These Are the Best Cuts of Beef for Stew, According to a Butcher (2024)

Cory Fernandez

Cory FernandezAssociate Food Editor

Cory is a New York City–based associate editor at The Kitchn, who covers food trends, lifestyle, wine, liquor, spirits, food-related travel, and food features. Before working at The Kitchn, he worked as an editor at Food Network Magazine and was a contributor to The Pioneer Woman Magazine. Cory also occasionally develops recipes, tests products, and contributes SEO content for The Kitchn.

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published Jan 28, 2023

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These Are the Best Cuts of Beef for Stew, According to a Butcher (1)

There are just some things that you can’t sacrifice when it comes to making a really good beef stew: taste, ease, and, of course, a tender texture. When it comes to making a great beef stew, it starts with choosing the best cut of meat. I’ve consulted with a professional butcher to get their take on the best cuts of beef for the ultimate pot of beef stew.

Yoko Koide is the general manager at Marlow & Daughters, a Brooklyn-based, whole-animal butcher shop that partners with local farms throughout New York state and the Northeast to provide meat and produce. Here, Koide weighs in on the best cuts of beef to use for beef stew, which cuts to avoid, and how to get the most out of your purchase.

What Are the Best Cuts of Beef for Stew?

While there are many different cuts of beef that work for making beef stew, the best cuts are definitely beef shank and neck. These cuts of beef have the most connective tissue running through them. “We want that in stewing cuts,” Koide explains. “After cooking down, the connective tissue dissolves into gelatin/collagen and that translates to moistness when eating.”

Another important thing to know about cuts like beef shank or neck is that they take a longer time to cook than others, but this means that the payoff is greater in the end. In other words, the cuts of beef that take the longest to prepare are often the most tender and best-suited to beef stew.

Although you should try using beef shank or neck for the most tender beef stew, those are not your only options, Koide explains. “Chuck and brisket are great stewing cuts, too,” says Koide. “[Especially] if you want a more conventional meaty experience.”

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Beef Stew

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When it comes to making super-rich meats and stews, there are some cooking myths that we’ve been conditioned to believe, such as the idea that a fattier cut will always be the best choice for stew. “I think there’s a misconception that as long as something is fatty, it has flavor and will stew well,” says Koide. “While fat definitely helps, it’s possible to overdo it. Furthermore, no amount of fat will help a cut that isn’t meant for stewing.”

Another misconception about beef is that the most expensive cuts will always be the best for making meals like beef stew. “The most expensive cuts are usually not well-suited to stewing,” explains Koide. “Tenderloin, ribeye, strip, and similar cuts have come to be priced higher because they are pretty straightforward to cook as steaks.” These cuts of beef are tender but better suited to searing for a short amount of time.

What Cuts of Beef Should You Avoid for Making Stew?

In terms of cuts to avoid when making dishes like beef stew, Koide notes that leg cuts, such as top round or bottom round, are not ideal for stewing. “I feel they take on a kind of mealy consistency when cooked for a long time,” explains Koide. “Even the most well-marbled round will still get dry if overcooked.”

How to Make Stew Meat Tender

The short answer to this question is to simply be patient, Koide notes. The most tender and juicy beef stews always take at least a few hours to cook. Start with a cut with lots of connective tissue, such as beef shank, neck, or chuck, and be sure to cook the meat on a light simmer for at least a couple of hours. Alternatively, you can get a similar effect by cooking your beef on low in a slow cooker.

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These Are the Best Cuts of Beef for Stew, According to a Butcher (2024)

FAQs

These Are the Best Cuts of Beef for Stew, According to a Butcher? ›

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

What is the best beef cut for beef stew? ›

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

What is a butchers favorite cut of beef? ›

Butchers and beef experts have long favored the flat iron for its incredible tenderness — it is a close second to its more popular cousin, the filet mignon, considered the most tender steak of them all.

What cut is stewing beef in Canada? ›

Cut from the Chuck, stewing beef cubes have deep rich beef flavour. Best cooked by braising to make tender – slowly simmer in a seasoned brother in a covered container.

