A Quick Guide On Navigating The World of Wagyu Beef Grading
If you’re looking to finally give Wagyu beef a try, you may have read that A5 Wagyu beef is what you should go for since it’s the best version there is. Of course, at this point, you may already know that Wagyu’s premium quality also comes at a premium price. But contrary to what many believe, tasting Wagyu does not have to cost an arm and a leg because there are different grades or levels of quality to this world-renowned meat.
Furthermore, there are many ways to prepare them, such as the highly affordable Wagyu beef don or rice bowl meal, so you can work your way up if you find its exquisite, buttery texture and delectable, mouth-melting flavour to your liking. So, to prep you for your upcoming gastronomic adventure in all things Wagyu, we break down what its grading system is all about.
An overview of the Wagyu beef grading system
The original Japanese Wagyu grading system is divided into two grade categories: yield and meat quality. Assessing yield grade entails determining the final meat ratio or proportion of meat that can be obtained from a carcass, which is then given one of three ranks: A for above average, B for average, and C for below average.
On the other hand, several attributes determine the meat quality grade of a given piece of Wagyu beef: marbling, lustre or quality of fat, brightness or meat colour, and firmness and texture. All these aspects are each graded on a scale of one to five, with five being the highest. Should any one aspect get a grade of less than five, it brings the entire rank down to the same lower level.
The one aspect that arguably gets the most attention is the Beef Marbling Score (BMS), which evaluates the distribution and amount of marbling or fat in the meat from a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the highest once again. This marbling score plays a significant role in meat quality grading since marbling gives Wagyu its signature intense flavour and buttery texture. When cooking Wagyu beef, its marbling melts and carries the flavour throughout the entire cut while maintaining its tender and juicy characteristics. As such, the higher the amount of marbling, the more sumptuous the Wagyu will be.
A combination of a Wagyu carcass’s yield and meat quality grade serves as its final certification, which leads us back to the fact that A5-certified Wagyu is the highest possible rank of Wagyu beef and the best version you can try.
Now that we know what these combinations of letters and numbers mean when it comes to Wagyu let us take a closer look at what you can expect from the highest, lowest, and middle grades.
A5, B5, C5
These are considered the crème de la crème of steaks awarded only to Wagyu beef of sublime quality. For A5 specifically, it signifies that the beef possesses extensive and evenly distributed marbling, an appealingly bright colour, and a fine and firm texture. In other words, A5 Wagyu beef is befitting its gourmet status, representing the pinnacle of juiciness, flavour, and tenderness.
A3, B3, C3
Many consider these cuts to be of great quality and “middle of the road” that serve as a good starting point for those interested in seeing what the hype around Wagyu is all about. When trying Wagyu beef in this category, you can expect a good balance of juiciness, flavour, and tenderness, which may have you wanting more of what Wagyu has to offer.
A1, B1, C1
A grade of one (or two) is given to low-quality Wagyu beef whose meat quality is deemed not up to par, whether due to a lack of sufficient marbling, substandard texture and firmness, or undesirable meat or fat colour. That said, even Wagyu beef of this grade is objectively better than normal beef thanks to the inherently superior genetics of Wagyu cattle.
Conclusion
It is important to note that there are several ways of grading Wagyu beef besides the one put out by the Japanese Meat Grading Association. For instance, if you are looking at American Wagyu, you’ll have to look at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s grading system. On the other hand, Australian Wagyu is largely governed by the Meat Standards Australia. Thus, take care to learn as much as possible about the Wagyu you are getting so you can make the best choice.
Raring to get your first bite of Wagyu? Then come on down and visit us at OMI Wagyu today! We are a renowned Melbourne Central Japanese restaurant offering premium quality Japanese cuisine done different. From our signature Wagyu bowls to our Ultimate Wagyu experience, our menu features many dishes made with top-grade Wagyu cuts with a high MBS rating that anyone can afford.