What Is The Difference Between Chuck Roast And Chuck Steak?

When shopping at the grocery store or waiting in line for the butcher, it can be tough sometimes to understand the variations in meat just by looking at them. This can be especially true when it comes to spotting the contrasting characteristics between chuck roast and chuck steak. However, the difference simply comes down to the cut. 

Chuck is an inexpensive beef that comes from the muscle between the neck and shoulder blades of beef cattle. That's why other names for chuck roast include blade pot roast. Roasts and steaks are the most popular cuts of chuck. In a roast, the meat often includes part of the blade bone and it's cut in a cylindrical or oblong shape in which the grain runs in the same direction as the long side of the meat. 

So how exactly do you cut a chuck roast? Simple. A chuck steak is that same piece of meat but cut into one to three-inch thick slices, according to Livestrong. Measure out equal portions and use a longer chef's knife for an even edge to each slice.

Fortunately, you can make a few chuck steaks out of chuck roasts. In fact, save money by buying a chuck roast, slicing it into steaks, and freezing it. Both meat cuts are tough, so we recommend cooking them slowly, by stewing or braising. Chuck roasts do well when you cook them in liquid. If you're using a chuck steak, try cooking it as a skillet pot roast. You can brown both sides for five minutes each, then add herbs and spices, cover it tightly with a lid, and cook it in the oven for a couple of hours on low heat. Lastly, add in some root vegetables and keep cooking until they're tender.