Buy Choice Meats

Very true, Terri, the texture is usually better too. Lots of supermarkets just advertise their beef as 'USDA inspected', but that doesn't tell you much. It means some inspector probably looked at the carcass and decided it used to be a cow and if you're lucky it is 'select'... okay for dog food. Look for 'USDA Choice', check the marbling, then read the fine print. Another tip: I like to buy beef steaks and roasts that have been marked down. They will usually be more tender and flavorful, and cheaper too. The only downside is that they need to be cooked or frozen soon