Baby Lamb: Animals produced all year-round by controlled breeding are marketed at 6-10 weeks old.
Block Ready Lamb: closely trimmed to retail specifications, the product may require cutting into portions prior to traying and over-wrapping by retailer.
Boned, Rolled And Tied (Brt) : A leg or shoulder that is completely boned, internal fat removed and excessive outer fat trimmed off. Properly rolled, will be cylindrical in shape and ideal for a rotisserie or as an oven roast.
Bottom Roast Lamb leg, bottom roast, boneless. Some suppliers refer to as I.O. leg.
Butterflied Leg Of Lamb: A leg, completely boned, and removed of all excess fat for broiling or outdoor cooking. When spread flat on the cooking surface, it resembles a butterfly. This provides a natural range of "doneness," the thickest portion being rare, the middle medium, and the thinnest portions well done.
Carcass Weight: The weight of the animal after it has been dressed. It represents approximately 50% of the live weight. The average weight of an American lamb is 50 to 65 pounds.
Case Ready Cuts are portioned and trimmed to foodservice specifications, so that the chef only needs to season, cook and serve.
Crown Roast Made by curving around two rib halves, 8 ribs each (racks), and tying them to resemble a crown. French ends of rib bones.
Denver Ribs Lamb sparerib that is cut from the breast and trimmed of all fat and connective tissue.
Ewe: Female sheep.
Fell: The thin parchment-like membrane (tissue or skin) that covers lamb. Remove fell from smaller cuts.
Flock: A group of sheep.
Forequarter Consists of shoulder, shoulder chops, rack (rib chops), riblets or spareribs, neck, shank and ground.
Frenching: Remove 1-1/2 inches of meat from the bone ends of a rib roast or rib chops.
French Searing Method: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and roast for 15 to 20 minutes to brown, then reduce heat to 325? F and continue roasting to desired degree of internal doneness. The searing method, when properly used, produces an excellent roast, but it does result in more shrinkage, oven splattering, and sometimes smoke and excessive cooking odors.
Gas-Flushed: The process of removing air from a food package and replacing it with another gas in order to prevent spoilage or deterioration in flavor.
Genuine Lamb/Lamb/Spring Lamb Meat labeled "genuine" lamb or simply "lamb" comes from an animal less than 1 year old. This is specified by a U.S. Department of Agriculture regulation. Spring lamb identifies lamb processed between the first Monday in March through the first Monday in October. Years ago, lamb production peaked in spring and at other times; consumers may have been limited to frozen lamb. Now, spread over 12 months, the "spring lamb" identity has lost its importance.
Glands The prescapular gland is in the shoulder and the popliteal gland is in the leg. They do not cause a strong flavor or odor and do not need to be removed.
Grade & Yield U.S. Department of Agriculture name that indicates quality yield of meat. Maturity, color, firmness and texture of the lean are evaluated in terms of their relationship to the ultimate flavor and tenderness of the meat. USDA lamb grades are Prime, Choice, and Select. Almost all lamb grades as Choice or Prime.
Hindquarter Consists of full leg or three-quarter leg plus sirloin steaks, loin chops and ground meat.
Hot House Lamb: Meat from a young lamb which has been entirely milk-fed. It is known for its tenderness and delicate flavor. Roasted whole by select ethnic groups.
Interlaced Roast (Double French Rack) Two or more rib sections together, joined and tied. Usually filled with stuffing before roasting.
Internal Temperature Lamb can be served medium-rare (145? F), medium (160? F) or well (170? F). For roasts, remember to remove lamb from the oven or grill 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit under the suggested temperature. Cover roast and allow to stand 10 to 20 minutes before slicing. Temperature will rise approximately 10 degrees. Ground lamb should be cooked to 160? F for medium.
Mutton: Meat from an animal that is more than 1 years of age.
Oven Ready Leg: The hipbone has been removed from the leg and the leg has been netted or tied.
Pre-Sliced And Tied Shoulder: The square cut shoulder contains four or five ribs. Two one-inch thick round bone chops are removed. It is then sliced (blade bone side) into three-quarter inch chops, put together and tied with two strings.
Processed Lamb: Lamb that has been transformed from the raw state by grinding, chopping, cooking and/or the addition of spices and seasonings.
Rack Of Lamb (Rib Roast) Contains rib bones, backbone, and thick, meaty rib-eye muscle. Outside fat cover is usually removed.
Ram: Male sheep.
Retail Cuts: Cuts of meat which consumers purchase.
Saddle: Large cut of lamb that includes the loin section. The fore saddle is the front of the lamb up to the 12th rib. The hind saddle is the rear half of the lamb from the 13th rib back.
Saratoga Roll: Boneless center roast in the blade portion of the shoulder. Also known as chuck eye.
Sirloin: The section between the hipbone and the back of the loin. Presented boneless and trimmed of excess fat.
Spring Lamb: Spring lamb identifies lamb processed between the first Monday in March through the first Monday in October. Years ago, lamb production peaked in spring and at other times, consumers may have been limited to frozen lamb. Now, with production spread over 12 months, the "spring lamb" identity has lost its importance.
Tray Ready: Closely trimmed to retail specifications, product only needs to be removed from pack and retrayed.
Vacuum-Packaged: Packaging method that involves the complete removal of air prior to hermetically sealing the package.
Variety: (Offal Meats) Other edible parts of lamb, including liver, kidney, heart, brains and tongue.
Wholesale Cuts: The portion of a lamb carcass from which a group of retail cuts are taken. The shoulder, rack, loin and leg are major wholesale cuts.
Yield Grade USDA grading system that identifies quality and yield of lamb. Grade indicates ultimate flavor and tenderness. The quality grades are Prime, Choice, and Select. Yield indicates amount of sellable consumer product. These range from Yg 1-5 with Yg 1 being the leanest and Yg 5 being the fattest.
