The best cuts for roasting beef (plus tips on how to do it)

Simple. When you know how...

THE BEST CUTS FOR ROASTING

FORE RIBS
One of the prime roasting cuts because the main lean muscle is nicely marbled and the whole joint is covered with a natural layer of fat. It is usually roasted on the bone. However, it is important to ask your butcher to chine the backbone for you, i.e. saw through the bones to semi-detach the backbone from the ribs. This makes carving easier.

SIRLOIN
Can be roasted on the bone, but because of its size it is commonly boned and rolled, enabling the butcher to prepare smaller joints. Sirloin carries less fat than the rib and is very tender, so it is one of the more expensive cuts.

TOPSIDE, SLIVERSIDE, AND TOP RUMP
These three prime cuts are all fantastic for roasting, as they are very tender and can be carved into large lean slices. However, because the muscles used for these cuts carry less marbling, they are usually sold ‘barded’. This means that thin sheets of fat, usually taken from the flank of the same animal, are wrapped around the outside of the rolled muscle then tied in place with string to produce a neat, cylindrical joint.

FILLET
This lean cut of beef can be roasted in one piece but benefits from the addition of bacon or some ‘barding’ fat (see above) to stop it drying out during roasting. Used to make the classic dish, beef Wellington.

TIPS FOR ROASTING BEEF

Let the meat come to room temperature before you cook it.
Roast the beef at a high temperature (240°C/fan220°C/gas 9, or as high as your oven will go) for about 15 minutes to get the heat through to the centre of the joint. Then reduce the temperature to 190°C/fan170°C/gas 5 and continue to roast for 12-13 minutes per 500g for rare, 17-18 minutes per 500g for medium, or 22-24 minutes per 500g for well done.
Rest the meat before carving. This allows the meat fibres – which contract in the oven – to relax again, so the meat will be more tender.

ROAST BEEF RECIPES

	Thyme-roasted rib of beef with red wine gravy This amazing beef recipe is part of a spread - serve with the mustard Yorkshire puddings, creamy potato and onion gratin, and roasted carrots with baby turnips.
	Roast sirloin with Yorkshire puddings A new twist on an old favourite.
	Rare roast beef and seasonal coleslaw Need Sunday lunch in a hurry? Then try this excellently rare roast beef with this cracking coleslaw made with cabbage and celariac.