Or, pay a higher pricesometimes much higherfor a more premium version of the same steak?
Unlike some grocers, Costco doesn’t really sell cheap, lean steaks.
You basically get two options, each classified according toU.S.
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Department of Agriculture standards: USDA Choice or USDA Prime.
Both are considered high-quality meats.
The only real difference is the fat content.
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Well, thatandthe price.
Prime is the highest grade awarded by the USDA.
Prime steaks come from young cows and feature the most prodigious marbling.
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By that, I mean the bands of white fat streaking through the reddish muscle.
The more marbling, the more tender, juicy, and flavorful your steak tends to be.
Prime steaks are primarily served at luxury hotels and high-end steakhouses like Ruth’s Chris and Morton’s.
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That’s why you commonly find these steaks at more casual restaurant chains likeTexas RoadhouseandOutback Steakhouse.
Would your palate even notice the difference?
Because you know your wallet would!
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That’s why I conducted this little experiment.
That’s a total of six different steaks.
Here’s how each cut compared to its other-grade counterpart.
For this test, I got both.
The Look: The Choice strips appeared super fresh.
The meat came dark red, with substantial marbling throughout and a slender fat cap along the side.
The Prime cuts, meanwhile, had a slightly paler tone but noticeably more marbling.
The difference is striking.
The higher-end cut immediately proved much more tender and luscious.
All of my dining companions agreed that the Prime strip packed more flavor and richness than its Choice counterpart.
My discerning wife asserted that the Prime cut “represents Costco well.”
She added, “I’m giving the Choice steak to the dog.”
The ribeyes at Costco are massive, generally coming three to a pack versus four with the strips.
Upon closer inspection, the prime cut showed more tiny flecks of white throughout.
I chose two hulking steaks from each pack to grill, both weighing well over a pound.
They each charred up nicely, turning out beautifully pink and moist inside.
The Taste: Virtually identical.
Nevertheless, it can pack a surprising amount of flavor when it’s done right.
Neither the Choice nor the Prime sirloin showed much in the way of marbling.
What they lacked in fat, however, they surely made up in size.
The Taste: Though both steaks came out perfectly juicy, there were some noticeable differences.
The Choice sirloin offered more of a traditional beefy flavor but texturally felt more sinewy and chewy.
The Prime sirloin, meanwhile, tasted more luscious with a much softer bite.
Which is the better steak?
That likely depends on which quality you hold most dear: taste or texture.
Now that I know the difference, there is no going back.
Steak night at my home is about to get even more deliciousand even more expensive, too.
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