BUYING BEEF

 

Quality beef is hung for at least three weeks.  This makes increased tenderness and enhances flavour.  The meat loses less moisture improving it for cooking.  Beef from an independent butcher or direct from the farm is more likely to be of higher quality in terms of taste and tenderness – you will also know where it comes from.

 

What to look for :

Beef should be dark red in colour – not pink.

Marbling – small lines of fat running through the leaner parts – this “bastes” the meat during cooking.

Firm, creamy white fat around the outside of joints indicates good quality, naturally reared beef.  Any excess fat can be drained away or cut off after cooking – still leaving the flavour and texture.

 

Cuts of Beef :

A carcase is divided into four quarters – two forequarters and two hindquarters.

 

The Forequarter is where the muscles have worked the hardest and cuts tend to be less tender requiring slower methods of cooking.

 

Neck - Mince

Ribs – Chuck and Blade: diced for slow cooked casseroles etc.

Ribs – Middle: boned and rolled into a joint for slow cooking or diced for casseroles etc.

Ribs – Fore: A prime cut for roasting on the bone or boned and rolled. Boned and sliced into Rib-Eye Steaks.

Brisket – Boned and rolled for slow cooking or pot roast.

Shin – Sliced for stewing

 

The Hindquarter generally for roasting and quicker cooking.

 

Sirloin – Boned and rolled for a joint. Sliced for Sirloin Steaks.  Left on the bone and sliced into T-Bone Steaks.  Porterhouse Steak is a beef “chop” cut from the rib end of an unboned sirloin.

Fillet – Rolled into a joint or sliced into steaks, very lean and tender but tends to lack flavour due to the lack of fat.

Flank – Mince

Skirt – Lean with flavour but needs long, slow cooking

Rump – Lean and tender steaks

Topside – Rolled into joints.

Silverside – Similar to topside but for slower cooking, used for salt beef.

Top Rump – Lean roasting joint or thin slices for frying steak.

Leg – Sliced or diced for slow cooking in stock.

 

Cooking Methods:

 

Pan Fry, Grill, Griddle:

Rib Eye Steaks

Sirloin Steaks

Rump Steaks

Fillet Steaks

Frying Steaks

 

Roasting:

Fore Rib

Sirloin

Topside

Silverside

Top Rump

Fillet

 

Slow Cooking: (Braising, Casserole, Pot-roast, Puddings, Stews)

Shin and Leg

Chuck and Blade

Middle Rib

BrisketShort Ribs

Mince

Skirt

Silverside

Oxtail

 

We believe that Sussex is the Best of British Beef so why not try some direct from our breeders.

 

WHERE TO BUY

 

 

Farm Shops

BUSTER’S FARM PRODUCE

Beef, Pork, Lamb, Mutton, Veal, Game, Chicken, Sausages, Burgers, Pates, Pies.   All made on the premises.  

Plus Bread, Dairy Products, Cheeses, Fruit & Vegetables.

Thursday, Friday 8.00am – 5pm, Saturday 8.00am – 4.00pm

Parsonage Farm, Salehurst, Robertsbridge, E. Sussex

Tel: 01580 882020    ahhoad@ahhoad.co.uk

 

GOLDSTONE BUTCHERS

Tel: 01304 814245     Fax: 01304 812612

office@chandleranddunn.co.uk     www.chandleranddunn.com

 

J & S HARMER

Mill Laine Farm, Offham, Nr. Lewes, East Sussex     

Tel: 07970276668     harmer@farming.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROBERTSBRIDGE FARMERS MARKET

BUSTER’S FARM PRODUCE STALL

Beef, Pork, Lamb, Mutton, Veal, Game, Chicken, Sausages, Burgers, Pates, Pies.  All made on the premises.

Plus Bread, Dairy Products, Cheeses, Fruit & Vegetables.

