Denver steak

Beef · Chuck
TenderloinRoundBottom SirloinRibPlateChuckShort LoinBrisketFlankSirloinShankShank

An 'innovation cut' identified by the US Beef Checkoff in 2009, sliced from the under-blade of the chuck (the serratus ventralis muscle). The fourth-most-tender muscle in the steer despite coming from a heavily-worked primal — the secret is that the muscle is well-supported by surrounding fat and connective tissue, so it stays tender. Rich beefy flavour, good marbling, considerably more affordable than ribeye. Best cooked rare to medium-rare on a hot grill or in a cast-iron pan.

Names by country

CountryNameNotes
🇺🇸United StatesDenver steakprimaryAn innovation cut popularised in the US in the 2010s; now widely available at butcher counters.
🇬🇧United KingdomDenver steak
🇲🇽MexicoDenverSometimes 'bistec Denver' on butcher counters.
🇦🇷ArgentinaDenver
🇫🇷FranceOnglet de paletteSometimes sold under this descriptive French name in Parisian butchers; the English loanword 'Denver' is also common.
🇪🇸SpainDenver
🇵🇹PortugalDenver
🇧🇷BrazilDenver
🇮🇹ItalyDenverEnglish loanword used in specialty Italian butchers; sometimes 'polpa di sottospalla'.
🇩🇪GermanyDenver-SteakSometimes 'Schaufelstück' in traditional German butchery.

Similar cuts

Flat iron steakapproximate

Both are tender chuck cuts identified by US butchers in the 2000s — flat iron is from the top blade (above the chuck), Denver is from the under-blade. Comparable in tenderness and flavour.

Aguja norteñaapproximate

Both come from the chuck primal and are prized as more affordable alternatives to ribeye; aguja norteña is the chuck eye, Denver is the under-blade.

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