the United States feed on pastures fertilized with sewage sludge. Elevated dioxons may be present in meat from these cattle.[21][22]

Recalls

In 2011, U.S. Ground beef was subject to numerous recalls due to ecoli contamination:

  1. January 2011, One Great Burger expands recall.[23]
  1. February 2011, American Food Service, a Pico Rivera, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,170 pounds of fresh ground beef patties and other bulk packages of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 [24]
  1. March 2011, 14,000 pounds of beef recalled by Creekstone Farms Premium Beef due to ecoli concerns.[25]
  1. April 2011, National Beef Packaging recalled more than 60,000 of ground beef due to ecoli contamination.[26]
  1. May 2011, Irish Hills Meat Company of Michigan, a Tipton, Mich., establishment is recalling approximately 900 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.[27]
  2. September 2011, Tyson Fresh Meats recalled 131,100 pounds of ground beef due to ecoli contamination.[28]
  1. December 2011, Tyson Fresh Meats recalled 40,000 pounds of ground beef due to ecoli contamination.[29]
  1. January 2012, Hannaford Supermarkets recalled all ground beef with sell by dates December 17, 2011 or earlier.[30]

Mad cow disease

In 1984, the use of meat and bone meal in cattle feed resulted in the world's first outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or, colloquially, mad cow disease) in the United Kingdom.[31]

Since then, other countries have had outbreaks of BSE:

  • In May 2003, after a cow with BSE was discovered in Alberta, Canada, the American border was closed to live Canadian cattle, but was reopened in early 2005.[32]
  • In June 2005 Dr. John Clifford, chief veterinary officer for the United States Department of Agriculture animal health inspection service confirmed a fully domestic case of BSE in Texas. Dr. Clifford would not identify the ranch, calling that "privileged information."[33] The 12 year old animal was alive at the time when Oprah Winfrey raised concerns about cannibalistic feeding practices on her show[34] which aired April 16, 1996.

The EU has decided to relax rules introduced to prevent the transmission of BSE more than 20 years after the emergence of "mad cow disease" and feed meat byproducts back to cattle.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Serving Beef at Ayodhya, article from The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2003-08-24. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/all-that-matters/Serving-beef-at-Ayodhya/articleshow/144132.cms. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  2. ^ Raloff, Janet. Food for Thought: Global Food Trends. Science News Online. May 31, 2003.
  3. ^ "Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade (October 2009)" (PDF). http://www.fas.usda.gov/dlp/circular/2009/livestock_poultry_10-2009.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-20.  USDA PDF
  4. ^ "Late Neolithic megalithic structures at Nabta Playa". http://www.comp-archaeology.org/WendorfSAA98.html. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  5. ^ "History of Cattle Breeds". http://www.bovinebazaar.com/history.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-17. 
  6. ^ "beef - definition of beef by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia". Thefreedictionary.com. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/beef. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2000: beef.
  8. ^ "Beef Cuts by Chart". Clovegarden.com. http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/ab_cowc.html. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  9. ^ http://eastlondonsteak.co.uk/index.php/the-cuts/feather-blade.html
  10. ^ "Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) / Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)". European Commission — Agriculture and Rural Development. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/qual/en/1bbab_en.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-10. 
  11. ^ Salvage, B. 2009 "Leading the Herd", Meat Processing, June 2009, p. 61
  12. ^ "Branded Beef Booming". Denver Post. 2003-06-17. http://www.cattlefacts.com.au/ArticleEditor_Preview.asp?AID=610. Retrieved 2007-04-17. 
  13. ^ Michael Chu. "USDA Beef Quality Grades". Cooking for Engineers. http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article.php?id=30&title=USDA+Beef+Quality+Grades. Retrieved 2007-08-10. 
  14. ^ "Finger Test For Doneness". Exploratorium. http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/meat/activity-fingertest.html. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  15. ^ Recipe for traditional dry spiced beef - An Bord Bia
  16. ^ Agniveer. "No Beef In Vedas". http://agniveer.com/68/no-beef-in-vedas/. Agniveer. http://agniveer.com/68/no-beef-in-vedas/. Retrieved 1 February 2012. 
  17. ^ Chatterjee, Suhas (1998). Indian Civilization and Culture. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.. p. 232. ISBN 9788175330832. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=KItocaxbibUC. 
  18. ^ a b "Beef, lean organic". WHFoods. 2004-10-18. http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?pfriendly=1&tname=foodspice&dbid=141. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  19. ^ "2007 report by the World Cancer Research Fund". Dietandcancerreport.org. http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/?p=ER. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  20. ^ "Harvard School of Public Health – Healthy Eating Pyramid". Hsph.harvard.edu. 2011-09-14. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pyramids.html. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  21. ^ "USDA Emerging Issues". http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergingissues/downloads/dioxins.pdf. 
  22. ^ Cadimum and mercury contamination in beef grown on sewage sludge. http://books.google.com/books?id=DtEonRzF1R8C&pg=PA79&lpg=PA79&dq=beef+liver+sewage+sludge&source=bl&ots=rqhm-NVwqd&sig=x2IRVunE9o162KtfDAfNvA_EtOI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=YQMDT-_OGYS5twfY4NinDQ&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=beef%20liver%20sewage%20sludge&f=false. 
  23. ^ "One Great Burger expands ground beef recall". http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_003_2011_Expanded/index.asp. 
  24. ^ "California firm recalls ground beef". http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_008-2011_Release/index.asp. 
  25. ^ "Kansas City firm recalls beef products". http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/10/kansas.beef.recall/index.html. 
  26. ^ "Ecoli in South eastern US". http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20110815/ground-beef-recalled-due-to-e-coli. 
  27. ^ "Michigan firm recalls ground beef". http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/recall_039_2011_release/index.asp. 
  28. ^ "Tyson recalls beef over ecoli concerns". http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/28/us-tyson-beef-recall-idUSTRE78R3HJ20110928. 
  29. ^ "Tyson recalls beef due to ecoli contamination". http://online.wsj.com/article/APc2c84ba3f2374dba99be7df1024c1490.html. 
  30. ^ "Hannaford Supermarket recalls hamburger". http://www.wickedlocal.com/norwell/news/x1468791409/Hannaford-announces-ground-beef-recall#axzz1ivNjoWuw. 
  31. ^ "Timeline: BSE and vCJD". NewScientist.com news service. 13 December 2004. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/dn9926-timeline-bse-and-vcjd.html. Retrieved 2007-08-10. 
  32. ^ "Canadian beef industry loses patience over border dispute". Foodproductiondaily.com. http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=59810-canadian-beef-industry. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  33. ^ Mcneil, Donald G. (2005-06-30). "reported "Case of Mad Cow in Texas Is First to Originate in U.S. - New York Times"". Nytimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/30/national/30cow.html. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  34. ^ "Oprah transcript from recording 15 April 1996". Mcspotlight.org. 1996-04-15. http://www.mcspotlight.org/media/television/oprah_transcript.html. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  35. ^ "Meat back on the menu for animal feed". http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_21563.cfm. 