Tel: 01580 882020    ahhoad@ahhoad.co.uk

 

ROLVENDEN FARMERS MARKET

BUSTER’S FARM PRODUCE STALL

Beef, Pork, Lamb, Mutton, Veal, Game, Chicken, Sausages, Burgers, Pates, Pies.  All made on the premises.

Plus Bread, Dairy Products, Cheeses, Fruit & Vegetables.

Tel: 01580 882020    ahhoad@ahhoad.co.uk

 

STONEGATE FARMERS MARKET

COOPERS FARM STALL

2nd Saturday of the month  10-12 noon

Pedigree Sussex Beef, Berkshire Pork, Southdown Lamb

Complete packs (Joints, Steaks, Mince, Stewing, Braising) Premium Packs (Joints, Steaks) Family Packs (Mince, Stewing, Pot)     Contact: 01580 200386 to order/arrange collection     jane@coopersfarmstonegate.co.uk

 

 

 

BACK TO NATURE FARM PRODUCE

Shabden Park Farm, High Road, Chipstead

Tel: 01737 552744     Fax: 01737 552744   backtonature@shabdenparkfarm.com

www.shabdenparkfarrm.com

 

BLACK VEN FARM – ORGANIC

Tel: 01825 712493   Fax: 01825 712466   blackven@blackven.wanadoo.co.uk

 

Prime Sussex Beef, 10kg Hampton Jute Bag of Beef  made up of 1kg steak, 4kg joints, 3kgs mince, 2kgs stewing steak.  

Also sell venison, rabbit, pies & sausages

BILL and BRIDGET BIDDELL

Hampton Estate, Seale, Farnham   Contact: 01483 810465 Anytime     hampton.estate@farmline.com   

www.hamptonestate.co.uk  all details on our website

 

S. & N. BISH – ORGANIC

Frozen or Fresh boxes of Beef – mixed cuts. 12kg boxes containing mixture of cuts, roasting joints, steaks, mince, burgers, stewing steak, etc.  

Buxted, East Sussex     

Tel: 01825 890633 (evenings)     happyherd@btinternet.com

 

COLBRANS FARM

Colbrans Farm Organic Beef Boxes are available in 3 sizes.

The Colbrans Box approx. 13.5kg, The Laughton Box approx. 5kg,

The Family Box approx. 3kg  

The boxes are a perfect way to sample a whole variety of cuts. Laughton, East Sussex Contact: 01323 811115   www.colbransfarm.co.uk

 

DERNWOOD FARM

Products: Packs of extensively reared, 21 day hung Sussex Beef from £45 a pack.   Waldron, Heathfield, East Sussex

Contact: 01435 812726     amanda.j.norman@btinternet.com   www.dernwoodfarm.co.uk

 

FREEMANS FARM

Sussex Beef Packs – hung for 4 weeks and butchered to your requirements.

Lamb Packs, Free Range Eggs, Hay, Free Range Turkeys at Christmas  

Five Ashes Road, Rotherfield, E. Sussex      Tel: 01892 853585     yphopkins@blackdoglog.fsnet.co.uk

 

J & S HARMER

Mill Laine Farm, Offham, Nr. Lewes, East Sussex     

Tel: 07970276668     harmer@farming.co.uk

 

HIGHAM FARM ORGANICS

J.H.W. & S.E. Hodson, Higham Farm, Bells Yew Green, Tunbridge Wells     

Tel: 01892 750363     Fax: 01892 752171     highamfarm@hotmail.com

 

HIGHLANDS ORGANIC FARM

Horam, Nr. Heathfield     Tel: 01435 812461 sales@sussexorganics.com     

www.sussexorganics.com

 

HOOPERS FARM

Large (approx. 20kg) or small (approx. 10kg) mixed packs  of exclusively grass fed beef from pedigree Sussex herd.  Hung for three weeks.  

Packs contain steaks, roasting joints, braising steak and mince.  Local delivery.

