HOME > OUR FOOD > NEW ZEALAND BEEF
New Zealand grass fed beef. Taste the difference.
New Zealand produces the best beef in the world - the juiciest steak, the best brisket, the tastiest ribs. Raised with the upmost care on our sun-kissed grass, New Zealand beef is the perfect pick to nourish you and your family.
Raised in our gentle climate, with care and compassion by our farmers, New Zealand cattle are able to roam freely in the lush and nutrient-rich pastures of Aotearoa. It’s no wonder our country has a reputation for producing some of the world’s finest beef.
New Zealand beef is grass-fed, highly nutritious (packed full of Vitamin B, Omega 3 and Zinc), and full of flavour.
Backed by our Quality Mark guarantee, the beef you buy meets the highest international quality standards. It is versatile, free range, and free of artificial additives and growth hormones. Made simply from sunshine, water and care - the only ingredient is 100% beef.
Served as juicy grilled steaks, a tender roast or your own special creation, New Zealand Beef is prefect for any occasion.
If you’re a chef looking for information about New Zealand beef you can visit our Foodservice section here.
Featured Recipe
A cut above.
Naturally delicious, full flavour and fine texture
No preservatives or additives of any kind
Lean and highly nutritious
Backed by a Quality Mark assurance
COOKING
There is a reason New Zealand beef is demanded around the world; its unique taste, tender texture, and the fact that it is produced ethically.
Our beef isavailable in a wide array of cuts, each suited to different cooking techniques and recipes. However, not all beef is the same, and it doesn’t cook the same either! Grass-fed beef, like the kind that you find in New Zealand, is naturally leaner, and as a result cooks about 30% faster with most techniques. Remember:
Bring your meat up to room temperature before cooking - and prevent it from drying out.
Grass-fed meats require less cooking time - about 30% less is a good rule of thumb.
Allow steaks, chops, and roasts to rest 5-10 minutes before cutting - it keeps them nice and juicy.
NUTRITION
When it comes to choosing healthy proteins, for you and your family, lean New Zealand beef is a delicious and healthy choice for racking up your high quality protein needs. Raised predominately 12 essential nutrients required for good health including protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins.
+ PROTEIN
A 125g portion of lean beef (rump) provides 38 grams of protein, well over 1/2 of a man’s and over 3/4 of a woman's daily needs.
+ IRON
Iron is vital to good health and to mental and physical well-being. Beef is a richer source of iron than pork, chicken and fish. Iron has three key functions in the body:
- To carry oxygen around the body.
- To provide the body with energy.
- To ensure a healthy immune system.
The main type of iron in beef (haem iron) is more effectively absorbed by the body than iron in plant foods (non-haem iron). As much as 15-25% of the iron in lamb is absorbed, while as little as 5-12% of iron in plant foods is absorbed.
A 125g lean rump steak is a good source of iron, providing well over 25% of an average adult's daily requirements.
Did you know when you eat red meat together with veges, the amount of non-heme iron absorption from veges will increase.
+ ZINC
Zinc is a component of every living cell in the body. It is essential for the structure and function of over 50 enzymes. It is also important for growth and reproduction, night vision, digestion and appetite, sense of taste and smell, for maintaining the body’s immune system and for the healing process. Zinc is not widely distributed in foods, but beef does have a high zinc content. A 125g lean rump steak is a good source of zinc with over a 1/3 of an adults recommended daily intake.
+ B VITAMINS
B group vitamins regulate many chemical reactions necessary to maintain health. Some help to release energy in the body, some help to maintain good vision and healthy skin, while others are needed for the manufacture of red blood cells. Beef is a good dietary source of vitamin B12 and vitamin B3 (niacin) and a source of vitamin B6; vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B5 (panthothenic acid). New Zealand beef offers a tasty alternative to vitamin and mineral supplements.
+ FURTHER INFORMATION
For further nutritional information on each beef cut, as well as cooking instructions, visit this section of recipes.co.nz.
BEEF CUTS
Understanding methods for cooking New Zealandbeef is crucial to ensure you get the most out of your meat.
To be confident you’re buying the very best New Zealand has to offer, look for the New Zealand Beef and Lamb Quality Mark. It’s your assurance it’s New Zealand grown, free range and guaranteed tender. Beef and lamb carrying the Quality Mark has also passed the strictest standards of animal welfare and food safety. If it makes the cut, it earns the Mark. Why would you choose anything less?
Brisket
Cross Cut Blade Steak
Shin
Beef Cheeks
READY TO START COOKING?
If you’re a home-cook that is keen to get stuck into some New Zealand beef, take a look at some of our favorite beef recipes, or head over to recipes.co.nz for something specific.
New Zealand beef ticks all the boxes for what our diners are looking for. Rich in taste and texture, and flavourfully lean and tender, you – and your guests – will love naturally raised New Zealand beef. With little-to-no bone, and well-trimmed of fat and waste, there are economic advantages as well. Visit our Foodservice section to learn more.
