✦ Ellison Land & Cattle · Texas Panhandle

What Are the Best Beef Cuts for a Freezer Order?

Your cut sheet determines exactly what cuts you take home. Knowing what to request — and in what proportions — makes your bulk beef order work harder for your family all year long.

Ground Beef: The Workhorse

Ground beef is the most-used cut in most households and also represents the trim from your order. Request it in 1 lb packages for easy portioning. Many families ask for 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio for the best flavor in everyday cooking.

Roasts: The Slow Cooker Staples

Chuck roasts and arm roasts from the front quarter are ideal for slow cooker and braising recipes. Request them in 2–4 lb sizes depending on your family size. A well-raised chuck roast cooked low and slow is one of the most flavorful cuts in the animal.

Steaks: Know What You're Getting

From a half beef, you will receive a limited number of premium steaks — ribeyes, T-bones, sirloins, and New York strips. These are the cuts with the smallest total weight but the highest value per pound. Request your preferred thickness (most families like 1 to 1.25 inches).

Brisket, Short Ribs, and Specialty Cuts

Don't overlook the brisket — a well-raised brisket from ranch-direct beef is a different experience from a commercial brisket. Short ribs benefit from braising or smoking. If you want soup bones, organ meats, or oxtail, specify on the cut sheet — otherwise they may be discarded.

Common Questions
What Are the Best Beef Cuts for a Freezer Order?
Should I request bone-in or boneless steaks?
Bone-in steaks (T-bone, bone-in ribeye) retain more flavor during cooking. Boneless steaks are easier to portion and freeze more compactly. Both are valid — it comes down to your cooking preference.
How many steaks will I get from a half beef?
Steak counts vary based on the animal and your cut sheet preferences, but a half beef typically yields 20–40 individual steak cuts total across all steak types. Kyle can give you a general estimate for your specific order.
What is the most economical way to fill out a cut sheet?
Maximizing ground beef from trim, requesting standard roast sizes, and not over-specifying on premium cuts gives you the most versatile and cost-effective result per pound across the whole order.
Can I request extra ground beef?
Yes. You can ask for more trim to go into ground beef instead of stew meat or other options. Indicate this preference on your cut sheet.
Do I get offal or organs automatically?
No. Organ meats, liver, heart, tongue, and bones are only included if you specifically request them on the cut sheet. If you want them, ask. If not, they are not included.

Need Help With Your Cut Sheet?

Call Kyle at 806-683-3110. He can walk you through a cut sheet for first-time buyers and make sure you get what your family will actually use.

Call Kyle Direct — 806-683-3110