Let's see if we can't discover some of the keys to making wise choices at the meat counter.
Most people have one main goal as they shop for beef.
They want to get the best meat for the intended purpose at a reasonable price. How Beef Is Cut Because the beef carcass is so large, transporting it in one piece from the packer to the wholesaler or retailer is difficult. As a result, the carcass is split along the backbone into two parts known as sides. Bulk is reduced even more by dividing each side into two parts known as quarters. Quarters may be sent to the retailer before further division or they may be cut by the packer.