Asked by: Capitolina Schmiedeken
Asked in category: food and drink, barbecues and grilling
Last Updated: 6th Jul 2024

What is Grade A meat?

Grade A is the highest quality meat. It is most often found in markets that sell fresh meat. Grades B or C are used to make processed products, where the poultry has been chopped up or ground up.



So, what does Grade A meat actually mean?

A quality score is a combination of several factors that influence the palatability (tenderness, juiciness and flavor) of meat. These factors include the maturity of the carcass, the texture and color of the lean as well as the amount and distribution marbling within the lean.

What is Grade A chicken? Grade A poultry is the highest-ranking. It has a round, full, well-formed meat, consistent fat, clean skin and no major physical defects, tears or discolorations. It will be marked with the "USDA A Grade” shield when it is graded.

What are the differences between different types of meat?

There are eight beef quality levels: Prime, Choice and Select, Standard, Standard, Commercial, Cutter & Canner. Eight beef quality grades are available. Two main criteria are used to determine the grade of beef: the amount of intramuscular fat in the beef and the maturity of the animal at the time of slaughter.

Which is the best quality meat?

Quality Gradings:

  • Prime quality is made from well-fed, young beef cattle.
  • Prime grade has more marbling than Choice, but is of higher quality.
  • The select grade is uniform in quality and usually less expensive than the higher grades.
  • Both Commercial and Standard grades are often sold ungraded or in "store brand" form.