While oxtail is a staple in Caribbean and Southern U.S. cooking, it’s not commonly used in the Upper Midwest. But between a desire to cook new dishes and use every part of an animal, the demand for this cut of beef is growing. Learn more about what oxtail is, where you can buy it, and how to cook with it.
What Is Oxtail?
Traditionally, “oxtail” was the tail from oxen — adult steers trained to do farm work. Today, oxtail refers to the tail of any male or female cow.
How Much Does Oxtail Weigh?
An average whole oxtail weighs 7 pounds.
Oxtail is most commonly sold in sliced cross sections. Each cut is circular shaped with the bone in the center.
Is Oxtail Expensive?
Depending on where you shop for meat, you may notice that oxtail is priced higher per pound than other cuts of beef. There’s only so much oxtail to go around and demand can drive prices. Also, the price of beef in general is always fluctuating.
How Do You Cook Oxtail?
Oxtail is a cut of meat most often found in stews, soups, and sauces. Most oxtail recipes call for the meat to be braised and then simmered in liquid. Oxtail benefits from a long cooking time, “low and slow.” These are not dishes you can rush.
Oxtail stews are popular in the Caribbean. You can adjust the seasonings in this Jamaican Oxtail Stew recipe to your taste.
In the U.S., Southern-Style Oxtails are comforting soul food. This recipe uses onions and green peppers to create a thick sauce. Southern-Style Oxtails are traditionally served over rice or mashed potatoes.
Where Can I Buy Oxtail?
The Grain Bin Butchery & Market can special order oxtail for you. Minimum amounts may apply. Give us a call at 715-632-2800 to find out current oxtail prices and availability.
Are you scheduled to have a whole, half, or quarter beef processed by us? Our custom meat processing customers have the option of selecting oxtail on their beef cut sheet.
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