What is the difference between a primal and sub primal cut of meat?
A. A primal cut (also known as a wholesale cut) is the whole chuck or shoulder, rib, whole loin or whole round. When the primal cut is divided into smaller sections, usually by sectioning out whole muscles, sub primals result. Examples of sub primal cuts of beef are the top round, whole tenderloin and rib eye. Q Are primal or sub primal cuts of meat ever sold directly to the consumer. A. Yes, some retail markets offer sub primal cuts of meat which are vacuum packaged at the processing plant and shipped refrigerated to the retailer. Some primal cuts may also be offered during special sales by the retail market.
