There are numerous ways to cook all the cuts of beef that are available at the grocery store. But some cooking methods are preferable to others, based on the cut of meat you are preparing. Some methods of cooking better enhance the flavor of the meat or make the meat more tender and moist. Among the types of beef cuts available are ground beef, sirloin, round, chuck, rib, brisket, kabobs and flank.
Steaks
Steaks are generally tender cuts of beef, so they lend themselves to a dry heat method of cooking. People often grill or broil steaks, which brings out the flavor of this type of beef. Among the steak cuts available are rib eye, rib steak, top sirloin, T-bone and boneless top sirloin steak. This type of meat is also suitable for pan frying or stir frying. If you choose the stir fry method, be sure to cut your beef into uniformly sized pieces so it cooks evenly.
Ground Beef
Ground beef is a versatile cut of meat. It can be shaped into patties then grilled, broiled or pan fried. Cooks often pan fry ground beef before adding it to casseroles or spaghetti sauce. To pan fry ground beef, choose a frying pan large enough for the amount of meat you are cooking. Spray the pan with cooking spray, break the meat apart with a fork, then add the meat to the pan. Fry the meat over medium to medium-high heat. Stir the meat occasionally until it is brown, then drain off the fat.
Roasts
Tender beef roasts such as tenderloin, rib, rib eye, rump and sirloin are often prepared by a dry method of cooking. The roast is placed on a rack in a large, shallow pan for oven roasting. Some beef roasts, such as tri-tip or tenderloin, are also suitable for grilling. The less tender roasts such as round, chuck-eye, chuck and pot roast are best prepared by braising. The roast is placed in a roasting pan with a small amount of liquid, then covered and slowly cooked.
Kabobs
Beef kabobs are often cut from a more tender cut of beef such as the round or loin. Cooks usually cut them into 1 to 1 1/2-inch pieces and place them on skewers for cooking. You can grill or broil them. Kabobs made from a round cut of beef should be tenderized before cooking with a marinade. Make a marinade simply by combining spices with olive oil, lemon juice or vinegar. A beef roast can be cut down into kabobs. Keep pieces as uniform in size as possible for even cooking.
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