8 Main Cuts of Lamb: A Buyers Guide (2024)

In today's article, we'll give you a breakdown of the eight main Lamb cuts.

We will cover the 8 main lamb cuts, we rate them by tenderness, cooking method, and also by price (cheaper or more expensive).

After reading this guide to the main Lamb cuts, you will be able to make more informed decisions when purchasing different Lamb cuts from your butcher (including your online butcher) and when cooking Lamb at home.

8 Main Cuts Of Lamb You Should Know About

Each cut of lamb is vastly different yet incredibly delicious. It is highly beneficial to familiarize yourself with these main cuts to distinguish which type is best to use for certain dishes.

Just like Beef, the more work a muscle makes on the animal, the tougher it will be. For example, a Leg of Lamb is ideal for slow roasting as it moves a lot and supports the weight of the Lamb, whereas Loin Chops are extremely tender as the loin muscle is never used hence it tastes best when grilled or pan-fried.

Below we will cover the essential things to know about each primal Lamb cut.

1. Leg of Lamb

This cut of Lamb is made with the animal’s two hind legs. It produces juicy, tender, and lean meat when cooked, especially if using dry heat methods like roasting. We also suggest leaving the bone in to take advantage of this lamb cut's impressive natural presentation, which is perfect for dinner parties, weddings, banquets, and other special events.

2. Lamb Rack

The Lamb Rack is one of the most sought-after and expensive cuts of Lamb on the market. It consists of the Lambs' rib section. Approximately eight rib chops can be butchered from this lamb cut, which we will discuss further below. Most butchers also French Trim Lamb Racks, hence the reason for the meat cut’s hefty price tag.

A typical Lamb Rack weighs 1.5 to 2 lbs. in weight. It's always best to eat lamb rare including lamb rack, to enhance flavor and juiciness.

3. Lamb Rib Chops

Lamb Rib Chops are made from the Rack of Lamb, usually after French trimming with a simple cut in between each rib bone to make individual rib chops. This cut boasts a mild flavor and incredibly juicy meat that pairs wonderfully with a host of the best lamb marinades. It is also super versatile to prepare and tastes great when grilled, air-fried, pan-seared, or roasted. As Rib Chops come from Lamb Rack, these are quite expensive.

The tender soft lean meat and rich fat on lamb rib chops mean they pair great with a huge assortment of side dishes lamb chops.

Lamb Rib Chops typically weigh around 5oz to 7oz. per chop. Beware of Lamb Rib Chops that weigh 12oz.+ as this is most definitely mutton and not lamb! See our article Differences between Lamb and Mutton for more info on this.

Because these are so tender with a nice fat cap, you can cook lamb rib chops in the oven, grill, air fryer, or pan.

4. Lamb Neck

Though one of the less popular cuts, the Lamb Neck has much to offer. It is tough yet flavorful, meaning you can create tasty lamb dishes with a bit of patience using slow and low cooking. Many choose to incorporate Neck of Lamb in stews or grilled shish kebabs Lamb Neck can be enjoyed like a steak by slowly cooking over low heat first, then finishing by grilling the Lamb Neck to attain a nicely charred finish on the outer layer, if you go with this method.

4. Lamb Loin Chop

The loin produces the most flavorful and tender cuts of Lamb in our opinion, due to its generous and tasty fat cap.Lamb Loin is located in between the ribs and sirloin. Lamb Loin Chops look like miniature bone-in T-Bone steaks or Porterhouse, that are straightforward to grill or pan-fry. Although most butchers have boneless lamb loin chops available to purchase, we recommend buying them bone-in.

Lamb Loin Chops weigh around 5oz. to 8oz. each including the bone.

6. Lamb Shoulder

This Lamb cut is produced from the animals' shoulder blades. It is a thick, tough, and slightly fatty part of the lamb. However, the fat is relatively easy to trim and guarantees that the meat will come out perfectly juicy every time.Lamb Shoulders are commonly slow-cooked as a stew or roasted in the oven, allowing for a budget-friendly alternative to Leg of Lamb roasts.

Lamb Shoulder will weigh between 2lbs. and 3lbs.

7. Lamb Shoulder Chops

Making Lamb Shoulder chops is the tastiest and easiest way to enjoy the shoulder blade cut’s stellar flavors. Shoulder Chops are much thicker than other Lamb Chop varieties, such as the rib or loin because these come in at a cheaper price point.Lamb shoulder chops boast a stronger flavor that is further highlighted when cooked on an outdoor charcoal grill or a frying pan with grass-fed butter or ghee.