External links


Translations:

Beef

Top

Dansk (Danish)
n. - oksekød
v. intr. - klage, protestere, brokke sig

idioms:

  • beef up    forstærke, styrke

Nederlands (Dutch)
rundvlees, spierballen, slachtvee (rund), (mv) klacht, zeuren

Français (French)
n. - b¯uf, viande, plainte
v. intr. - rouspéter, râler (contre)

idioms:

  • beef up    étoffer, renforcer (une armée)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Rindfleisch, Meckerei
v. - meckern

idioms:

  • beef up    stärken

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - βοδινό (κρέας), βοοειδές σε πλήρη ανάπτυξη, (καθομ.) παράπονο, μυώδης διάπλαση, ποντίκια
v. - γκρινιάζω, παραπονιέμαι

idioms:

  • beef up    ενισχύω, καλυτερεύω

Italiano (Italian)
lamentarsi, manzo, reclamo

idioms:

  • beef up    rinforzare

Português (Portuguese)
n. - boi (m) ou vaca (f), carne (m) de boi ou vaca, corpulência (f), queixa
v. - queixar-se

idioms:

  • beef up    reforçar

Русский (Russian)
ныть, жаловаться, говядина, жалоба

idioms:

  • beef up    укреплять

Español (Spanish)
n. - carne de vaca, carne bovina, carne de res, queja
v. intr. - quejarse, dar la lata

idioms:

  • beef up    reforzar, fortalecer

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - oxkött, nötkött, kraft, muskler
v. - gnälla, knota, förstärka

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
牛肉, 牛体, 食用牛, 肌肉, 抱怨, 发牢骚, 申诉, 告发

idioms:

  • beef up    加强

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 牛肉, 牛體, 食用牛, 肌肉
v. intr. - 抱怨, 發牢騷, 申訴, 告發

idioms:

  • beef up    加強

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 쇠고기, 근육
v. intr. - 불평하다, 실수하다

idioms:

  • beef up    ~을 강화하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 牛肉, 肉牛, 牛, 筋肉

idioms:

  • beef up    強化する, 屠殺する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) لحم البقر, قوة عضليه, شكوى (فعل) يشكي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮בשר-בקר, שרירים, כוח‬
v. intr. - ‮התלונן‬


 
 
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American Heritage Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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