Beef cheeks have recently become popular. If you’re looking for ways to step away from red meat and try new flavors, allow us to introduce you to beef cheeks. Savory smoked beef cheeks are perfect for your spring cookout. If you’re curious about this type of meat, here are five reasons why you should be smoking beef cheeks.

What Are Beef Cheeks?

Beef cheeks are the facial cheek of the cattle. They are lightweight compared to other traditional smoking meats, weighing seven ounces. Also, this meat contains a thick strip of collagen, providing its signature sticky texture. 

Five Reasons To Smoke Beef Cheeks

Beef cheeks are a tender cut of meat perfect for comfort dishes. With increasing popularity, it’s becoming easier to get a hold of this unique cut! Beef cheeks have many benefits, financial and health-wise. This cut is heavenly and a great eating experience.  

There Are Many Health Benefits

Beef cheeks are a great lightweight alternative to traditional cuts. Beef cheeks are lower in calories and fat and higher in protein than most popular steaks. Plus, they have more immune-supporting vitamins (vitamin C and B) and 200 percent more iron than traditional cuts.

Beef Cheeks Aren’t Expensive

Compared to popular steak cuts like Porterhouse, beef cheeks aren’t an expensive cut of meat. Due to their increasing popularity, beef cheeks prices are around $14 per lb. However, if you stumble across an Italian Bistro, you should expect to pay about $40 for a braised beef cheek entree. 

Beef Cheeks Have a Rich Flavor

Beef cheeks have a one-of-a-kind rich, soft, and savory flavor. It has a melt-in-your-mouth texture produced from its collagen breaking down over time. 

Beef Cheeks Don’t Take Much to Prepare

Preparing smoked beef cheeks doesn’t take much. Sometimes beef cheeks can come with tiny pieces of silver skin or membrane attached; if so, you can remove it since it’s unnecessary and can taste bitter. 

Besides removing the sliver skin or membrane, you don’t have to trim too much off the cheeks. All you need to prepare your smoked beef cheeks is your favorite beef rub and a bit of brown sugar.

There Are Many Ways to Prepare Beef Cheeks

Other than smoked beef cheeks, you can incorporate this cut into various dishes, like:

• Beef cheek ragu
• Beef cheek tacos
• Braised beef cheeks with mashed potatoes
• Beef cheeks in red wine
• Beef cheek sliders

These were five reasons why you should be smoking your beef cheeks! When looking to buy beef cheeks, you will probably need to pre-order them from your favorite butcher or online meat vendor to reserve the muscle cut.

If you’re still on the fence about beef cheeks, no worries, we have the best alternative for you! Here at Lone Mountain Wagyu, we have countless wagyu beef options at our online store. Stroll through our options and buy wagyu beef!