Meat Tip of the Week
02 August 2010

One of the major grocery chains has an ad on the first page, “Whole Tri-Tip” for $2.47 lb. The finer print says they’re “Untrimmed USDA Select, Beef Loin.” I usually buy a few when they’re in that price range, age and then freeze some for later use.

When this chain has had Tri-Tips on sale in the past, they have always been very large, usually about double the normal 1.5 to 2.25 lbs., and weigh from 3 to 4.5 lbs. each. They usually require some trimming of excess fat, but I don’t do that until after I’ve aged them.

The large size invariably means they came from very large steers, which is even more apparent when you cut into them and see much more internal fat, or marbling, interspersed throughout the muscle fibers. That means they’re going to have great flavor and be nice and juicy when grilled or broiled.

On page 2 of this store’s ad, you find the same USDA Select, Tri-Tip steaks for $3.49 lb. These would be sliced and trimmed of excess fat. Except for the little bit of fat you might want to trim off, why not simply buy a whole one, slice whatever steaks you want to use for dinner? Why not age the rest of the Tri-Tip, or slice it all into steaks, double wrap them tightly in plastic food wrap, put them in a self-sealing freezer bag, and have them another time?

If you do slice them you’ll have some small steaks left over toward the small end of the Tri-Tip.

Now the competing grocery chain store down the street has “Beef Petite Tenders” for $5.99 lb. In the finer print it says, “Or Beef Tri Tip Roast, Selected varieties.” The photo of those “Beef Petite Tenders” is exactly what you’ll wind up with if you slice one of those, probably better, $2.47 lb. Tri-Tips.

Apparently those little steaks you’ll have at the end of that Tri-Tip are very valuable!