Lamb selection and storage
Color is a good indicator of age. The lighter the color, the younger the meat. Baby lamb should be pale pink. Regular lamb is pinkish-red.Ground lamb and small lamb cuts should be wrapped and refrigerated up to three days. Larger roasts may be refrigerated up to 5 days before using.
Ground lamb may be tightly wrapped and frozen up to 3 months, while larger roasts and solid pieces may be frozen up to 6 months.
Plan ahead: frozen lamb should be thawed slowly in the refrigerator, not at room temperature. This will allow the moisture to be re-absorbed into the meat and not lost.
Cooked lamb may be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 3 months.
One 6-pound leg of lamb will serve between 6 and 8 people.
Selecting lamb for cooking
When selecting lamb, take into consideration the tenderness of the cut so you will know how to cook it. Tender cuts require fast cooking over moderate to high heat, while less tender cuts are better for braising and stews.Lamb Cuts
Tender cuts of lamb include:• Rib: Roasts (rib, rack, crown), chops (rib, Frenched rib)
• Loin: Roasts (loin, double loin), chops (loin, kidney or English)
• Leg: Leg of lamb or mutton, leg chop or steak, cubes for kebabs
Less tender cuts requiring a longer cooking time include:
• Neck: Neck slices
• Shoulder: Roasts (rolled, cushion, square shoulder), chops (blade, arm), stew lamb or mutton, ground lamb or mutton
• Breast: Roasts for stuffing, riblets (stew lamb or mutton)
• Shank: lamb or mutton shanks
More About Lamb and Lamb Recipes
• What is the difference between lamb and mutton?• Lamb Selection, Storage, and Cuts
• Lamb Grades
• What is lamb fell?
• What are lamb musk glands?
• Lamb History
• Lamb Recipes
Lamb Photo © 2009 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Cookbooks
| • | The Best of Meats : From Amish and Mennonite Kitchens |
| • | The Complete Meat Cookbook |
| • | Charlie Trotter's Meat and Game |
| • | The Lobels' Guide to Great Grilled Meats |
| • | More Cookbooks |
