What is the difference between Prime, Choice and Select beef?

What do Prime, Choice and Select mean?

They are USDA quality grades. The grade is set mainly by the marbling in the ribeye, judged together with the animal's maturity: Prime the most marbling, then Choice, then Select. For young cattle, Prime needs at least a slightly abundant amount of marbling, Choice at least a small amount and Select at least a slight amount. These grades are restricted to beef from young cattle, and beef from cows cannot grade Prime.

Is all beef graded?

No. USDA grading is voluntary, and paid for by the packer, so some beef is sold with no grade at all.

Which grade is most common?

Choice. In recent years, graded fed cattle have been about three-quarters Choice, with roughly 8 to 12% Prime and about 13 to 16% Select.

Does a higher grade taste better?

Usually, yes. In consumer and trained taste panels, more marbled steaks rate juicier, more flavorful and usually more tender, on average. Grade is not a guarantee, though: tenderness overlaps a lot between grades, and many Choice steaks are tougher than many Select steaks.

Is Select beef worth buying?

It can be. Beef that grades at least Select is acceptable to most consumers, though higher grades are rated acceptable more often. The cut matters too; see the steak cuts for how each one eats.