What is Kosher Beef? A Complete Guide

Kosher Meat Guide: Cuts & Cooking Methods

This post has been a long time in coming. And not just because it’s taken me a while to write it. But because it’s taken me a while to learn it. Like many home cooks, when it came to meat preparation, I was stumped. I didn’t understand the different cuts of meat or how to prepare them. After lots of reading, and a hands-on butchery class at The Center for Kosher Culinary Arts, I feel like I finally have a good grasp of kosher meat preparation and handling.

First things first: Where does the meat that we eat actually come from? The different cuts of meat that you buy at the butcher come from a steer. The steer is cut up into 9 sections, or PRIMAL CUTS, five of which are used for kosher consumption in the U.S. (the hindquarters require the removal of the sciatic nerve in a process called nikkur to render it kosher, which is only done in certain countries/communities by a specialty-trained menakker). The chuck, rib, brisket, shank and plate are cut into subprimals or fabricated cuts, which is what you see at the supermarket.

The most important thing to understand about the beef that we eat is where it comes from. Meat is made up of muscle and connective tissue. The more the muscle is used, the more connective tissue it will have causing the meat to be tough. For example, the chuck, which is the shoulder of the steer, is one of the most used parts of the animal resulting in a tough cut of meat.

Why does it matter where our meat comes from? Well once we understand the nature of the meat (if it’s tough or tender) we will know what type of cooking method it requires. Tough cuts of meat needs moist cooking to break down the muscle fibers and connective tissues. Tender cuts require dry heat cooking methods to firm up the meat without drying it out.

Now, let’s get into fabricated cuts and how they are broken down.

Unfortunately, for the kosher consumer, it’s hard to know what you’re really getting in the butcher shop. Kosher butchers (and butchers in general) tend to name their cuts however they like. That being said, these are the most general fabricated cuts that you’ll find:

CHUCK:

Chuck roast is often sold tied in a net and includes the Square Roast (top portion) and the French (or Brick) Roast (bottom portion). Since the chuck portion is very tough, it is often cubed and sold as stew meat as well. Kolichol is another tough cut from the shoulder section, and is great to use in the cholent or wherever a recipe calls for pot roast. Unlike chuck roasts that require moist heat cooking to tenderize the meat, Shoulder London Broil & Silver Tip Roasts (used to make Roast Beef) that are also cut from the shoulder, can be roasted using a dry heat cooking method until medium-rare.

One of the most popular and tender cuts from the shoulder is the minute steak roast. You would probably recognize it from the thick piece of gristle that runs down the center. When the roast is sliced horizontally above and below the gristle, the resulting cuts are often called filet split and are perfect for quick cooking in stir fry’s or wherever recipes call for quick grilling (such as london broil or flat iron steak).

A note about London Broil: London Broil is not actually a cut of meat, but rather a method of preparing the meat by broiling or grilling marinated steak and then cutting it across the grain into thin strips. Butchers use different cuts of meat for this, some more and some less tender. If you are curious as to where the London Broil is cut from, simply ask your butcher.

RIB:

Ribs are the most tender cut of kosher meat because the muscles in this area are not worked as much. Ribs should always be cooked using a dry heat cooking method. The rib section includes, rib steaks, ribeye steaks, club steaks, delmonico or mock filet mignon (which uses the center EYE of the rib). There is also a great cut known as the Surprise steak – a flap that covers the prime rib and is tender and delicious. Above the surprise steak is the “Top of the Rib” which some butchers call the “Deckle”. This is the one exception to the rule of the rib section. Top of the Rib is a tougher cuts and benefits from moist heat cooking.

Besides the rib primal, ribs can also be found in the chuck primal, which includes the first five ribs of the ribcage. That is where flanken and short ribs comes from. Short ribs are strips of meat & fat that are cut from between the ribs, while flanken is a cross-section cut, including pieces of the rib in between the meat & fat. Spare ribs are short ribs that have been cut in half lengthwise. Both short ribs and flanken benefit from moist heat cooking.

PLATE:

The plate sits below the rib primal and includes the flavorful skirt and hanger steaks. Both have a high salt content and benefit from quick grilling.

