Cuts of Meat and the Deets

We wrote this guide to help customers who want to learn more about meat, the parts of the animal and how to cook Purple Sage Farms lamb, which is slaughtered and butchered locally.

The following are the typical cuts of meat, the average weights of cuts and info on how each cut is packaged. For example, there are six neck chops in a 1.4 lb. pack, but just a single tongue in a pack that weighs 0.12 lb. on average. Lamb weights vary based on the size of each animal.

We hope this information helps your explore the world of food with confidence and excitement for something new!

The parts of the lamb: tongue, neck, rack of ribs and riblets, loin and kidney, shoulder, ground lamb and liver, leg roast, shanks /Arlie Sommer

Whole Lamb: Butchered or Carcass

Butchered weight and packaging: One lamb is 30 lb. butchered and fits in a case. A whole carcass is 35 lb.

Note: Fills half a side freezer or top freezer—you’ll finish this faster than you think!

What to make: Throw a party!

Neck Chop

Butchered weight and packaging: 6 each / 1.4 lb. / pack

What to make: Slow cook to separate this tender meat from the bone

Shoulder Roast

Butchered weight and packaging: half or whole / 2-5 lb. /pack

What to make: Family dinner, roasted in a slow cooker or low-temp oven. Add tomato, onion, garlic, and wine

Front Shank

Butchered weight and packaging: 2 each / 2 lb. / pack

What to make: Slow cook a pot of beans with lamb

Rack of Lamb

Butchered weight and packaging: 8 connected ribs / 1 lb. / pack

What to make: Brown quickly, then bake on low for 30 minutes

Riblets

Butchered weight and packaging: Connected ribs / 1 lb. / pack

What to make: Roast in the oven or make lamb bacon with this fatty cut

Loin Chop

Butchered weight and packaging: 4 each / 1.2 lb. / pack

What to make: Cook on a hot grill for 5 minutes

Leg Roast

Butchered weight and packaging: half or whole / 2-5 lb. /pack

What to make: Slow-cooked leg roast on the BBQ or in the oven

Hind Shank

Butchered weight and packaging: 2 each / 2 lb. / pack

What to make: slow-cooked roast

Kabob Meat

Butchered weight and packaging: 1 lb. / pack

What to make: skewer with veggies, marinated in olive oil and herbs

Stew Meat

Butchered weight and packaging: 1 lb. / pack

What to make: slow-cooked stew

Ground

Butchered weight and packaging: 1 lb. / pack

What to make: Burgers, meatballs, stuffed grape leaves or cabbage

Liver

Butchered weight and packaging: 1 each / 1 lb. / pack

What to make: Liver Pâté with dried spices

Heart

Butchered weight and packaging: 1 each / 0.21 lb. / pack

What to make: Chop up and sauté with garlic, rosemary, and butter

Tongue

Butchered weight and packaging: 1 each / 0.12 lb. / pack

What to make: Tacos! Lamb tongue is a small cut of meat so order extras. Roast, peel and serve with onion, cilantro, lime juice, and tortilla

Kidney

Butchered weight and packaging: 2 each / 0 .17 lb. / pack

What to make: Sautéed or Kidney Pie