A side of beef is divided into the hind quarter and
fore quarter^ The hi7id quarter consists of the round,
the rump, and the loin. The fore quarter is divided
into the back half and the rattle rand. In cutting up a
hind quarter, the flank is first removed. The cut should
slant two or three inches toward the tip. The upper part
from 7 to 9. The aitch bone (7) lies between the back
and middle cut of the rump and the top of the round. It
is usually sold whole ; it makes a good roast for a small
family, considering the price (10 cents), and is the best
piece for a beef stew.
The first cuts of the vein (9) which joins the face of
the rump make good steak. The top of the round is
Fig. 17. Aitch Bone.
of the flank has
the ends of the
short ribs, and is
used for corning.
The lower end of
the flank has no
bones. This may
be stufled, rolled,
and boiled, either
fresh or corned.
The round is sep-
arated from the
rump in the line
The Boston Cook Book,
215
the inside of the thickest part of the leg (8^, behind 8
in the diagram) . As seen on the counter, it is above the
bone. It consists of one large section or muscle with a
thick edge of fat. Tlie best round steaks lie between this
point and the ridge of fat. The third slice is considered
the best. After cutting beyond this ridge comes the
beginning of another muscle, which is very tough. One
may easily detect, by the separation of this narrow strip of
meat along the top of the slice, whether the meat came
from the best part of the top of the round. It may be the
Fig. 18. Round, showing the beginning of the tough muscle on the top.
best the marketman has ; but it is not the best cut, though
often palmed off in place of the third slice. The under
part of the round has two sections or muscles, the one
nearest the bone being larger than the outside section.
The skin is thin, with very little fat. Steaks from this cut
are sometimes sold as good round steak to the ignorant
buyer ; but keep in mind that in the top cut there is one
large muscle with thick fat, instead of two smaller muscles
and thin fat, and you will not be deceived. This under
cut of the round is excellent for braising. It is well shaped,
requires no trimming, and is the cheapest cut, as every
scrap of it ma}^ be eaten. Below this, as we follow down
the leg, are nice pieces for stews, pie meat, etc.
The marrow bone, running through the round to the
shin, contains the best marrow. The next best is in the
2l6
The Boston Cook Booh.
foreshin. The hind shin differs from the fore shin in hav-
ing a thick tendon, which separates entirely from the end
of the leg, and dnites again at the joint, forming a loop by
which the hind quarter is hung on the meat hook. The
middle cut of the
shin may be used
for stews and brais-
ing, and the lower
part for soups.
The rump is usu-
ally separated from
the loin, and divid-
ed into the back,
Fig. 19. Back of Rump. middle, and face
of the rump. The
back of the rump, one of the best pieces for roasting, has
part of the backbone and sometimes the rump bone, as
some marketmen will not cut it out before weighing.
The small end nearest the loin has the most tender meat.
Fig. 20. First Cut of Sirloin, showing the bulging muscle
on upper edge.
Page 129
Presented as published in 1884. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A side of beef is divided into the hind quarter and fore quarter. The hind quarter consists of the round, the rump, and the loin. The fore quarter is divided into the back half and the rattle rand. In cutting up a hind quarter, the flank is first removed. The cut should slant two or three inches toward the tip. The upper part
from 7 to 9. The aitch bone (7) lies between the back and middle cut of the rump and the top of the round. It is usually sold whole ; it makes a good roast for a small family, considering the price (10 cents), and is the best piece for a beef stew.
The first cuts of the vein (9) which joins the face of the rump make good steak. The top of the round is
Fig. 17. Aitch Bone.
of the flank has the ends of the short ribs, and is used for corning. The lower end of the flank has no bones. This may be stufled, rolled, and boiled, either fresh or corned. The round is separated from the rump in the line
The Boston Cook Book,
the inside of the thickest part of the leg (8^, behind 8 in the diagram) . As seen on the counter, it is above the bone. It consists of one large section or muscle with a thick edge of fat. The best round steaks lie between this point and the ridge of fat. The third slice is considered the best. After cutting beyond this ridge comes the beginning of another muscle, which is very tough. One may easily detect, by the separation of this narrow strip of meat along the top of the slice, whether the meat came from the best part of the top of the round. It may be the
Fig. 18. Round, showing the beginning of the tough muscle on the top.
best the marketman has ; but it is not the best cut, though often palmed off in place of the third slice. The under part of the round has two sections or muscles, the one nearest the bone being larger than the outside section. The skin is thin, with very little fat. Steaks from this cut are sometimes sold as good round steak to the ignorant buyer ; but keep in mind that in the top cut there is one large muscle with thick fat, instead of two smaller muscles and thin fat, and you will not be deceived. This under cut of the round is excellent for braising. It is well shaped, requires no trimming, and is the cheapest cut, as every scrap of it ma}^ be eaten. Below this, as we follow down the leg, are nice pieces for stews, pie meat, etc.
The marrow bone, running through the round to the shin, contains the best marrow. The next best is in the
The Boston Cook Booh.
foreshin. The hind shin differs from the fore shin in having a thick tendon, which separates entirely from the end of the leg, and unites again at the joint, forming a loop by which the hind quarter is hung on the meat hook. The
middle cut of the shin may be used for stews and braising, and the lower part for soups.
The rump is usually separated from the loin, and divided into the back, Fig. 19. Back of Rump. middle, and face
of the rump. The
back of the rump, one of the best pieces for roasting, has part of the backbone and sometimes the rump bone, as some marketmen will not cut it out before weighing. The small end nearest the loin has the most tender meat.
Fig. 20. First Cut of Sirloin, showing the bulging muscle on upper edge.