Issue: Beef today. Is it real?

[itsrobert]

For some reason Beef texture and taste is different than it was 20, even 10 years ago. What is going on with beef? Steaks nowadays looks and taste like they are beef scraps glued together to look like steaks. Or is it just my imagination?

[digonswine]

1. Here--

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. You're not imagining things

I spent many formative years on a cattle ranch, a real one, not a factory farm. That meat tasted totally different from what you could get in the stores 20 years ago, and the meat now is even worse. I've bought one or two roasts that looked like they were parts mashed together. There was a video around a few months ago that showed scraps being glued together to look like one piece.. it should be on the google somewhere.

[HopeHoops]

3. I quit eating meat over 20 years ago, but even by then it was disgusting.

Well, except for the last meats I ate. There was a butcher shop near my house and they used all local suppliers. Frying ANYTHING including sausage would leave a very small amount of grease in the pan - like a tablespoon maximum. It was a little more expensive, but the quality was worth it.

[Motown_Johnny]

4. Are you buying lower quality beef?

Try a butcher shop and spend some money on a prime cut of beef. The lower grades of Choice in supermarkets may be what is confusing you.

I think that most places are just selling lower grade beef and their customers don't know any better.

[JBoy]

5. Maybe you're getting beff

Like from the Cheers episide, where Norm and Cliff went to the Hungry Heffer:

Norm: Yeah, Cliffy had himself the "Ton O' T-Bone". For less than four bucks you get 24 ounces of USDA Choice beff.

Cliff: Beff? No, you mean beef.

Norm: Beef? Don't be ridiculous, Cliffy. That stuff is beff. You see it's a Hungry heifer trademark for a processed, synthetic – what – meat-like substance.

Cliff: Ah, no.

Norm: What do you expect for four bucks? You see me complainin' about the loobster?

[IcyPeas]

6. there is corn fed or grass fed cows

cows' stomachs were not designed to eat corn. grass is what their stomachs can digest properly. chefs like tom colicchio on top chef always use grass fed cows.