If you are a meat lover, then you must know about the different parts of meat and how they differ from each other. You must also know why some cuts are more expensive than others. When it comes to lamb cutlets, there are different types including rack, loin, shoulder, among others. French cut lamb chops tend to be more expensive than the rest. However, they are an incredible delicacy. The chops come from the lamb’s ribs and are cooked the normal way. When cooked together while intact, they are known as rack of lamb. When you see the name French trimmed, it means that some of the meat has been scrapped at the end of the ribs, making it look impressive. However, are the French trimmed lamb chops worth the price? Read on to get the answer.
French chops mean that most of the fat layer has been removed and a few inches of the ribs are exposed and cleaned. So, if this is what you like, then ask your lamb butcher to make them for you. However, be ready for a premium price. So, are you wondering why you have to pay more?
You must know that the work of making these French cuts is a lot, and there is a lot of weight removed from the cut. This is why all these must be recovered by selling the chops at a higher price than the rest.
What is a Frenched Cut Lamb Cutlet?
As mentioned above, a frenched cut involves removing some of the fat and leaving part of the ribs exposed. Trimming can be done in different levels as explained below:
Minimal Trimming. With minimal trimming, the butcher will only remove a small part of the fat and meat between a pair of ribs. The removed meat is used to score the eye of the remaining parts. It leaves the bone exposed, but the fat remains.
Medium Trimming. This is more than minimal trimming. The butcher removes the fat remaining, and the one on the eye is removed for adding flavor.
Full Trimming. You are thinking right! Full trimming involves removing all the fat from the ribs, as well as, the eye. You will be left with the strip of the rib and lean meat. You must be careful when cooking a fully trimmed rack since the edges may cook faster before the inside.
Why is the Frenched Cutlet Expensive?
Considering the other cutlets, the butcher leaves the meat and fat intact and this weighs more. As you have noticed with French cut, there is a lot of work involved for the butcher to create the fully trimmed chops. Furthermore, a large portion of meat, bone, and fat is removed and this reduces the weight. That means that the butcher must compensate for the time he or she has used. They must also compensate for the lost meat and fat by charging you a price that is a little higher than the rest of the cutlets.
In Conclusion
Therefore, it is clear that French cut lamb cutlets are worth the extra cost. This is because the butcher goes an extra mile to create something of your preference. They use time and lose some portion of the meat. Hence, you must compensate for this. Lamb cutlets are way cheaper than the frenched cuts because of the less work involved and no meat or fat is lost.
