MAKING THE GRADE
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) grades beef through a complex inspection system according to the marbling and age of the meat. Essentially, the higher the ratio of marbling and the younger the beef the higher the grade it receives. Marbling refers to the intramuscular fat which is the fat that is dispersed throughout the lean part of the meat. Marbling in conjunction with the age of the beef are the ultimate indicators of how tender, juicy and flavorful the beef is.
It’s important to understand that USDA Inspection and USDA Grading of beef are two separate programs. USDA Inspection for Wholesomeness is mandatory for all meat processors and funded with tax dollars. USDA Grading for Quality is voluntary, done at the request of the meat processor, and paid for by the meat processor. This fundamental difference is why it’s so important to know where the meat you are buying came from. If you ask the question, and it can’t (or won’t) be answered, you may want to consider buying your meat somewhere else.
USDA PRIME: SIMPLY THE BEST
The best restaurants, steakhouses, butcher shops, and Fairway Market’s in-store Butcher Shop carry USDA Prime Beef because it’s the best in the world. USDA Prime is the highest grade a cut of beef can receive. All beef is USDA inspected, so be wary of other stores purposely trying to confuse you with their gimmicks of cheaper beef being “prime” cuts. Nuances in wording can surely be confusing. Beef is meticulously graded by the USDA only when it is requested by the meat packer, which is why who we trust to source Fairway’s meat from is so important. Our relationships with our meat suppliers have been cultivated over decades and are based on them meeting the highest of quality standards.
Only about 2% (!) of meat in the United States is graded as USDA Prime, and Fairway Market has it available each and every day. Without a doubt, when you purchase USDA Prime Beef at Fairway, you are receiving the most tender, juiciest, and tastiest cut of beef available. This is the very best your money can buy – young, well-fed beef cattle with abundant marbling and tenderness.
PICK YOUR CUT, ANY CUT
The butchers in each Fairway Market Butcher Shop are trained, prepared, and more than happy to custom cut any USDA Prime Beef just the way you want it. Fairway carries a full assortment of USDA Prime cuts such as Sirloin, Prime Rib, Shell Steak, Filet Mignon, T-Bone or Porterhouse, First Cut Brisket, Flank Steak, Skirt Steak, Ground Sirloin, Rib Roast, and the list goes on. We also dry-age our own USDA Prime Beef right in each store. Dry-aging further concentrates and deepens the flavor, increases tenderness and improves the texture of the meat. How can you improve on the best meat available on the planet? You dry-age it, that’s how. And you get it at your local Fairway.
GET YOUR GRILL ON
USDA Prime Beef from your local Fairway is excellent for dry-cooking methods because it is superbly juicy and will remain so even after cooking. Cuts such as the top round London Broil, Shell Steak, Flank Steak, Skirt Steak, Hanger Steak, Sirloin, Porterhouse or T-bone, and Filet Mignon are the best selections for simple outdoor grilling, indoor broiling, or your new favorite cast iron pan-searing recipe. For the most famous burger on the block, choose USDA Prime Chopped Sirloin, which will have more flavor and less fat for a juicy and tasty meal that is healthier.
The choice is yours, and what a great choice at that. USDA Prime means you can always trust the source and the quality of the meat, and know with 100% certainty that you are getting the best possible meat your money can buy.
