The round of beef as shown in [Plate C] is divided into the top and the bottom. The top is used for steaks and roasts. The first few slices are quite tender. The third slice is the best for steak as it has only one muscle. The farther down the leg the steak is cut the tougher it becomes. The bottom of the round must necessarily be tough because of the large number of tendons. It may be easily distinguished from the top as it contains two muscles. It is used principally for making beef tea or Hamburg Steak.
The vein is used for roasting or braising. The meat is usually stringy but of very good flavor.
The hind shin is used only for stews or soup stock. The fore shin contains less meat but is sometimes used for the same purposes as the hind shin. The pieces marked 12, 13, 14 in [Plate A] are usually corned.
Number (3) in [Plate A] is the rib roast. It contains five ribs, the first three ribs being the best part of the piece. Number (2) in [Plate A] is the chuck rib piece. This contains the shoulder blade and is consequently tough. It is best for stews or braising, although it may be used for roasting. The bones are frequently removed and the piece tied into a round roast, but at best it is tough although the flavor is good. The neck is used principally for soup stock, stews and beef tea.
If we consult [Plate D] representing the New York cuts of beef, we find that the part marked (3) is called the Rib Piece. The thirteen ribs are left in this piece. It takes in part of what is called Sirloin in the Boston markets. In New York the ribs are cut much longer than in Boston and the price per pound is less, but as this gives a tough portion of the flank, the cost, in reality, is just as great. The part marked (4) is the sirloin and is used both for roasts and steaks. When there is a large piece of tenderloin on the steak it is called a Porterhouse Steak, but when there is only a small piece of tenderloin it is called Short Steak or Delmonico Steak. From this cut nearest the rump we get the hip bone, the flat bone, and the round bone steaks. There are three round bone steaks, which are generally rather inferior. The flat bone steaks are also three in number and better than the round bone steaks. The hip bone steaks are the best of these three and contain a small piece of tenderloin. The rump (5) is divided into two pieces, one piece having the hip bone and the other the backbone. It is generally corned. The round furnishes meat for steaks, which are of excellent flavor, but not very tender. It also makes a good piece for braising. The bottom of the round is a much poorer cut, it contains so many muscles and tendons. It is tough and so only suitable for stock or beef tea.
The Cross Ribs, number (12), make a good roasting piece. It is economical as it is solid meat, and it is quite tender as the muscles all run in one direction. The Shoulder Clod, number (14), has tendons running in all directions; it is consequently tough. It is used for Hamburg Steak or for any dishes which require long slow cooking. Numbers 9, 10, 11 and 13 are used for corning and numbers 8 and 15 are used for soup stock.
