Where to Buy Beef Large Intestine: A Complete Guide

Beef large intestine, also known as beef tripe or cow stomach, is a unique and flavorful cut of meat that is widely used in many cuisines around the world. While not as commonly found as traditional cuts like steak or ground beef, large intestine can be an amazing addition to soups, stews, tacos, hot pots, and more when cooked properly. If you want to incorporate this underutilized beef cut into your recipes, you may be wondering – where can I buy beef large intestine?

In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about purchasing beef large intestine, from the different types available to the best places to buy it locally or online.

An Overview of Beef Large Intestine

Before diving into where to buy it, let’s first understand exactly what beef large intestine is.

• Beef large intestine comes from the first stomach compartment of cattle and is the inner lining of that organ. It has a very unique honeycomb-like texture that becomes tender when slowly cooked

• Also called beef tripe or cow stomach it comes in different varieties depending on which stomach compartment it comes from. The most common types are honeycomb and leaf tripe.

• Beef intestine has a very mild flavor but takes on the taste of other ingredients easily. It has a slight chewiness that gives it more texture than other cuts.

• Popular worldwide in dishes like menudo, pho, dim sum, and Korean soups. It’s valued for its texture and versatility.

• Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals but is also high in cholesterol, so eat in moderation.

Now that you know the basics of beef large intestine, let’s look at the best places to purchase it.

Purchasing Beef Large Intestine at Grocery Stores

If you want to hand select your own beef intestine, visiting a grocery store butcher is a great option. Here are some tips for buying it locally:

• Check specialty grocery stores – Ethnic grocery stores like Asian, Hispanic, or Halal markets are most likely to carry beef intestine. Even if not on display, ask the butcher.

• Find old-school butcher shops – Traditional butcher shops will have a better variety of offal than modern supermarkets. Build a relationship with the butcher to request special orders.

• Inspect for quality – Only buy intestines that are bright pink/red and have a mild smell. Reject any that are dry, brown or have an unpleasant odor.

• Ask for it to be cleaned – Beef intestine often requires cleaning before cooking. Request your butcher clean it thoroughly to save you time and hassle.

• Buy small to test it out – If new to cooking tripe, only buy 1⁄2 lb or 1lb to try it instead of buying in bulk.

While specialty grocers will have the best availability, even large supermarket chains may carry frozen or fresh packs of beef intestine. Ask at the meat counter.

Ordering Beef Intestine Online

Purchasing beef intestine online through delivery services or direct from farms allows you access tripe even if you can’t find it locally:

Online Grocery Delivery

• Instacart – Large beef intestine can be added to your Instacart order from stores that carry it in your area. Great for hard to find ingredients.

• Peapod – Like Instacart, Peapod allows you to get beef intestine delivered if sold by your local grocery stores. Availability depends on region.

• Amazon Fresh – In select cities where Amazon Fresh operates, beef intestine can be ordered along with the rest of your groceries. Stock varies.

• Specialty stores online – Many ethnic grocery stores now allow online ordering through services like Mercato. This opens up your options.

Direct from Farms

• Kmeat Box – This Korean BBQ meat delivery service sells 1lb packs of cleaned large intestine ready to cook. Ships frozen nationwide.

• Crowd Cow – On this craft meat delivery site, you can buy large intestine from individual farms when available. All beef is pasture-raised.

• Local farms – Search for cattle farms in your state that sell beef directly to consumers. Many list availability on their websites or social media.

• Farmers markets – Ask your local farmers selling meat at markets if they have any beef intestine for sale. This supports small farms.

Buying Beef Large Intestine When Dining Out

If you want a chance to sample beef intestine before committing to purchasing and preparing an entire package yourself, try ordering it at a restaurant! Here are some cuisine types where you’ll often find beef tripe on the menu:

• Korean BBQ – Beef tripe soup (gopchang guk) and grilled intestine (gopchang gui) are common menu items at Korean BBQ joints.

• Dim sum – Look for stuffed beef tripe, tripe wraps, and braised tripe dishes when dining on dim sum.

• Tacos – Menudo is a traditional Mexican tripe soup often served in tacos or as a stew with hominy.

• Pho – Vietnamese pho noodle soup frequently includes beef tendon and tripe as tasty add-in options.

• Hot pot – East Asian hot pot restaurants will have thinly sliced beef intestine as ingredient to add to the communal broth.

How to Store Beef Large Intestine

Once you’ve purchased some beef intestine, proper storage is key to preserve freshness and reduce waste. Here are some beef intestine storage tips:

• Store fresh intestine in the refrigerator in a sealed container and use within 2 days. Submerge in water if storing over 24 hours.

• For longer term, freeze intestine in an airtight freezer bag with the air pushed out or in vacuum sealed packs. Frozen, it will keep for about 3 months.

• When freezing, divide into portion sizes you’ll use to avoid thawing more than needed. About 1/2 lb works well for most recipes.

• Thaw frozen intestine in the refrigerator, not at room temperature to prevent bacterial growth. This can take 12-24 hours for full packages.

• Once thawed, use within a few days and do not refreeze any unused portions after they’ve been defrosted.

Preparing Beef Large Intestine for Cooking

Before cooking beef intestine, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned and prepped:

• Remove any attached fat, silverskin or remaining food debris first with a knife. Rinse well.

• To tenderize, blanch the intestine by simmering in water for 5-10 minutes then rinsing in cold water.

• For soups or stews, cut intestine into 1-inch chunks using kitchen shears after blanching.

• For grilling or pan frying, slice large pieces into long, thin strips after cleaning and blanching.

• Use salt, vinegar, and cornmeal to help remove any remaining slime/odor from the blanched intestine prior to cooking.

Popular Ways to Cook Beef Large Intestine

Once prepped, beef intestine can be prepared in many flavorful recipes. Some favorite cooking methods include:

• Soup – Simmer intestine chunks and slices in broth-based soups like menudo, pho, or Korean beef tripe soup (gopchang guk).

• Stew – Slow braise intestine pieces in tomato-based stews like Filipino callos or lighter ginger stews.

• Grill – Quickly sear thin strips of intestine over high heat until lightly charred and crisped. Popular in Korean cuisine.

• Braise – Slow cook intestine low and slow until ultra tender in flavorful braising liquid. Great in Mexican dishes.

• Stir fry – Add bite-size intestine slices to flavorful Asian stir fries along with other proteins and veggies.

• Deep fry – Dust intestine strips with a light coating then deep fry until crispy. Toss in sauce afterward for a snack or taco topping.

With the right preparation and cooking technique, beef intestine can become an incredibly delicious addition to many comfort food recipes. Now that you know where to source and how to cook this underutilized cut of beef, it’s time to give large intestine a try in your kitchen. Let us know your favorite ways to enjoy beef tripe!