To avoid ending up with a filet or T-bone that tastes like a catcher's mitt, you'll need a system for knowing when the beef ...

If Trader Joe's hasn't been your go-to place for steaks, it's time to give them a try. We taste-tested and ranked five cuts ...

This cut of beef takes exceptionally well to marinades—flavor easily seeps into the grooves of its prominent muscle fibers. Flank steak is lean and not very thick, so it only requires a quick ...

or pressed into patties or burgers and cooked until pink. Thin flank steaks cut against the grain can be fried quickly and make a flavoursome minute steak.

Set a large, heavy pan over medium-high heat and coat with oil. Season steak all over with salt. Once pan is hot, lay in steak and cook until thickest part is medium-rare, about 4 minutes per side.

Look for beef that's firm to the touch ... juices that have bubbled up and makes it easier to carve. Brisket, thick flank, topside and silverside are all good cuts for braising or pot-roasting.

Bottom sirloin is chewier and leaner and can appear as tri-tip, flap steak or under the general label of "sirloin steak." Food & Wine gives you dozens of sirloin recipes from all over the world.