Grades of Beef
All beef is inspected for wholesomeness by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and graded for quality and consistency.
All beef is inspected for wholesomeness by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and graded for quality and consistency.
You’ve heard of Prime, Choice and Select grades – and Prime tops the grading scale. Marbling plays a big role in quality grades.
Marbling – the little white flecks in beef – is key to flavor. The higher the amount of marbling, the higher the quality of beef. The Certified Angus Beef® brand is incredibly flavorful, tender and juicy because of the high amounts of marbling in every cut.
A: Independent USDA graders inspect cattle and label them according to the grading scale: Prime, Choice, Select and several low-quality grades.
® brand?A: The same independent USDA graders inspect black-hided cattle (typical of the Angus breed) and give it a grade. All beef considered for the brand must be the best Choice, or Prime, beef – truly the top of the scale. This top-quality Angus beef is then evaluated again, using the brand's set of 10 science-based specifications for marbling, size and uniformity. If it's good enough to make the cut, then it earns the distinctive Certified Angus Beef® brand label.
® Prime the ultimate beef?A: Quality, plain and simple. Only truly elite beef surpasses the USDA's stringent Prime standards, AND meets all 10 of the brand's quality specifications. Only 3% of beef achieves the high standards of Certified Angus Beef® Prime. And marbling is key to its incredible flavor and tenderness.
The only beef certified for flavor, our beef is raised by families who care about their cattle, the environment, and your dining experience.