Meat chop facts for kids
A meat chop is a special cut of meat. It is cut across the animal's backbone. Chops usually include a rib bone or a small part of a vertebra (a bone from the spine). Each chop is a single serving. The most common types of chops come from pork and lamb. Sometimes, a thin chop without a bone, or with just a rib bone, is called a cutlet. The word "chop" is not usually used for beef. However, a T-bone steak is very similar to a loin chop.
Where Do Chops Come From?
Chops are usually cut from pork, lamb, veal, or mutton. They can also come from wild animals like venison. Chops are cut straight across the spine. They usually include a rib and a part of the spine. They are typically cut to be about 1 to 5 centimeters thick.
In the United States, pork chops are often called "center-cut" or "shoulder" chops. Lamb chops can be called shoulder, blade, rib, loin, or leg chops. Rib chops are thinner and have more fat. Loin chops are wider and leaner. Sometimes, lamb chops are cut with a piece of kidney still attached.
Butchers cut chops by first separating the ribs with a knife. Then they cut the spine using a hacksaw or a cleaver. They can also use a band saw to cut straight across the spine. Sometimes, chops are flattened with a meat mallet. This makes them thinner and more tender.
How to Cook Chops
Chops can be cooked in many ways. You can grill them, pan-broil them, sauté them, or braise them. They can also be breaded and fried, or baked.
Lamb chops are often cooked with dry heat. They are usually grilled or pan-broiled. Pork chops and veal chops are grilled, sautéed, or braised. They can also be breaded and fried.
In South Africa and Namibia, people often cook chops outdoors. They grill them over open fire coals. This traditional way of cooking is called braaiing.
The History of Chops
The idea of cooking individual meat chops started in the 17th century in Great Britain. In London, special restaurants called chophouses began serving these single portions of meat.
