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Beef (ingredient)

Meat · Beef

Beef

Meat from cattle, from quick-cooking steaks to slow-braising chuck, shin, ribs and mince.

Around the world: dana eti, sığır eti (tr) · carne de res, ternera (es) · bœuf (fr) · sogogi, 소고기 (ko)

184 recipes with it

Photo: Michael C. Berch, aka MCB at en.wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-2.5)

What it is

Beef is the meat of cattle. Cuts from muscles that do little work (sirloin, fillet, rib-eye) are tender and suit fast, hot cooking; hard-working cuts (chuck, shin, brisket, short ribs, oxtail) have more connective tissue and need long, moist cooking to turn tender. Marbling, the fine fat within the muscle, adds flavour and juiciness. Veal is meat from young calves: paler and milder.

Bos taurus

How it’s used

  • Steaks for grilling and pan-frying
  • Stews, braises and curries
  • Mince for burgers, ragù, chilli and kofta
  • Roasts
  • Stock and bone broth

Characteristics

Taste
Rich, meaty and savoury.
When cooked
Tender cuts toughen when overcooked; tough cuts become tender only with long, slow cooking (roughly 2–4 hours) as collagen turns to gelatin.
Sold as
fresh, frozen, cured, dried
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked, Suitable for frying, Suitable for grilling, Suitable for boiling

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Refrigerated. Keep raw beef sealed on the bottom shelf of the fridge. Mince spoils faster than whole cuts. Beef freezes well; thaw in the fridge.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Food-safety guidance for whole cuts of beef, lamb, veal and pork is 63 °C (145 °F) in the centre followed by a 3-minute rest; slow-cooked cuts are taken far higher for tenderness.
  • Store raw meat sealed on the bottom shelf of the fridge and keep separate boards for raw meat and ready-to-eat food.
  • Mincing spreads surface bacteria (including E. coli) through the meat: cook minced beef, pork, lamb and burgers to 71 °C (160 °F) in the centre, not rare.

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Recipes with beef

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