Marsh Green, Edenbridge     Tel: 01732 863472 / 07768838072    polly.dumbreck@virgin.net

 

KENNETH MILLS & SON

20-25kg mixed packs as available and multipes thereof.

Wymeswold Lodge, Narrow Lane, Wymeswold     

Contact: 01509 880957     pyramidsussex@aol.com

 

MILL BANK FARM

10kg boxes containing 1/3rd steaks, 1/3rd mince, 1/3rd roasting joints.   

Hooe, Battle, E. Sussex     Contact: 01424 843707     michellebenge@aol.com

 

C.E. & W.S. MILLSON

All cuts available, frozen most of the time. Fresh beef can be pre-booked for collection.  Lamb and Pork also available.

A box includes 3 joints, 4 rump steaks, 4 sirloin steaks, 8lb mince and 8lb braising steak for approx. £100 (£6.95/kg)

Trottenden, Goudhurst, Kent TN17 1ESTel: 01580 212599 / 07765950944   

Fax: 01580 212201  guy.mac@dsl.pipex.com

Opening Hours: By Appointment

 

NIGHTINGALE FARM

Hartfield, East Sussex     Tel: 01342 825827     kevin_hawes@talktalk.net   www.ashdownforest.com

 

PAUL PIPER

Mixed quarters of quality beef available from traditionally reared Pedigree Sussex Suckler Herd.  All cattle are born and bred on our farm, which is situated high on the North Downs.  Our cattle live permanently outside, and benefit from a predominately grass fed diet.  Our beef is killed, hung (for 21 days) and butchered locally.  This is a small herd of just 30 or so cattle and therefore opportunities to purchase are limited.  Please call in advance for estimated availability dates.  Delivery is free within a 15 mile radius, or buyers can collect direct from the butchers.

Squids Gate Farm, Squids Gate, Challock,  

Tel/Fax: 01233 740105  mob.07850503003 churchilltc@aol.com

 

TITSEY BEEF BOXES

15kg boxes - supplied fresh - ideal for home freezing

01883 712345 / 07860445628 Fax: 01883 723772  pitchfont5@tiscali.co.uk

 

 

 

 

S. & N. BISH – ORGANIC

Frozen or Fresh boxes of Beef – mixed cuts.  12kg boxes containing mixture of cuts, roasting joints, steaks, mince, burgers, stewing steak, etc.  

Buxted, East Sussex     

Tel: 01825 890633 (evenings)     happyherd@btinternet.com

 

FREEMANS FARM

Sussex Beef Packs – hung for 4 weeks and butchered to your requirements.  

Lamb Packs,

Five Ashes Road, Rotherfield, E. Sussex   

Tel: 01892 853585     yphopkins@blackdoglog.fsnet.co.uk

 

COOPERS FARM

Pedigree Sussex Beef, Berkshire Pork, Southdown Lamb

Products: Complete packs (Joints, Steaks, Mince, Stewing, Braising) Premium Packs (Joints, Steaks) Family Packs (Mince, Stewing, Pot)   

Stonegate, East Sussex TN5 7EM

Contact: 01580 200386 to order/arrange collection     jane@coopersfarmstonegate.co.uk

 

HOOPERS FARM

Large (approx. 20kg) or small (approx. 10kg) mixed packs of exclusively grass fed beef from pedigree Sussex herd.  Hung for three weeks.  Packs contain steaks, roasting joints, braising steak and mince.  Local delivery.  

Marsh Green, Edenbridge     Tel: 01732 863472 / 07768838072    polly.dumbreck@virgin.net

 

RYE FARM ORGANIC BEEF & LAMB

Henfields’ own Quality Produce.  Soil Association Accredited.  Locally reared Organic Beef and Lamb traditionally hung for superb flavour and succulence.  Freshly frozen in a variety of cuts.     

Sue Booth – Tel: 01273 492437     Fax: 01273 495131   rye_farm@yahoo.co.uk

 

Farmers’ Markets

Boxes of Beef

Freezer Packs