| You have just purchased the outdoor barbeque you | | | | section of strip steak on the other side. |
| have always wanted, and now you are ready to | | | | Another factor to keep in mind is the type of grade |
| break it in. Your mouth is watering for a juicy steak, | | | | of the beef you are buying. The U.S. Department of |
| and you are anxious to impress your guests with | | | | Agriculture assigns specific grades to meat according |
| your new barbeque and grilling skills. But do you know | | | | the level of quality of the beef. Prime grades are |
| what the best grilling steaks are to use? You may | | | | considered the best, but these are widely used by |
| have the perfect marinade in mind, as well as your | | | | restaurants and tend be bit a little harder to find in |
| own special blend of seasonings. Choosing the right | | | | the average grocery store. However, many |
| type of meat is just as important as the type of | | | | supermarkets have begun carrying some cuts of |
| flavoring you use. | | | | prime beef in small amounts, and you may be able to |
| While so much of steak grilling is subject to individual | | | | secure prime cuts from a local butcher as well. These |
| taste palates, some steaks lend themselves very well | | | | cuts are a bit more expensive. They tend to have to |
| to barbequing endeavors. There are a number of | | | | most marbling in them, making them especially juicy. |
| factors to keep in mind when choosing cuts of beef | | | | Alternatively, Choice grade steaks will work |
| for grilling. For example, one aspect to consider is the | | | | wonderfully for barbequing, as they still have a |
| amount of marbling on the steak (i.e. how much fat | | | | generous amount of marbling in them. Select grade |
| the beef has running through it). While many people | | | | beef will tend to be the least tender, they can dry |
| insist on avoiding the fat, it is actually this fat that | | | | out quickly, particularly if you are relatively |
| contributes significantly to the flavor of the beef | | | | inexperienced with your grill. |
| when its cooking. Some people instinctively choose | | | | The thickness of the steak you choose will also |
| top sirloin, because it is leaner and tends to be less | | | | determine the kind of results you will get when using |
| expensive. However, because of its low fat content, | | | | the steak on a grill. A relatively thick steak will help to |
| sirloin steaks tend to also dry out faster and be less | | | | keep the meat from drying out too quickly or |
| juicy, as well as a little tougher. On the other hand, | | | | overcooking. As a guideline, you should always |
| porterhouse, T-bone, rib eye and rib steaks will have | | | | choose steaks that are at least ¾ of an inch |
| a healthy amount of fat, which will make the steak | | | | thick. Ideally, you should shoot for steaks that are |
| especially appetizing when grilled. In addition, the | | | | about one inch to an inch and a half. Finally, you |
| marbling on a steak helps to insulate the meat and | | | | should know how long the steaks have been aged. |
| keep it from overcooking. | | | | Beef cuts that have undergone some degree of |
| In general, the most tender steaks available are | | | | aging are likely to have characteristics that is more |
| tenderloin and strip (also called New York) steaks. But | | | | tenderized and mellowed in flavor. Whenever |
| porterhouse and rib eye steaks can also be quite | | | | possible, ask your butcher about the age of the |
| tender and flavorful, which means that you can have | | | | steaks you intend to purchase. |
| great-tasting grilled steaks for your guests without | | | | Overall, it pays to know your cuts of beef and the |
| breaking the bank. Keep in mind that porterhouse | | | | quality of the beef. The more information you have |
| steaks are especially flavorful, not only because of | | | | about the steaks you intend to grill, the more |
| the level of fat, but because they also have a | | | | effective choices you can make... |
| section of tenderloin on one side of the bone and a | | | | ... and your guests will love you for it! |