Meat varies in its cholesterol content depending on how it's prepared. Most cuts of meat have about 70 mg of cholesterol per 3 oz. serving. Cuts with the labels "prime," "select" and "choice" are usually leaner and have lower cholesterol totals, with around 50 mg per serving or lower, while fattier cuts can have more than 100 mg. Steaming, broiling and boiling are the healthiest methods of meat preparation, while frying meat in oils or other fats can greatly increase the cholesterol content.
Beef
Beef products range in cholesterol content from about 50 to 80 mg per 3 oz. serving, representing between 17 and 27 percent of the recommended daily value for cholesterol. Brisket and top round cutlets have the highest cholesterol content per serving, with 80 and 75 mg, respectively. Eye round roast, rib eye roast, cubed steak cuts and stew beef are lowest in cholesterol, with 50 mg per serving. Beef sausages have a little more than 40 mg per 3 oz. serving.
Poultry
Chicken has a cholesterol content similar to beef, if not slightly higher. Chicken breasts have the lowest cholesterol content, with less than 60 mg per 3 oz. serving. Drumsticks, thighs and wings all have over 100 mg each. Chicken gizzards have the highest, with about 235 mg per serving. Roast turkey breast has a little more than 80 mg of cholesterol per 3 oz. serving, while duck has a bit more than 160 mg.
Pork
Pork is fairly low in cholesterol, with about 50 to 80 mg per 3 oz. serving. Just one cut of spare ribs has over 100 mg per serving, while pork chops, center roasts, cube steaks, stew meat and tenderloins all have less than 60 mg per serving. Bacon has just over 80 mg of cholesterol per 3 oz. serving, while pork sausage contains about 60 mg.
Fish and Seafood
Scallops, oysters and cod contain between 30 and 50 mg of cholesterol per 3 oz. serving, while prawns contain over 170 mg. Fried fish can contain over 500 mg of cholesterol, mainly because of the cooking method. Salmon contains about 42 mg per 3 oz. serving. Lobster contains a little more than 70 mg of cholesterol per serving, while crab contains slightly less.
