Few meat delivery boxes are as well-known as Omaha Steaks. We’ve looked at a lot of them over the years.
You’ve probably either given or received Omaha Steaks as a gift, or you’ve seen their ads. This is because they’re one of the oldest meat delivery services out there. But does that make them the best?.
We’re going to open, taste, and review Omaha Steaks today to see if one of the oldest meat delivery services is worth the money.
Omaha Steaks is one of the most well-known providers of mail order steaks, offering quality cuts of beef, pork, chicken, and seafood. With over 100 years of experience supplying premium steaks, Omaha Steaks has built a reputation for providing satisfying steak experiences to customers across America.
One question that often comes up regarding Omaha Steaks is – what grade of beef do they use? Unlike other meat suppliers, Omaha Steaks does not publicly disclose the exact USDA grade of their beef. This leaves many customers wondering about the quality they are getting
In this article, we’ll break down the beef grading system, analyze Omaha Steaks’ processes, and help you understand the quality of their products.
An Overview of USDA Beef Grading
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) assigns eight different quality grades for beef based on two major factors – marbling and maturity,
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Marbling refers to the intramuscular fat present between muscle fibers. More marbling means more flavor and tenderness.
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Maturity is determined by the age of the animal. Younger cattle generally produce more tender beef.
The top three commercial grades of beef are:
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Prime – Abundant marbling, produced from young beef cattle. Prime beef makes up about 2% of graded beef in the U.S.
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Choice – Less marbling than Prime, but still high quality. Choice makes up around 70% of graded beef.
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Select – Uniform quality with less marbling. It is fairly tender but may lack some juiciness. Select makes up about 27% of graded beef.
Lower grades like Standard and Commercial are seldom sold at retail. Beef labeled as “USDA graded” can be any of these grades.
The Murky Grading of Omaha Steaks
Omaha Steaks products are inspected by the USDA and the company claims that their beef meets “exacting standards.” However, Omaha Steaks does not reveal the specific USDA grade of their beef to consumers.
This leaves customers in the dark about whether they are purchasing Prime, Choice, Select or another grade of beef from Omaha Steaks. Without access to this information, it’s difficult for buyers to determine if they are getting the best value for their money.
According to some industry experts, Omaha Steaks may use beef considered “commodity meat.” This refers to beef produced on a larger, less selective scale and not meeting requirements for the higher Prime or Choice grades. However, this speculation remains unconfirmed by the company.
Omaha Steaks’ Grading Process
While Omaha Steaks does not provide the USDA grade, they do outline their own grading system for beef:
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Gourmet Beef – The highest quality grade, these cuts are hand selected for exceptional marbling, texture, color, and freshness. This sounds comparable to Prime.
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Butcher’s Cut Beef – High quality cuts with slight variances in marbling and lean points. Probably aligns with upper Choice beef.
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Private Reserve Beef – Middle range quality, with modest marbling and minimal fat. Likely resembles Select.
Omaha Steaks maintains that all their beef, regardless of grade, meets their standards for flavor, tenderness, and satisfaction. Their in-house grading system lets them select and label beef according to their criteria instead of USDA criteria.
Why Grading Matters for Omaha Steaks
Grading gives customers insight into the eating experience they can expect. Prime beef will offer superior marbling, juiciness, and tenderness over lower grades like Select. Factors like animal diet also impact flavor and nutrition. Knowing the grade allows buyers to better assess the value proposition of the meat.
For mail order companies like Omaha Steaks that do not allow customers to see and select meat in person, grading transparency helps build trust and confidence in purchasing. Since the USDA grade remains unlabeled, consumers simply need to rely on Omaha Steaks’ reputation and satisfaction guarantee when ordering.
Omaha Steaks Offers Quality with Caveats
While the obscurity around grading creates some uncertainty, Omaha Steaks does provide high-quality beef according to their in-house criteria. As an established company with over 100 years of experience, they have built trust through reliably satisfying customers across the nation.
However, the lack of grading transparency means customers must accept a level of ambiguity regarding the USDA grade and exact marbling content of the beef. Those seeking the absolute highest Prime quality cuts may need to look to boutique purveyors with full grading clarity. For most customers, Omaha Steaks provides an enjoyable steak experience at an approachable price point.
At the end of the day, Omaha Steaks’ beef may not come with the black and white grading of other providers, but their time-tested reputation speaks for itself. With their satisfaction guarantee, steak lovers can order with confidence knowing that they are likely getting a good value and enjoyable eating experience, even if the exact grade is unclear.
History Of Omaha Steaks
The story of Omaha Steaks starts, not in the United States, but rather in Latvia.
Because of religious persecution, the future founders had to leave their home country of Latvia and settle in Omaha, Nebraska. They decided to open a butcher shop in 1917 called “Table Supply Meat Company” because they had worked in the meat business in their home country.
The business started to grow because it was so well-known in the town. In 1952, they were one of the first butchers to use magazines to advertise mail-order steaks.
It was 1966 when they changed their name to Omaha Steaks. They kept growing their mail-order business, which is how most people today know about them.
Butternut Squash Risotto ($199 for 20 oz)
This side came out very creamy and rich due to the heavy use of mascarpone cheese. The flavor that took me by surprise was the sweetness of it. I first thought it might be the squash, but then I read the package and saw that maple syrup is added. It’s not overly sweet. I found it to be quite a nice pairing with the creamy richness of the risotto.
Butcher Box VS Omaha Steaks – Which One Will You Pick?
FAQ
What type of beef do Omaha Steaks use?
Are Omaha Steaks graded prime?
Are Omaha Steaks USDA?
Which is better, Omaha Steaks or Kansas City Steaks?
What’s the difference between Chicago Steak Company & Omaha?
The Chicago Steak Company specializes in the best 3% of beef globally, while Omaha gives more budget meal options that don’t taste as flavorful. Another difference between these two companies has to do with their menu. The Chicago Steak Company has a more diverse list of grass-fed beef, including USDA prime, wet-aged, and dry-aged steak cuts.
What makes Omaha Steak special?
Omaha Steaks are carved from the best in grass-fed, grain-finished beef. Raising cattle on grasses and finishing them with highly nutritive grains creates the signature rich flavor, exceptional marbling, and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness of our beef.
Why are Omaha Steaks named Omaha Steaks?
Omaha Steaks are called Omaha Steaks because they hail from Omaha, Nebraska, where there are more cattle than people and the beef is of high quality. It’s a fact that this is some of the highest quality beef in the world.
Is Omaha Steaks a good meat company?
Omaha Steaks has built a huge reputation for itself as one of the predominant mail-delivery meat companies in the United States. The company prides itself on providing Americans all across the nation with quality, Midwestern beef — not only that, but they’ve got a wide selection of other meat products, snacks, and even some fancy schmancy wines.