Premium Beef Cuts (and Why We Love Them)
As Julia Child once said, “The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”
There’s nothing quite like a perfectly cooked steak. It captivates all five senses: The sizzling frying pan. The mouthwatering aroma. The butter-soft tenderness. The explosion of meaty flavor ignited with just a few grains of sea salt. And, of course, seeing all that deliciousness right on your plate, ready to be devoured.
Did that make you hungry? You’re in the right place. Whether you’re a grill master or a hobby cook, our premium beef selection brings the finest, juiciest, tenderest restaurant steak straight to your table.
The Great Beef Debate: Choosing Between Premium Angus and Prime Beef
Chances are you’ve seen labels that read “Very Tender,” “Premium Angus,” or “Prime Beef” while you were out shopping. These all sound like strong selling points — but what do these terms mean, and what’s the difference between them?
Premium Angus comes from a breed of cattle famous for producing beef with high marbling content (in other words, mouth-wateringly delicious). The USDA categorizes this beef line with a “Very Tender” seal.
Prime Beef, on the other hand, refers to the quality of beef itself — regardless of breed. It’s the highest grade that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awards beef after assessing its tenderness and flavor. Simply put, Prime beef is the elite of the meat world.
When you buy meat from Prime Time Butcher, you can rest assured you’re getting the best of the best. Our top-tier Prime Beef lineup knocks it out of the park with its velvety texture and exceptional succulence.
At the same time, our Premium Angus selection offers all the tender, juicy taste you crave at a lower price point, so you get a bit more for your buck.
What Is Premium Angus?
USDA Premium Angus, renowned for its exceptional quality, stands just one small step below the prestigious USDA Prime grade. This grade signifies a remarkable level of marbling and tenderness in the beef, making it a top choice for those who appreciate a high-quality dining experience with a lower price tag.
Whether you’re grilling, roasting, or pan-searing, the inherent quality of Premium Angus beef ensures a dining experience that exceeds expectations.
This classification is a testament to the exceptional quality and characteristics that define Premium Angus beef. The marbling, intricate patterns of intramuscular fat present in Premium Angus contribute to its exquisite flavor and tenderness.
What sets USDA Premium Angus apart is not only its proximity to the Prime grade but also the undeniable tenderness it offers. The well-distributed marbling throughout the meat ensures that each bite is a succulent and flavorful experience. This tenderness is a result of careful breeding practices and rigorous quality standards that the USDA employs. Its rich, beefy flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness make USDA Premium Angus a prime choice for those who seek the pinnacle of beef excellence in every bite.
What Is Prime Beef?
USDA Prime beef stands unrivaled as meat perfection, celebrated for its exceptional quality and exquisite taste. Regarded as the highest grade awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and, only 2% to 3% of the total beef production in the United States achieves the Prime grade. This limited percentage reflects the strict criteria set by the USDA for Prime beef, which represents the pinnacle of marbling, tenderness, and flavor. The stringent criteria for achieving this prestigious grade ensure that only a small percentage of all beef produced in the United States attains this elite status.
What sets USDA Prime apart is its unparalleled marbling the intricate webbing of fat throughout the meat that enhances both flavor and tenderness. This premium grade is a result of superior breeding practices, meticulous care, and rigorous quality control measures throughout the entire production process. Due to the rigorous standards and the limited availability of beef meeting Prime criteria, only a small fraction of the overall beef supply achieves this coveted classification.
For those who appreciate the finest culinary experiences, USDA Prime beef is the undisputed choice. The scarcity of its production makes it a sought-after gem among meat enthusiasts, elevating any dish it graces to a level of excellence that transcends expectations. Indulging in USDA Prime beef is not just a meal; it’s a savory journey into the epitome of beef quality, where every bite reflects the dedication to producing the very best.
Due to its scarcity and the desire to maintain a certain level of exclusivity, producers and retailers often reserve USDA Prime beef for specialty markets, high-end butcher shops, or upscale restaurants. This strategy allows them to cater to a discerning clientele seeking the pinnacle of beef quality while managing the limited availability of Prime-grade cuts.
