Fast delivery
Get in as fast as 1 hour
It’s all local
Shop your favorites
Direct chat
Connect with shoppers
Beef Products
The Instacart guide to beef
Beef is a staple of many households as it's a nutritious and delicious meal option. A 3oz serving of beef, which is about the size of a cell phone, has about 10 essential nutrients, including iron, zinc, protein, and vitamins B6 and B12. It would take 8oz of cooked chicken to equal the same amount of iron found in a three-ounce serving of beef.
About beef
Not all cuts of beef are the same, as some are ideal for steaks while others work better for roasts. Knowing where each cut comes from can help you select the best type of beef for any meal you're preparing. The cow has four major primal cuts (chuck, rib, loin, and round), and those sections are divided further into subprimal cuts with different flavors and uses.
- Brisket: You can choose between the top or bottom brisket. It's one of the most flavorful cuts of meat, making it perfect for pot roast and the traditional choice for corned beef.
- Chuck: This part comes from the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, and upper arm. It's ideal for ground beef, roasts, and stews.
- Flank: This piece of meat is tough, so it's best to marinate it before cooking. You can grill flank steak quickly at high temperatures to preserve the juices.
- Plate: Often referred to as the short plate or long plate, depending on where it's separated from the rib, the plate includes skirt steak and short ribs. It's used in Latin dishes and ground beef.
- Rib: This is the fatty center of the animal where the ribs and the rib eye are located. It's made specifically from the sixth through the twelfth ribs.
- Round: This piece of meat comes from the back leg. It's lean and tough, making it ideal for stews. It includes top round, bottom round, and the knuckle. Rump roast and eye of round come from the bottom round.
- Shank: The shank is the leg of the animal's thigh. It is extremely tough and full of connective tissue.
- Short Loin: The most desirable tender cuts of meat are here, including the porterhouse, T-bone, and strip steak.
- Sirloin: The sirloin runs from the thirteenth rib back to the hip bone and from the backbone down to the belly. The top sirloin is usually made into steaks, while the bottom sirloin works well for roasting and barbecuing.
- Tenderloin: The most tender cut of meat, the tenderloin includes filet mignon and chateaubriand.
Beef cooking tips
Cooking temperatures and times may vary depending on the size and shape of the beef as well as the method of preparation. Test for doneness with a meat thermometer, which you insert through the side of the cut. Avoid touching the bone or fat. It's best to remove burgers and steaks when the thermometer is five degrees Fahrenheit lower than the desired doneness, while roasts should be removed at 5-10°F lower.
- Rare: 125°F
- Medium-Rare: 135°F
- Medium: 145°F
- Medium-Well: 150°F
- Well Done: 160°F
The USDA recommends that you cook steaks and roasts to medium and let them rest for three minutes. Ground beef should be cooked until it's well done to ensure food safety.
Whether you need burgers for your barbecue, a roast for a family gathering, or a juicy steak for a quiet meal at home, it's easy to get exactly what you need when you order via the Instacart app. Our shoppers will get your order together, and you can have beef delivered in as little as 2 hours!
Beef Near Me
Buy your favorite Beef online with Instacart. Order Beef Stew Meat, Beef Ribs, Beef Roast, and more from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about beef
There are three safe ways that you can thaw beef.
- Refrigerator: This is the best method, but it relies on planning about a day in advance. Stew meat, steaks, and ground beef can defrost in a day by this method, while bone-in cuts and whole roasts might take at least two days. Once the beef thaws, you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to five days before cooking it.
- Cold Water: Do not remove the beef's packaging, but place it in a leak-proof bag. Place the bag in cold water, and change out the water every 30 minutes. Smaller packages might take an hour, while larger ones might take several hours.
- Microwave: If you're using this method, make sure you cook the beef immediately to prevent the spread of bacteria.
The way that cattle are fed plays a role in their nutrient component. Grass-fed cattle eat mostly grass, while grain-fed cattle eat a diet based on soy and corn. As a result, grass-fed beef typically contains less fat but has more omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed cattle. Grass-fed beef is usually more expensive as well.