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!
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