What are the 3 most popular cuts of beef? ›

These cuts—ribeye, New York strip loin, and filet mignon—can certainly be dubbed the best, and few will disagree. “Filet is the most tender cut, but has the least amount of flavor. Ribeye is the most flavorful, but the least tender of the three, and New York is in the middle.” Flannery explains.

What cut of beef is best for slow cooking? ›

Here are the very best beef cuts to keep on hand to slow cook:
  • Chuck steak.
  • Round steak.
  • Blade steak.
  • Topside.
  • Silverside.
  • Skirt steak.
  • Shin (gravy) beef.
  • Sausages.

What is the most tender cut of beef? ›

The most tender of all cuts of beef, tenderloin steaks are lean and known for their delicate, butter-like texture and thick cut. These mouthwatering steaks are so tender they can be “cut with a butter knife.” Tenderloin steaks are commonly known as filets or filet mignon.

Which cut of beef is most flavorful? ›

The Ribeye is generally considered to be the most flavourful steak. These steaks are cut from the ribs and contain a lot of marbling throughout. The muscle from where the Ribeye is cut, isn't used often so the meat is very tender.

What is the most expensive cut of beef? ›

A5 Japanese Kobe Beef

What is this? Japanese Kobe steak is one expensive meat. In fact, it's usually considered the most expensive steak in the world, although prices vary by location, restaurant, etc. In fact, Japanese Kobe is often hailed as having the best marbling of any steak that your money can buy.

What is the number one cut of beef? ›

1. Filet Mignon. Filet mignon is considered one of the most luxurious and expensive cuts of beef prized for its tender and buttery texture. It comes from the center cut of the tenderloin, which is a long, cylindrical muscle located along the spine of the cow.

What is the choice beef for stew? ›

Chuck. Chuck is one of the leaner types of beef, making it perfect for stews because it melts into delicious pieces as it cooks. A chuck roast has a large amount of connective tissue, which allows it to retain its moisture during the cooking process.

How to cook stew beef so it's tender? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

What is the best cut of beef for curry stew? ›

Get Chuck Roast instead of Stew Beef

So, for a delicious Japanese curry (and of course any beef stew recipe), I strongly recommend getting chuck roast. For really tender meat, it usually takes two hours.

What is the highest quality beef in the world? ›

Wagyu beef, originating from Japan, is renowned for its extraordinary marbling, which results in unmatched tenderness and a rich buttery flavour.

What is the least popular cut of beef? ›

The Top 8 Most Underrated Cuts of Beef
  • Flank Steak. Flank steak is one people overlook if they're solely looking for a thicker piece of meat like one they'd find at a steakhouse. ...
  • Chuck Steak. ...
  • Flat Iron Steak. ...
  • Tri-Tip Steak. ...
  • Hanger Steak. ...
  • Top Round Steak. ...
  • Denver Steak. ...
  • Tenderloin or Filet Mignon.

What are the 4 prime cuts of beef? ›

The front quarter contains four primal cuts:
  • Brisket Cut – The front of the cow near the breastbone. ...
  • Chuck Cut – The forearm through the shoulder blade to part of the neck.
  • Rib Cut – The sixth through twelfth ribs. ...
  • Shank Cut – The upper section of the legs.

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours. Chuck meat is your best bet for beef stew, but it's also a pretty tough cut so it needs time to break down and become tender.

What is chuck roast in Canada? ›

Chuck Roast sounds like it'd be a great game show host name, but in reality, it's a specific cut of meat. A chuck roast is any cut of meat that comes from the chuck (aka the shoulder part) of the steer. Chuck roasts are also referred to as chuck eye roasts, chuck pot roasts, and chuck roll roasts.

What is the most tender beef roast for a slow cooker? ›

Chuck roast is one of the more popular slow-cooker options because of how tender and flavorful it becomes after several hours of cooking on low.

Is beef stew meat the same as chuck roast? ›

While the chuck roast is a larger cut of chuck meat that you can use for pot roast, beef stew meat, or a simple roast beef, the chuck steak is a smaller portion of that cut. It's carved right from the roast and can include the rib bone or be carved around it to create a boneless steak.

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