Q: What is Aged Beef?

A: Aged Beef is meat that has been stored in a controlled, refrigerated environment to enhance the overall flavor.

Aged Beef is considered very special because it is clearly superior in taste and tenderness. It's also considered so special, because it is a time investment for beef suppliers. Beef generally ages from 7 to 21 days.

During the aging process, the fibrous tissues break down, resulting in tenderness. Second, the controlled environment causes evaporation, meaning the meat loses moisture. However, the meat does not dry out, but rather shrinks, intensifying the flavor.

Another form of aging, called wet-aging, involves placing meat in vacuum-sealed bags and placing them in the controlled environment. Because the meat isn't exposed to the air, it doesn't lose as much moisture through evaporation. The result? Tender Meat. However, the flavor is not as intense as dry-aged Beef.

BACK TO BBQ Q&A MAIN PAGE