Angus beef is a popular beef breed known for its flavorful, tender and juicy qualities. But can it also be kosher? As a beef lover who keeps kosher, you may be wondering if you can enjoy Angus beef and stay true to your kosher diet.
The short answer is yes Angus beef can be kosher. However it depends on how the cattle are raised, slaughtered and processed. There are specific requirements that must be met for beef to be certified kosher.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about kosher standards, Angus beef and how to identify certified kosher Angus beef products.
What Makes Beef Kosher?
For beef to be certified kosher it must come from a kosher animal and be slaughtered and processed according to kosher law. Here are the key requirements
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The animal must chew its cud and have split hooves. Cows meet these criteria.
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The animal must be slaughtered by a trained kosher slaughterer called a shochet.
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The shochet uses a sharp knife for a quick, painless cut across the throat. This drains blood from the animal, which kosher law prohibits consuming.
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After slaughter, the meat undergoes the koshering process. This involves soaking and salting to extract any remaining blood.
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The meat processing facility must also be certified kosher. This ensures no mixing of kosher and non-kosher meat.
Certification agencies like the Orthodox Union (OU) inspect cattle sources, slaughter methods and facilities to verify adherence to kosher standards.
Can Angus Beef Be Kosher?
Angus refers to a cattle breed, not a specific beef product. Most Angus beef is not kosher certified. However, some companies are producing kosher Angus beef.
The Certified Angus Beef® brand recently introduced kosher Angus beef, certified by the OU. To earn the OU stamp, the cattle must be slaughtered and processed per kosher protocols under rabbinic supervision.
This kosher Angus beef also meets the brand’s 10 quality standards for marbling, juiciness and flavor. Less than 2% of Angus cattle meet these specifications.
So while Angus cattle offer quality beef, look for an OU symbol or other kosher certification to guarantee the beef is kosher.
Finding Certified Kosher Angus Beef
With kosher Angus beef still being quite limited, it may take some searching to find certified products locally. Here are some tips:
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Check with kosher butchers and markets in your area. Some may carry a kosher Angus beef line.
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Ask at your favorite steakhouse. A handful of high-end restaurants now offer certified kosher Angus steaks.
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Search online for mail order options. Several online stores sell OU certified Angus beef that can be shipped frozen to your door.
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Call Angus beef brands to ask if they offer certified kosher options. Not all do, so check.
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Confirm the product has a kosher symbol like OU or Star-K. Don’t just rely on packaging claims.
Cooking and Serving Certified Kosher Angus Beef
Once you secure certified kosher Angus beef, it’s time to cook and savor it! Here are some tips:
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Salt less liberally since kosher meat is presalted. Adjust other seasonings accordingly.
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Cook low and slow, at lower temperatures for longer. This tenderizes and enhances flavor.
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Slice brisket across the grain to maximize tenderness.
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Allow 1⁄2 pound of meat per person. Adjust for extra hungry eaters.
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Try diverse kosher Angus cuts like ribeye, T-bone, tri-tip and ground beef.
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Allow the meat to rest 5-10 minutes before serving to seal in juices.
With proper sourcing and preparation, you can satisfy your inner beef lover as well as kosher dietary needs with delicious Angus beef. Just remember to look for a kosher symbol to guarantee compliance with kosher law.
Why Kosher Certification Matters with Angus Beef
Seeking out certified kosher beef, including Angus, is the only way to ensure the meat adheres to kosher standards. Here’s why the kosher certification process is so important:
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It verifies that the animal source is kosher. Only cows, sheep, goats and certain fowl are permitted.
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Certification confirms proper ritual slaughter by a trained shochet. This is central to kosher law.
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It regulates the koshering process to remove blood after slaughter. Consuming blood is forbidden.
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The certification oversees the entire supply chain. This prevents any mixing of kosher and non-kosher meats.
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It enforces adherence to kosher practices in processing, packaging and distribution. No shortcuts are allowed.
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For many, kosher certification also signifies enhanced food safety, quality controls and ethics.
Bottom line – don’t take chances with unverified vendors. Seek out reputable kosher certification to be confident you are getting genuine kosher Angus beef.
Common Questions about Kosher Angus Beef
If you’re new to incorporating kosher Angus beef into your diet, you probably have some questions. Here are answers to some of the most common queries:
Is all Angus beef kosher?
No, only Angus beef that has gone through kosher certification and bears an accepted kosher symbol should be considered kosher. Most Angus beef is not kosher.
Why does kosher beef cost more?
The requirements of kosher slaughter, processing and certification mean extra steps and oversight. This increased labor results in higher production costs that translate to higher consumer prices.
Is kosher Angus beef healthier?
Kosher standards can promote food safety and quality. However, kosher certification alone doesn’t necessarily make the beef healthier. Look for indicators like “antibiotic-free” and “hormone-free” for health attributes.
