Cut of Meat Finder
What cut of meat should I use?
The right cut depends on your cooking method and how much time you have. Answer a few questions and we'll match you to a cut, or browse the table below.
| Result | Best for |
|---|---|
| Chuck Roast or Brisket | For pot roast and other low-and-slow braised dishes |
| Sirloin or Round | For a straightforward oven roast with lean, uniform slices |
| Steaks | For quick, high-heat cooking |
How this finder decides
It asks two questions: how you are cooking (low and slow, an oven roast of a whole piece, or a grill or pan-sear of individual portions) and how much time you have (several hours, about an hour or just minutes). The answers point to one of three results: chuck roast or brisket for long, slow braising, sirloin or round for a straightforward oven roast with lean, uniform slices, and steaks for quick, high-heat cooking.
Using the result
A cut is only part of the plan. Collagen-rich cuts such as chuck and brisket need time and moisture to become tender, while leaner cuts finish quickly and dry out if they cook too long. Once you have a cut, the meat and doneness calculators give times and target temperatures, and a food thermometer tells you when it is done.
Matching the cut to the method
Chuck roast and brisket are tougher, collagen-rich cuts that become tender with long, moist cooking, which is why they suit braising and low-and-slow smoking. Sirloin and round are leaner and cook through more quickly, so they work for a roast sliced thin. Steaks are cut for fast, high-heat cooking. Choosing the wrong cut for your method can leave meat tough or dry, which is the main reason to decide before you shop.
Related tools
For how much to buy, the party planning calculators work out amounts per person for roasts and other cuts, and the substitution tools can help if your store is out of something.
Shopping tips
Ask the butcher for the cut by name and tell them how you plan to cook it. A good butcher can suggest a similar cut if the one you want is not in the case. Cuts are sold under different names in different regions, so the name on the finder may not match the label at your store.