USDA Prime

USDA Prime is the highest quality grade assigned by the United States Department of Agriculture's grading system. It represents the top tier of beef produced in America — typically around 8–10% of all graded cattle, though this percentage has been climbing as genetics and feeding programs improve.

What it Means: A USDA grader evaluates the ribeye muscle at the 12th/13th rib cross-section. For Prime, the marbling score must be "slightly abundant" or higher — that's a Marbling Score of Small 00 to Moderately Abundant 00 on the USDA scale. In practice, this means visible white flecks of intramuscular fat distributed evenly throughout the lean.

Why Prime Matters: Marbling is flavor insurance. Those fat deposits melt during cooking, basting the meat from within. A Prime steak is more forgiving — even if you overshoot your target temperature slightly, the fat keeps things moist and flavorful. A Select steak has no such safety net.

Where to Find Prime: - High-end butcher shops - Specialty online retailers like The Meatery - Costco (one of the largest Prime retailers in the US) - Restaurant supply stores (if you have access)

Price Premium: Expect to pay 30–50% more for Prime vs Choice on most cuts. For a ribeye, that might mean $25–$40/lb vs $16–$22/lb. Whether it's worth it depends on the cut — for a ribeye or strip, absolutely. For a chuck roast destined for braising, Choice is perfectly fine.

The Trend: More cattle are grading Prime than ever before. In the early 2000s, only 2–3% of cattle graded Prime. Improved genetics (particularly Angus programs) and longer feeding periods have pushed this to 8–10%+.