How to Choose the Best Lamb Chops: Cuts and Quality Considerations
Many people don’t realise that there is more than one type of lamb chop. They come from different parts of the lamb and each one is delicious in their own right. Read on to learn more about the different types of lamb chops and how to select the best cut for your next delicious meal.
Loin Chops: The type most people refer to when they talk about lamb chops is loin chops. Loin chops come from between the ribs and leg of the lamb, making it like the porterhouse of lamb meat. This cut of lamb has more meat but is less tender than other cuts and tends to be inexpensive. It’s best-cooked medium-rare and has a hearty, smooth flavour.
Rib Chops: When you want premium lamb chops, ask your butcher for a rib chop. These are the equivalent of a ribeye steak from a cow and have a long bones in them. Rib chops are prized for their deeply rich flavour and wonderfully tender meat. They come from the tenderloin of the lamb just below the ribs.
Shoulder chops: Shoulder lamb chops are less tender than rib and loin chops, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t delicious. The shoulder of a lamb is a fatty area that has a bolder, more intense flavour. Despite being larger in size, they’re usually the most cost-effective option when you’re shopping for lamb chops. You should cook them longer than rib and loin chops for the best texture and flavour.
Tips for Buying Lamb Chops
- If you’re buying rib or loin chops, ask for them to be cut thickly at around 1 ½ inches. This will give you more meat to work with and helps it to cook more evenly.
- Remember that price doesn’t always mean quality. When cooked correctly, all types of lamb chops can be delicious crowd-pleasers.
- The meat you buy should have a light red colour and a fine texture.
- Lamb fat is different to beef fat, so you don’t have to worry about marbling. Any fat on the lamb should be smooth, white, and evenly distributed.
As a leading halal butcher in the UK, we stock high-quality halal lamb meat that we can have delivered right to your home. In addition to lamb chops, we also have tender and delicious halal lamb burgers, lamb leg steaks, and lamb neck.
Continue shopping on our website to buy the best halal meat and other grocery essentials.