BRISKET:

Brisket is the breast of the steer and is an extremely tough cut. A whole brisket can weigh as much as 15 lbs. Brisket is often sold as 1st and 2nd cut. First cut brisket is flat and lean. It is much less flavorful than the second cut, which is smaller but fattier. In general, fattier meat will always yield a tastier product. Fat is flavor, so when possible, always opt for a well-marbled cut over a leaner one. You can always refrigerate the meat and remove the congealed fat later on.

First cut of brisket tends to cut nicely, while second cut tends to shred, making it perfect for pulled beef. Corned beef & pastrami are popularly made from brisket. Corned beef is pickled while pastrami is smoked.

The foreshank is very flavorful and high in collagen. It includes the shin and marrow bones. Because collagen converts to gelatin when cooked using moist heat, foreshanks are excellent for making stocks.

In addition to the primal cuts of the animal – there are other edible parts of the steer including the neck (mostly used ground up due to it’s connective tissues), cheek (great for braising), sweetbreads (thymus gland), liver, tongue and oxtails (hard to find kosher due to the complications involved in removing the sciatic nerve).

Ground beef can come from any part of the animal, but it is usually made from lean cuts and trimmings. Grinding the meat helps to tenderize it, so the toughest cuts are often used. When purchasing ground beef, keep in mind that the leaner the meat, the drier your end product will be. 80% lean to 20% fat is a good ratio.

OTHER CUTS NOT MENTIONED

There are lots of different cuts available that are not mentioned here, and the reason for that is because every butcher has different scraps and pieces of leftover meat that they choose to label at their own convenience. Pepper steak at one butcher might come from the chuck and at another butcher, from the deckle. If you want to use your meat for a specific purpose, and you don’t want to have to braise it for a long time in order to tenderize it, order a specific cut from your butcher, or ask where the prepackaged meat comes from.

All meat is graded by the USDA to ensure that it is fit for human consumption. Grading provides a system by which distributor (and consumers) can measure differences in quality of meats. Grades determine the tenderness and flavor of the meat base on its age, color, texture and degree of marbling. USDA Grades include: Prime, Choice, Select and Standard. You’ve probably heard of USDA Prime Grade meats. They are often used in fine restaurants. USDA Choice is the most commonly used grade in food service operations.

COOKING METHODS:

As I mentioned above, once you know whether your meat is tough or tender (due to muscle movement & connective tissue) you will understand how to cook it. Tough meat requires slow, moist heat cooking to help break down the connective tissue and tenderize the meat. Tender meat requires dry heat cooking to firm up the proteins without breaking down connective tissue.

Dry heat cooking can include broiling, grilling, roasted or sauteing/pan-frying. Meat should be cooked at high temperatures to caramelize their surface. To determine doneness, check the temperature with a meat thermometer. Over time, you will learn to “feel” for doneness based on the meats resistance when poked with a finger.

Thermometer readings:

very rare (sometimes referred to as “blue” meat) 120-125 rare (deep red center) 125-130 medium rare (bright red center) 130-140 medium (pink center) 140-150 medium well (very little pink) 155-165 well done (all brown) 160+

Moist heat cooking includes simmering (used for corned beef and tongue) and combination cooking methods: braising and stewing.

Combination cooking methods use both dry and moist heat to achieve a tender result. Meats are first browned and then cooked in a small amount of liquid. Wine and/or tomatoes are oftened used as the acid helps to break down and tenderize the meat. The meat and liquid are brought to a boil over direct heat, the temperature is reduced and the pot is covered. Cooking can be finished in the oven or on the stove top. The oven provides gentle, even heat without the risk of scorching. To determine doneness when braising or stewing, the meat should be fork tender but not falling apart.

The main differences between braising and stewing are that stewing uses small pieces of meat, while braising uses a single, large portion. In addition, braising requires liquid to cover only 1/3-1/2 of the meat while stewing requires that the meat be completely submerged in the liquid.

RESTING & CUTTING MEAT

When meat has finished cooking, it’s always important to let it rest (10-20 minutes) before slicing. Resting allows the juices to redistribute themselves, and cutting into the meat too early will cause all the juices to run out of the meat.

Another thing to keep in mind when cooking meat is CARRYOVER COOKING. When meat is finished cooking and removed from the heat, the internal temperature still continues to rise while the meat continues cooking. Therefore, keep in mind carryover cooking when using dry heat cooking methods. If you are looking for a medium doneness, and you pull your meat off at 150 degrees, the meat will continue to cook until it’s temperature reaches about 155, resulting in medium well doneness.

