How Does USDA Prime Get Graded

The United States Department of Agriculture oversees and grades USDA prime steak all over the country when a meat packer requests them to do just that.  People look for the USDA stamp of approval which testifies to people that those steaks are of superior quality, texture and taste. 

Unfortunately, if you are looking for steaks that are USDA prime beef in the supermarket or even at your butcher, you will probably not find them.  Most of what you would get in USDA prime steak is bought by high end restaurants or consumers that have requested a large amount of steaks for themselves or for an event.

The inspection system for USDA prime beef is a very complicated one.  And, it is very meticulous in being exact because this grading system specifies the quality of beef.  Initially the amount of marbling that the steaks have and then it combines the age of the beef and that gives the inspector his USDA grade quality.

Generally speaking, if there is a high amount of marbling and the beef is young, the grade is much higher.  The marbling of the USDA prime beef is what gives it all of the flavor and tenderness that is desired by people who purchase these steaks.  The older the beef is the more tough it is, deeper red color it is and the age also affects the flavor as well as the texture.  When the steaks are young, they are lighter red color, more tender and a better texture. 

The highest grade is the USDA prime grade which gets stamped on USDA prime beef and USDA prime steaks.  You can be guaranteed that if you see that on steaks, that they are the most tender as well as the most flavorful and finest texture beef you can buy.

There are only three grades of USDA beef that you can buy in a supermarket, butcher or from mail order steaks.  They are Prime, Choice and Select.  Prime obviously is the finest with Choice being second and Select last.  The USDA grade of Select is not closer to Prime, but actually closer to the bottom.  Many beef wholesalers and even supermarkets will try to convince you that Select grade is right next to Prime when nothing could be further from the truth.