In contrast, supermarkets typically focus on offering a broader range of beef grades to cater to a wider consumer base, with Choice and Select grades being more common. These lower-priced grades still offer a decent quality of meat but may not reach the same level of marbling and tenderness as USDA Prime.
Here at Prime Time Butcher, quality comes first. We work tirelessly to ensure that our impressive selection of Prime Beef is a cut above the rest for our customers, from farm to table.
Dry Aging Prime Beef
At Prime Time Butcher, we proudly offer top-tier dry-aged beef, a culinary treasure that undergoes a meticulous process to concentrate flavors and enhance tenderness, resulting in a unique and premium dining experience.
Dry aging beef involves hanging cuts in a controlled, refrigerated environment for weeks to months. This process reduces moisture, concentrates flavors, and enhances tenderness through enzyme action.
The beef develops a rich, intense flavor profile with complex notes, and its texture becomes buttery. Some dry aging involves mold formation for protection. Dry-aged beef is known for its unique qualities but is typically found in specialty shops or high-end restaurants due to the precise conditions required for the process.
The Prime Time Butcher Advantage
These days, most foodies prefer to look beyond labels and trust their local butcher — not packaging — to tell them how good the meat they’re buying is. That’s why visiting your local neighborhood butcher is a great choice. We have the know-how and experience needed to fill you in on everything you need to know when shopping for the best cuts of meat.
Our History and Reputation
For five decades spanning two generations, our family-owned store has been passionate about purveying fine foods and meats to the Woodbury, New York area — and beyond.
Since we opened our online store, we’ve extended the neighborhood butcher experience right to your doorstep. Today, we are proud to be one of the nation’s most respected sources of all-natural and dry-aged beef. We also stock American veal, lamb, all-natural pork, and all-natural poultry. (Check out our extensive menu!)
Our Commitment to Quality
Anyone can cut a steak, but we never take shortcuts with our cuts. Every custom order is hand-trimmed with care the old-fashioned way and packaged to meet your needs. Our fine-tuned attention to detail, along with our rigorous meat selection process, gives you a difference in quality you can truly taste.
All of our beef is carefully dry-aged in specially designed coolers for optimum flavor and rich, buttery tenderness. Unlike mass-market meat retailers, we never stock wet-aged or boxed meat.
Our expert butchers behind the counter are skilled artisans, ready to offer custom cuts and personalized recommendations for your every need. We want you to feel as confident and satisfied buying our fine products online as you would purchasing them from our local shop fronts.
Exceptional Customer Service
For over a quarter of a century, our customers have trusted Prime Time Butcher to be their one-stop source for the world’s best meat, poultry, prepared foods, and other fine provisions.
That’s because our commitment to top-tier customer service has always been top-notch from Day One. We go above and beyond to ensure you are satisfied with your purchase, and we want to provide the best shopping experience possible. We’re happy to recommend the best cut, tastiest recipe, or any serving suggestion you can think of — just ask!
Cooking Tips and Recipes
No matter how you slice it, cooking the perfect steak is an art form. When you order from us, we include expert cooking suggestions to ensure the finished product on your plate exceeds your expectations in every way. Need a little inspiration? Check out a few of our cooking tips!
The Beef Battle: Our Conclusion
So, who’s the real winner of the high “steaks” Beef Battle?
You are! (When you buy your beef from us, of course.)
Opting for Premium Angus over Prime is a wise choice for those seeking an excellent balance of quality and value. While Prime beef is renowned for its unparalleled marbling, Premium Angus offers a remarkable compromise, boasting impressive tenderness and a rich flavor profile. This makes it the ideal selection for those discerning consumers who appreciate high-quality beef but prefer a more accessible, cheaper option.
Premium Angus, celebrated for its consistent quality and favorable pricing, ensures a delightful dining experience without compromising on the essential quality you expect from us.
From the finest meats to hand-crafted meals to pantry staples and everything in between, our passion for fantastic food and our commitment to quality ensures that everything you purchase from us is second to none. Visit us online or in-store soon!