8. Lamb Shank

Lamb Shank is among the best cuts of lamb due to its versatility and value for money. Unmistakable in appearance with a bone through the center, Lamb Shank meat comes from the lambs' upper thighs, including directly underneath the lambs' hind legs (aka the iconic Leg of Lamb cut mentioned above).Lamb Shank is a large, lean, and tender part of the animal that is ideal for making lamb stews and braising other slow-cooked meals.

A typical Lamb Foreshank will weigh 16oz.

A typical Lamb Hindshank will weigh around 18 to 20oz.

Here is a handy table that lists each main lamb cut by tenderness and the ideal cooking method.

Most Expensive Lamb Cuts

Rack of lamb, particularly French trimmed varieties, is the most expensive cut on the market. French trimming consists of cutting the lamb rib or chop to leave part of the bone exposed. Doing so also removes the excess fat and sinew from the Lamb Rack.A Rack of Lamb is best cooked in the oven to a nice medium doneness i.e. pink in the middle.

French trimmed Rack of Lamb also makes for a great centerpiece plus the exposed rib bone is an easier grip on the chops for consumers to enjoy it without hassle or mess.

French trimmed Rack of Lamb price is more costly due to the meticulous and labor-intensive work required of butchers when French trimming the meat. Although, it is worth the expense to produce top-quality and tasty Lamb Chops that also look amazing!

Cheapest Lamb Cuts

Two cheaper cuts of Lamb include the Neck and Shoulder. Since both of these Lamb meat cuts are tougher than other cuts, they require slow cooking to make a stellar addition to soups, stews, and lamb neck casseroles.

Lamb Neck cuts are severely underrated in the US yet highly sought after in the Middle East. Even though Lamb Neck Chops take some extra time to cook, they boast a strong, somewhat slightly gamey flavor that is well worth it for the price.

Despite its toughness, the Lamb Shoulder is also an excellent cut, which is simple to fix by braising or slow-cooking the meat, just like Lamb Neck.

Best Lamb Cuts For Pan Frying

Lamb Rib Chops and lamb loin chops are far and away the best cuts for pan-frying. Whether you order them pre-cut or butcher the lamb rack itself, the chops are bound to easily fit your frying pan. We enjoy frying Lamb Chops with grass-fed butter or ghee after seasoning them with good-quality salt, pepper, and freshly chopped rosemary. You may also serve lamb chops with delectable dipping sauces, including Chimichurri or Greek-style Tzatziki sauce.

Best Lamb Cuts For Instant Pot Cooking

The shank is the best cut of Lamb to use when working with an instant pot or pressure cooker. Lamb Shanks are tough but oh-so flavorful and worth tasting at least once! The cut calls for a significantly longer cooking time than other parts of the Lamb, making it ideal for slow cooking in an instant pot to tenderize the meat.

Best Breed of Lamb for Eating

Without a doubt, the very best Lamb breed for eating is the Dorper Breed Lamb. Dorper Breed Lamb does not grow wool, therefore, the muscles and sebaceous glands do not contain lanolin. Lanolin has a very strong odor and has a waxy residue which is what makes other lamb breeds taste gamey and very greasy.Unfortunately here in the US, almost all Lamb sold for eating is wool-producing Lamb, which gives the US consumers a bad impression of the taste of lamb. Most US consumers do not realize how good and tasty lamb can really be.

In short, if you are going to eat lamb, buy Dorper breed lamb for a great eating experience.

Best Lamb Cut Award

The best Lamb cut award goes to Lamb Loin Chops, hands down the best balance of flavor, tenderness, and value for money.

These tasty mini T-bone shaped morsels have a wonderful buttery fat cap and extremely tender meat. Loin Chops are easily and quickly cooked in the pan and are reasonably priced. It's this all-around versatility that makes Lamb Loin Chops the winner of our Best Lamb Cut Award.

Where To Purchase Quality Cuts of Lamb

You can have fresh Organic Grass-Fed Lamb meat delivered directly to your doorstep with a bit of help from TruBeef Organic.

We offer customers across the USA the highest quality cuts of Lamb on the market.

Our Organic Lamb meat is sourced from the White Dorper Breed of Lamb that is 100% Grass-Fed, Animal Welfare Certified, and Pasture-Raised 24/7 in Queensland, Australia. Dorper Lamb boasts a mild, delicious, non-gamey flavor that is perfect for cooking various Lamb recipes, including Air fryer Lamb Chops.

Summary

• Lamb cuts come in a wide variety of price points and tenderness.
• Lamb Rack is the most expensive cut (and the most photogenic).
• Lamb cuts like Lamb Shank, Lamb Neck, and Lamb Shoulder are ideal for slow cooking / braising.
• The best Lamb Cut award for us goes to Lamb Loin Chops ~ a perfect balance of price to an amazing eating experience.