Can you cook non-kosher and kosher beef together?
No. To keep kosher status intact, kosher meat cannot come into contact with non-kosher meat during cooking. Best to use separate pans and utensils.
Do I need to kosher my kitchen for kosher Angus?
Not necessarily. Just take care to keep meat prep surfaces, pans and tools dedicated to either your kosher or non-kosher cooking.
Enjoying Angus Beef While Keeping Kosher
For beef aficionados who also observe kosher dietary laws, it is possible to enjoy delicious Angus beef. But it’s essential to verify kosher certification on any Angus beef products you buy and cook.
Seeking out a trustworthy OU, Star-K or other kosher symbol ensures your food adheres to the standards of kosher law. It also guarantees you can indulge in remarkably tender, flavorful Angus beef without compromising your kosher commitment.
How Many Pieces Will I Receive?
Our frozen meats are packaged in vacuum-sealed packages. Most packages contain one piece (ie, one Brisket). Some packages will contain two pieces (ie, Lamb Chops). Packages of smaller items, such as Chicken Wings or Pepper Steak, will contain multiple pieces.
For red meat items and multi-pack poultry items, vacuum-sealed packages may be packed in a cardboard box. If there is a choice for how many packages you want in the box, you will make that choice under “Customize Your Order.” “After that, you’ll pick your preferred weight, which is the sum of all the packages in that box. Is there only one option in a green box? You don’t have to make a choice.
Lets say youre ordering Lamb Chops and you select the following:
Youve chosen: 2 packages, ~1.1 lb, and the price shows $39.99.
You’ll receive 1 box, with 2 packages of lamb chops inside.
Each package will contain 2 lamb chops. You’ll have 4 lamb chops in total. We always try to pack things that are about the same size, but some chops may be a bit bigger or smaller than the others.
Customize your order Kosher Certification:
You can buy this ground beef all year long, and for good reason: it comes from our pasture-raised Black Angus cattle, and all of our meats at Grow Theres kosher meat — and then theres Grow & Behold. People inside and outside of the kosher community love our meats for their taste and quality because there is nothing else like them. In every step of the process, we make sure that our meats are raised humanely, processed properly, butchered by professionals, carefully packed, delivered without a hitch, and cooked with confidence in your kitchen.
Our ground beef is a carefully balanced mix of beef and fat. At 85% lean, it will give your meatballs, meatloaf, stuffed vegetables, kibbeh, burgers, sauces, and more a great, clean, meaty flavor.
Use for any ground meat recipe.
Products are packed with coolant during their journey to ensure they arrive in great shape. Meats will arrive frozen or refrigerated. A lot of our products are shipped frozen, but sometimes meats may be shipped fresh because of how quickly they get to our freezing and distribution center from when they arrive. Meat that is cold to the touch can be refrigerated for immediate use, or frozen for later use. Learn more.
*Price per pound is an estimate for comparison purposes only. Click on the “Details” tab to learn more.
- 5 ground beef posted by Michon Hawkins on February 1, 2023.
- Post by Michon Hawkins on August 2, 2022: “3 ground beef” I cooked the ground beef two days ago. There’s a lot of nasty stuff in the pound I opened. When I’ve bought ground beef from you before, I have never found gristle in it. That’s it—6 pounds from you. I hope the rest of it doesn’t have any gristle in it. Note from GBF: Thanks for the review! We’ll get in touch with you directly because this isn’t the quality of service we usually offer!
- 5.0 Ground Beef Posted by Ann Nunes on January 5, 2022 Since the Bible says not to eat blood, the meat needs kosher salt (big crystals) to remove the blood. You don’t need to add any salt yourself. My guests and I enjoy it every week.
- 4. Meat Posted by Unknown on August 9, 2021 The ground beef was brown. I have never eaten kosher before, so I don’t know if this is how it should be. However it was tasty. Note from Grow
- Five stars: “These burgers are so good!” posted by Russ Agdern on April 17, 2021; two non-kosher meat eaters were amazed at how tasty the G
- 5. Ground Beef tube This was posted by Rachel on April 2, 2021. I thought the salami tube was weird, but the meat was fresh and made great burgers!
- 5 ground beef Posted by Anne Shahmoon on March 29, 2021 Great burgers! We didn’t add anything, we just made them and grilled them on our grill. They were delicious! .
- 5. My family was happy. Posted by Laura on March 20, 2021. This is how beef should taste. Deliciously flavorful! .
- Danny wrote on March 16, 2021, “Ground beef makes great burgers! Add one egg, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and chopped onion.” Combine all the ingredients and shape them into round, 1%22-inch-thick patties. Place them on a cast-iron pan and cook them for 10 minutes on medium heat, turning them over every 5 minutes for 5 minutes of rare cooking. Best burgers ever! .