Mooooo!

I spent part of Sunday organizing and cleaning. One thing I came across that I thought might be of use to some of you is this Guide to Beef Roasts from Cook's Illustrated. What I like about it is this; you get a recipe and it says to buy 3 lbs of ____. Well, you get to the store, but you can't find _____. But more than likely ____ is sitting right there with some other name. This listing has the roasts and some of their other names.

FYI, these are just roasts, which Cooks Illustrated classify as thick cuts of meat that are best cooked by roasting or braising. The tender cuts with little connective tissue respond best to dry-heat cooking (roast). Tougher cuts, which generally come from heavily excerised parts of the animals, respond best to slow, wet cooking (braising). Also, the cuts listed here are from the top of the cow (Chuck, Rib, Loin, Round)

Mmmm, cow!

Guide to Beef Roasts
From Cook’s Illustrated
Flavor Rating (*, **, ***, ****, *****)

Chuck Roasts:
**** Top Blade Roast (alternate names: Chuck Roast First Cut, Blade Roast, Top Roast)
Best way to cook: Braise

**** Chuck 7-Bone Roast (alternate names: Center-Cut Pot Roast, Chuck Roast Center Cut)
Best way to cook: Braise

*** Chuck-Eye Roast (alternate names: Boneless Chuck Roll, Boneless Chuck Fillet)
Best way to cook: Braise/Roast

** Under Blade Roast (alternate names: Bottom Chuck Roast, California Roll)
Best way to cook: Braise

** Chuck Shoulder Roast (alternate names: Chuck Shoulder Pot Roast, Chuck Roast Boneless)
Best way to cook: Braise

Rib Roasts:
***** Rib Roast, First Cut (alternate names: Prime Rib, Loin End, Small End)
Best way to cook: Roast

**** Rib Roast, Second Cut (alternate names: Large End)
Best way to cook: Roast

Short Loin and Sirloin Roasts:
*** Tenderloin (alternate names: Whole Filet)
Best way to cook: Roast

**** Top Sirloin Roast (alternate names: Top Butt, Center-Cut Roast)
Best way to cook: Roast

** Sirloin Tri-Tip Roast (alternate names: Triangle Roast)
Best way to cook: Roast

Round Roasts:
** Top Round Roast (alternate names: Top Round First Cut, Top Round Steak Roast)
Best way to cook: Braise/Roast

** Bottom Round Rump Roast (alternate names: Round Roast, Bottom Round Pot Roast, Bottom Round Oven Roast)
Best way to cook: Braise/Roast

* Eye-Round Roast (alternate names: Round-Eye Pot Roast)
Best way to cook: Braise/Roast

(no stars) Bottom Round Roast (alternate names: n/a)
Best way to cook: Braise/Roast