What is Harris Teeter Rancher Beef? A Guide to Their Premium Steak Offerings

Harris Teeter supermarkets are known for their extensive meat counters and premium ranch-raised beef selections. One standout is their line of Rancher steaks sourced from small family farms and ranches. If you’ve been wondering “What is Harris Teeter Rancher beef and how is it different than other steaks?”, read on for a complete guide to understanding this high-quality beef brand.

Overview of Harris Teeter Rancher Beef

Harris Teeter partners with a select group of ranchers and farmers to provide premium beef under their Rancher brand This beef comes from cattle raised on a vegetarian diet without added hormones or antibiotics The animals are humanely raised in low-stress environments on small family ranches. Rancher beef is hand selected for quality and aged for tenderness. The result is incredibly flavorful, finely marbled steaks perfect for grilling or pan searing.

Some key facts about Harris Teeter Rancher beef

• Source cattle come from less than 1% of all U.S. ranches
• Cattle are vegetarian fed on natural forage without animal by-products
• No added hormones or antibiotics ever
• Animals humanely raised with space to roam on family ranches
• 28-35 days wet-aged for enhanced tenderness
• Hand cut and trimmed by Harris Teeter butchers

Harris Teeter Rancher beef includes premium cuts like filet mignon, ribeye, New York strip, and boneless sirloin steak. The specific breed, diet, aging, and care produces exceptionally juicy and tender steak with robust beefy flavor.

What Makes Rancher Beef Different?

There are a few key differences that set Rancher beef apart from typical grocery store beef

Small Family-Owned Ranches

Harris Teeter sources from less than 1% of U.S. cattle ranches. These are small operations committed to quality care and breeding. The animals are never subject to cramped, stressful feedlots.

Vegetarian Diet

Rancher cattle eat only a natural vegetarian diet of grass, hay, and plant-based feeds. They are never fed animal by-products. This diet enhances the flavor.

No Added Hormones or Antibiotics

Rancher beef comes from cattle that are never given hormones or routine antibiotics. This allows natural healthy development.

Hand-Selected and Trimmed

Harris Teeter butchers personally select and hand trim each Rancher steak for quality assurance. This also enhances tenderness.

Wet Aging

All Rancher beef is aged for 28-35 days. Controlled wet-aging naturally tenderizes and intensifies the beef flavor.

Traceability

Harris Teeter traces every steak back to the originating family ranch for total transparency.

So in essence, Rancher beef offers an elevated steak experience through small-farm sourcing, natural diets, artisanal butchery, and wet aging. You get restaurant-quality steak at home.

Types of Rancher Beef Steaks

Harris Teeter Rancher beef selection includes all the premium steakhouse favorites:

Filet Mignon

The lean, tender filet is cut from the center of the tenderloin. Rancher filets are incredibly succulent and buttery.

Ribeye

Cut from the rib section, the marbled ribeye is revered for its rich flavor and tender texture. A go-to grilling steak.

New York Strip

This versatile steak is cut from the beef loin. Rancher NY strips are thick-cut and packed with big, bold beefy flavor.

Sirloin

Taken from the hip, the sirloin offers a balance of tenderness and leanness. Rancher boneless sirloin is perfect for stir fries or grilling.

Flat Iron Steak

This underappreciated cut actually rivals tenderness of filet mignon when properly butchered. Rancher flat iron steaks are full of deep meaty flavor.

Tri-Tip Roast

From the bottom sirloin, tri-tip makes a wonderfully versatile roast for grilling, smoking, or roasting whole. Rancher tri-tips are very lean and robust.

So whether you want a special occasion showstopper like filet mignon or a hearty family dinner steak like flat iron, Harris Teeter has a Rancher cut to fit the bill.

Cooking Rancher Beef Steaks

Themark of a great steak is how it’s cooked. Follow these tips to showcase Rancher beef steaks at their very best:

• Let steak rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking
• Pat steaks dry before seasoning generously with salt
• For pan searing, use a very hot cast iron skillet with olive oil
• Flip steak only once during cooking
• Cook to desired doneness, about 2-4 minutes per side for medium rare
• Let steak rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing against the grain
• Top with garlic herb butter or other topping of choice

The naturally robust flavor and tenderness of Rancher steaks keep things simple. All you need is salt, pepper and high heat to achieve steakhouse quality results at home.

Why Choose Harris Teeter Rancher Beef?

When you choose Harris Teeter Rancher beef, you support small American family farms committed to humane practices and quality cattle breeding. You also enjoy steak raised entirely without hormones, antibiotics, or animal by-products. Hand selection, artisanal butchery, and wet aging result in world-class tenderness and flavor. Though Rancher beef costs more than typical grocery store steak, the exquisite eating experience makes it well worth the splurge for steak connoisseurs. Discover for yourself why Rancher beef has a reputation for being some of the best steak you can buy.