When you want to impress guests with the flavor found at the best steakhouse in Dallas, it can be quite a task to find the perfect cut of steak at a grocery store. The team at Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse understands that nearly everyone enjoys a perfectly prepared steak, and quality always matters.
That’s why we’ve created this guide on how to select the perfect cut of beef to recreate a Dallas steakhouse experience for your next group of dinner guests.
Seek Out Marbling in Your Steak
Marbling is the fat found in a standard cut of beef. While many people may balk at the idea of seeking out the fat in their dining choices, when it comes to steak, we say the marbling is the most important part of the equation.
Great pieces of steak are known for their tender, melt-in-the-mouth texture and over-the-top beefy flavor. Everything we love about steaks is all thanks to the fat content. Without marbling and fat, even the best cuts would be dry and flavorless.
The Closer to the Rib, the Better
Steaks come from every part of an animal’s body. However, the cuts that impress can be found close to the ribs.No matter where you purchase a cut from this area of the body, you’ll be paying top dollar for the quality.
Let’s face it, though, a tender steak, cooked to perfection, is a priceless experience no matter what your checkbook says. For a piece of meat that is guaranteed to please, ask your local butcher about:
- Ribeyes
- Filet Mignon
- Prime Rib (Bone-in or Out)
Muscle Matters
Many people attempt to “tenderize” a steak and end up ruining a perfectly good piece of meat. Texture matters, and that’s why examining the characteristics of steak at a deeper level is important.
Just like when we work out, a cow’s most active muscles will become tighter. While we may love to be toned, our steak shouldn’t be. Essentially, the more use that your animal’s body had of the muscle where the steak came from, the cheaper and tougher the beef will be.
When the desire for a delicacy arises, we suggest avoiding beef from the hips and shoulders, while putting the focus on areas like the backbone that produce some of the finer steaks found on a steakhouse menu.
Steakhouse Style Cuts Rely on a Solid Animal Diet
What goes into an animal’s body has a huge impact on the flavor of its meat. Grain-fed cows stem from feedlots and are quickly fattened up for the market. These animals are usually injected with hormones and have an overall “generic beef” flavor once they hit the grill.
At Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, we ensure our beef is treated just the opposite. Our grass-fed cattle roam freely on our private Y.O. Ranch, and we pride ourselves in providing the best-raised steaks that any Dallas restaurant provides.
If you want to purchase a specific type of meat, make sure you ask your butcher or grocer which feeding method was used on your steak. Currently, labeling of beef is not a requirement by the USDA.
Guarantee a Perfect Steak at Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse
Even though we’ve given you the secrets to purchasing the perfect steak, no flavor can beat the class and comfort found behind the doors of Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse. Enjoy your next downtown Dallas date night at a historic West End mainstay. Our menu items have been hand-selected to please the most adventurous and classic palates. Make your reservation today, and prepare for a Dallas dining experience you won’t soon forget.
