Ever think about that succulent, still-sizzling Angus strip steak staring at you so temptingly from your plate? What does “Angus” mean? What exactly does the term “strip steak” mean and from what part of the cow does it come? Read on to learn just little bit more about the favorite of many – Angus strip steak – then go ahead and chow down!

Once upon a time (in 1978, actually), the American Angus Association got together with cattlemen, beef packing companies, and beef distributors to form Certified Angus Beef (CAB). This consortium’s main concern lay in the quality and flavor of beef sold in the U.S. marketplace. CAB established a set of standards in which less than eight percent of beef in the United States is good enough to reach. And when you bite into an Angus strip steak that’s Certified Angus Beef – well, the difference is definitely discernible.

You’ll know whether or not that Angus strip steak you’re about plop down a pretty penny for is CAB-produced because every piece of beef raised under the auspices of this respected group bears an inked-on stamp (don’t worry – it’s edible and disappears when cooked) saying so.

This stamp from the CAB consortium not only promises good flavor and tenderness, it also means that each Angus strip steak you buy consistently meets standards you can depend on. Some of the standards include United States Department of Agriculture inspection and that the meat boasts a grade of at least Choice.

Two other meat companies soon followed in the footsteps of CAB – the Excel Corporation’s Sterling Silver Premium Meats and Premium Gold Angus. These brands sell quality beef comparable to CAB-approved beef. But many less-than-the-best brands use the words “Angus,” “Certified,” “Black Angus,” and more in close resemblance to the premium-product companies as a ploy to dupe consumers. This makes shopping for that perfect Angus strip steak a matter of careful consideration.

You can find Angus strip steak just about anywhere nowadays – online at any number of Internet retailers, like MyButcher.com, your grocer, your butcher—wherever beef is sold. Just make sure that wherever you shop, you look for those labels that guarantee quality. And then get your taste buds ready for a truly delicious Angus strip steak just waiting for you to enjoy.