Shank. Shank is arguably the toughest, cheapest cut of beef. Located in front of the brisket at the cow's forearm, this beef cut is notable for its sinewy dryness. Due to its lack of popularity, shank is not typically found in retail stores.
Beef. Naturally, the toughest parts of beef are found around the legs: The shanks, the rounds, the shoulders, the brisket, and the neck. Round or Heel of Round is another incredibly tough cut of beef, which is why it usually gets made into ground beef with a sampling of other tougher muscle cuts and trimmings.
Meat tends to get tougher as you radiate out from the tenderloin, with the rib and loin containing the most tender cuts, and the shank, round, flank, plate, chuck, and brisket—areas that work hard to walk, graze, and support the cow's weight—generally housing the toughest cuts.
The rib eye steak is one of the most beloved, flavourful, and tender cuts of beef both here in Australia and around the world. It is also known as the rib fillet or the scotch fillet steak, depending on where you go.
Most chefs opt for a ribeye as being one of the best cuts of meat. A ribeye has everything – from the way it holds together to the fat marbling, and when thickly-butchered, it simply makes for an excellent steak.
Considered the most tender cut of all, a filet mignon is taken from the center of the beef tenderloin. It is lean yet delivers a melt-in-your mouth, buttery succulence. Perfect for grilling, pan-searing and broiling in the oven.
The Flat Iron steak comes from the chuck subprimal of the animal, and is the second most tender cut after the tenderloin. It's often considered to be an ultra-tender alternative to the ribeye.
Tenderloin (or eye fillet) has very little intramuscular fat, and is the tenderest muscle in the animal, which makes it typically very sought-after. Recommended cooking method: Grill as a steak, and great as steak tartare.
Beef brisket is one of the most flavorful cuts of meat, although it is tough and needs to be cooked in just the right way. It's also a moderately fatty cut of beef, but this can work to your advantage because it tenderizes into succulent, meaty perfection.
And the longer meat is cooked, the more liquid it loses and the tougher it becomes. Factors that also influence tenderness and juiciness are: The animal's age at slaughter, the amount of fat and collagen (connective tissue) contained in particular cuts, and, to a small degree, brining.
As you move down and outward, the meat gradually gets tougher. To use the ever-popular cow as an example, the short loin, rib and sirloin are more tender than moderately tough cuts from the belly, while the chuck, round, brisket and shank are even tougher.
It is a very tender cut of meat, containing more marbling than other cuts. The USDA recommends cooking ribeye steaks to an internal temperature of 145°F.
Japanese Kobe beef, Japanese Wagyu beef, American Wagyu beef, filet mignon, and beef tenderloin are some of the best steaks in the world based on overall quality. These cuts tend to be on the higher end of the price spectrum, too, because of their coveted textures and quality.
Between ribeye steak vs sirloin, ribeye tends to be the more tender of the two steak cuts, thanks to its heavy marbling that runs throughout a ribeye. However, the most important factor in tenderness is how you cook your steak. To yield a more tender sirloin, cook it slowly over a lower temperature.
The area below the backbone is home to some of the most tender and popular cuts of beef, such as the Tenderloin, Strip Steak, T-Bone and Porterhouse Steaks.
Tenderloin, which is where the filet mignon steak comes from, is the least chewy steak. It is delicate, lean, tender, and has a butter-like texture. It does very little work, so it never has a chance to get tough and fibrous.
Muscles also toughen with age, so a younger animal yields more tender meat. Additionally, overcooking meat, even meat that comes from the more tender muscles, can make it tough. That's because heat causes the proteins in the meat to firm up.
Rest the meat
When steak cooks, the muscle fibers tighten. If you cut into those tight muscle fibers as soon as it's off the heat, all the juices pour out. That's why resting meat for 5-10 minutes is the secret for preparing a juicy and tender steak.
Hanger Steak
Lore has it that butchers secreted away this cut—the “butcher's choice”—from customers to keep for themselves, and there's little wonder, as hanger is one of the best steaks for grilling. The hanger steak is attached to the diaphragm, nestled by the kidneys, which imbue the beef with a rich flavor.
'Rib-eye is my favourite cut because of the marbling in the meat,' says Ben. 'It has a higher fat content than most steaks and fat is where the flavour's at.
T-Bone. This classic steak is probably the most identifiable cut around the world, given its unique T-bone shape. T-bones feature a sirloin on one side of the bone and an eye fillet on the other, making it perfect for people who don't like to choose.