Q: What do the labels from the government on my beef
telling me that it’s “Prime” or “Choice” mean?
The USDA grades beef into eight categories: Prime, Choice,
Select, Standard, Commercial, Utility, Cutter, and Canner.
The top three are the only ones you are likely to see fresh at
the supermarket; the rest are used for packaged foods and
other products (if you ever see a steak house advertising
“100% Utility-Grade Beef!” run, screaming).
Prime-grade boneless rib-eye.- Prime-Grade Beef is the USDA’s highest designation. It
comes from younger cattle (under 42 months of age) and
is highly marbled, with firm flesh. Less than 2 percent of
the beef produced in the United States gets this
designation, and the vast majority of it goes to steak
houses and fancy hotels. If you happen to find some at