As mentioned, meat is a group of muscle fibers that band together to form muscles. When cutting meat, it’s important to cut against the grain (perpendicular to the muscle fibers) in order to shorten the muscle fibers so that they are more tender. Cutting parallel to the muscle fibers results in chewy, stringy cuts of meat.

What is Kosher?

FAQ

What is the difference between kosher beef and regular beef?

• Center for Public Integrity

  https://publicintegrity.org

  Is kosher meat safer? – Center for Public Integrity

  Oct 5, 2011 — The main difference between kosher and non-kosher meats is the way in which animals are slaughtered. For food to be kosher, animals have to be killed…

• Kosherline

  https://www.kosherline.com

  Kosher Meat: 6 Things You Must Need to Know – Kosherline

  What is Kosher Meat? Kosher meat is a meat that has been slaughtered and prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary law. The animal must be slaughtered by a sho…

  

• Grow & Behold

  https://www.growandbehold.com

  Making Kosher Meat – Grow & Behold

  Sep 18, 2017 — Jewish law prohibits the consumption of the lifeblood of the animal. All kosher meat and poultry must undergo a special process to remove it. The me…

  

• Virginia Tech

  https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu

  Ritual Slaughter: An Overview | VCE Publications | Virginia Tech

  Dec 10, 2024 — Kosher law emphasizes that animals are not harmed prior to slaughter. They must be fully alive and conscious. A shochet uses a sharp knife to make a…

  

• Reclaiming Judaism

  http://www.reclaimingjudaism.org

  Is Organic Kosher?

  Some considerations for your process of deliberation: Meats that are simply organic but not slaughtered by a shochet (trained professional) with the appropriate…

Does kosher meat taste different?

• Koshering Process:

  The koshering process, which involves salting and draining blood from the meat, can contribute to a slightly saltier taste. 

• Slaughtering Method:

  Kosher meat is slaughtered without stunning the animal beforehand, which some people believe can affect the final flavor. 

• Animal Handling:

  The way animals are handled before slaughter, including their diet and environment, can also impact the taste of the meat. 

• Grades and Cuts:

  Different grades and cuts of meat, regardless of whether they are kosher or not, can have varying levels of flavor and tenderness. 

• Individual Preferences:

  Taste perception can be highly individual, and some people may be more sensitive to slight differences in taste than others. 

What is special about kosher meat?

For meat to be considered kosher, it has to be prepared according to the Jewish standards known as shechita. The animal has to be slaughtered in a way that’s painless, by someone’s who’s been specially trained and certified by a rabbi. All blood must be removed.

What are the rules for kosher beef?

Kosher meat includes any animal that has cloven hooves and chews its cud, as well as fowl. The animal must be slaughtered in accordance with prescribed Jewish ritual. To remove blood, all meat must be soaked in water for 30 minutes and salted for 1 hour in coarse salt or by sprinkling with salt and broiling.

What part of beef is kosher?

The meat between the 12th and 13th rib is still considered kosher, and can be utilized. With the entire back half of the cow not being considered kosher, this excludes parts that are seen as premium cuts of beef, such as the filet mignon and the porterhouse. This also excludes all flank, sirloin, T-bone and round cuts. Neck, Chuck and Shoulder Beef

Is kosher like being a vegetarian?

the short answer is that the rules and purpose of “vegetarian” do not satisfy all the requirements for being “kosher”. vegetarian food prepared in utensils that have not been properly cleaned, for example. the only way to be sure is if it is certified by a competent and reliable authority. All plants are Kosher, but not all of anything else.

Is kosher meat the same as organic?

To be considered kosher, organic meat, or meat that comes from humanely raised livestock that is free of hormones or antibiotics, must have come from a permitted animal and have been slaughtered humanely in accordance with kosher standards. In addition, if you purchase kosher meat, there’s no guarantee that it’s organic.

What is the difference between kosher and non-kosher meat?

The main difference between kosher and non-kosher meats is the way in which animals are slaughtered . For food to be kosher, animals have to be killed individually by a specially trained Jew known as a shochet. Another trained expert then inspects the carcasses for signs of disease. But these steps have no real effect on food safety.