Bone Structure

Knowing the bone structure of meat animals is essential for three purposes:

1. Identifying meat cuts.

   The distinctive shapes of the bones are often the best clue to the identification of a cut. Note how the shapes of the bones in the photographs in Figures 16.3 through 16.6 help your recognition.

2. Boning and cutting meats.

   Bones are often surrounded by flesh. You need to know where they are even if you can’t see them.

3. Carving cooked meats.

   Same reason as number 2.

Study the chart of the beef skeleton in Figure 16.7 and learn the names of the major bones. Then compare the charts in Figures 16.3 through 16.6. You will see the bone structures for all the animals are identical (except for pork, which has more than 13 ribs). Even the names are the same.