What is meant by the yield grade on
beef?
There are 10 different yield grades on beef,
each one representing a different meat to fat and bone ratio. The best yield grade is a 1
and the least desirable is a 10.
Yield grade will have a lot to do with an
operator's portion cost. Most of the beef sold in food service is yield grade 2 or 3,
however, yield grades 4 and 5 sometimes find their way into the market. The higher yield
grades are normally sold to other processors who cut them into steaks and other cuts where
they can trim off the excess fat.
If you bought a yield grade 2 or 3 at a cost
of $4.00 lb, and a yield grade 4 or 5 at a cost of $3.42 lb, the finished product would
end up costing the same - $5.70 lb. This is a good example of thinking that you are
getting a great buy if the yield grade 4 or 5 was priced at $3.50 or even $3.75, when it
would actually end up costing more due to the amount of fat that has to be trimmed.
copyright meatcoach.com
2012
