Went to a nice restaurant in Napa last night and of course they're all about organic everything, grass-fed, and whatnot. On the server's recommendation I ordered the NY strip medium rare, which is usually one of my favorite steaks. It came out and I poked it with my fork and it felt medium well or well done. I cut into it and it felt very tough. Chewing it yielded the same result as far as toughness, although it was very juicy. Light was low so I couldn't really see, but it didn't LOOK overlooked. I was paying enough money for it where I didn't feel bad sending it back to get something I liked, so I asked them to prepare it rare this go round. Yielded much more to the fork poke and was much closer to what I was expecting, but still felt it was pretty tough.

Is this par for the course on grass-fed beef? Is it always tougher?

What is your opinion on grass-fed beef regarding its taste and quality? Are there specific grass fed cuts that are particularly good or bad relative to their grain-fed counterparts?

I've only had grass fed ground beef and never a steak but it's leaner than corn fed/finished. It also has a slight 'twang' to the taste.. Slightly gamey.

Let's just say there's a reason feedlots exist. Gotta make that meat taste better and more tender.

^ exactly. Grass fed beef sucks.

My inlaws have gone all in on raising grass fed beef, organic, etc. my father inlaw gave us a quarter beef after I made fun of him. After eating it over six months I can honestly say that laughing at them was the right move as far as my tastes go. Grass fed beef doesn't have anywhere near the marbling that fed out cattle does. It works well with roasts, etc but keep that stuff away from a grill.

It sucks.

It's trendy for ignorant people who buy organic bananas, oranges and such, but for those who know what it's about it's just a personal choice of wanting something naturally leaner.

Give ME corn-fed every time though for taste.

Are y'all joking? Grass fed beef is much better than corn fed. No I'm not a food hipster.

Obvious troll is obvious.

Yes, grass fed beef is different. I cook it differently, either a little slower, if a steak, or a lot faster, if fajitas. A roast cooks the same. I no longer enjoy corn fed beef - all I can see is goopy fat and I do not like the mouth feel and coating. I also would rather pay for protein than fat.

There is a reason why ZERO quality steakhouses serve grass fed beef.

Here's the bottom line.

1. Many people consider corn fed beef to taste better. Mainly because it is higher in marbling due to the feedlot diet (high starch grains like corn and soy) and limited exercise.

2. Grass fed beef is widely considered healthier for you. It has lower levels of saturated fat, total fat, and calories yet it provides larger amounts of vitamins and healthy fats. Grass fed cattle also generally receive less antibiotic and hormone treatments.

So that's really it. If you are out at a nice steak restaurant and aren't concerned about how "good" your meal is for you then order that prime ribeye. Any other time eat grass fed.

All I care about is taste. Don't let the high price of Organic Grass Fed Beef fool you in thinking it is "better." Healthier sure, but when I take the time to pick out a steak and cook it, I want it to have the best flavor and marbleing. Corn fed Prime 1 Angus, Please!

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Yes, grass fed beef is different. I cook it differently, either a little slower, if a steak, or a lot faster, if fajitas. A roast cooks the same. I no longer enjoy corn fed beef - all I can see is goopy fat and I do not like the mouth feel and coating. I also would rather pay for protein than fat.

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Goopy fat?

My uncle is one of the leading consultants to grass fed beef producers in the country. I've been given some of the highest quality grass fed steaks that you can find.



They suck

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If you are out at a nice steak restaurant and aren't concerned about how "good" your meal is for you then order that prime ribeye. Any other time eat grass fed.

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So never?

what 13wins said

not that it's any safer or healthier for you, just that grass-fed, natural, organic, etc. beef just fits that specific niche market

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Corn fed Prime 1 Angus, Please

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I love when people think only Angus beef is certified Angus beef.

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Corn fed Prime 1 Angus, Please

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I like it when people think that "Angus" means anything other than great marketing.

In that statement all "Angus" means is at the hide was 51% black.

Prime is prime yo!

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Bacon: The duct tape of the kitchen.

[This message has been edited by bonfirewillburn (edited 5/7/2013 8:39p).]

It tastes a lot like venison to me. Chicken fried is about the only way I like it.

Grass fed is not best for American or European cuts of meat. Most of the 3rd world eats grass fed beef, if any beef. How the prepare it makes the difference, thinner cuts and cut off the bone.

I like the taste of grass fed better, but that is what I grew up on and that is what salsa and chimichurri are for.

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My inlaws have gone all in on raising grass fed beef, organic, etc.

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Good financial move. I have a brother who raises grass fed beef as well. He says nobody will pay more for a bad piece of meat than a yuppy health nut!

He also feeds 100-125 head a year with corn and sells those to his customers who know what good beef tastes like!

I prefer the taste of grass-fed beef. I didn't at first, but the taste has really grown on me. I guess having eaten so much game over the years has helped in that respect. Corn-fed venison, moose, and elk might be good, but I haven't had the pleasure yet. Interesting how some view this through an ideological lens. I would think grass-fed would the 'conservative' choose, but what do I know.

We've had frequent access to affordable grass-fed beef through a friend who raises them for their own consumption. It does taste a little different and takes a little getting used to. We've stuck mostly to the ground beef. It's less juicy, naturally, when grilled for hamburgers, but works just in most anything else. I use it mostly in chili, spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, etc. where spices and other ingredients take over.

I like serving lower-fat meats to my family whenever I can, so I'm happy to get it. It's odd to saute meat and need a non-stick pan to do it. That's how little fat cooks out of the meat.

If you like grass fed beef, your tastebuds must be dead. End of story.

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If you like grass fed beef, your tastebuds must be dead. End of story.

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Man, I just don't know. I know it is always a little tougher, but I had a tenderloin last night that was really, really good and it was grass fed.

I also prefer the grass fed taste, just tastes a little more "beefy" to me as well. I think a lot of it has to do with what one is used to.

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If you like grass fed beef, your tastebuds must be dead. End of story.

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I realize this is Texags but this is the only place where I've seen this opinion presented. I can't explain it. You must buy ****ty beef or cook grass fed the same way as corn fed. Maybe once you've had McDonald's so long you think that's how burgers should taste. Unreal.

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Grass fed cattle also generally receive less antibiotic and hormone treatments.

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as far as hormones, chemically, you can't distinguish between a treated and untreated carcass

there's also more estrogen (substantially so) in the little pat of butter you put on your roll than in an entire 20 oz steak, so I wouldn't be real concerned about it