What Is the Difference Between Lamb Chops and Leg of Lamb?

The most popular cut of lamb meat on the market is the ever-iconic lamb chop. It’s classically known as being a decadent cut, usually served alongside roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. Leg of lamb, while just as delicious, isn’t used as often in lamb dishes due to its large and intimidating size. When slow-roasted, it’s easily one the most tender and juiciest cuts of meat you can get your hands on. Because they’re both so delicious, here are a few differences between lamb chops and leg of lamb to help you decide which cut is best for your next lamb dish.

What Is a Leg of Lamb?

Most obviously, a leg of lamb is just the leg of a lamb. However, when taking a closer look, there’s much more to it than that. Leg of lamb usually comes with a layer of fat surrounding it, trapping in all the delicious flavors you add to it and preventing the meat from drying out. Broiling at the end of the slow roasting process creates a crispy layer of fat that not only makes the cut look beautiful but also tastes amazing. In addition, you can get a leg of lamb deboned and butterflied to remove the excess fat, taking away some of the gamey flavors and making it more manageable for cooking.

What Is a Lamb Chop?

Lamb chops are a little more complex when it comes to explaining the cut. Essentially, a lamb chop is an angled cut along the lamb’s spine, and the bone you see sticking out is part of the rib. Sometimes, you’ll see pieces of vertebrae on the other end of the cut. These cuts can come from different parts of the lamb, such as the loin, shoulder, or rib. They are tender because of a generally even distribution of fat, making them easier to cook and manage.

Which Should You Choose?

When deciding which cut to choose, it all boils down to what you feel like you can handle. Ultimately, you can make leg of lamb more manageable, but it requires more time and effort. If you’re looking for a quick and easy cut of lamb to prepare, then lamb chops are your best option.

Knowing the differences between lamb chops and leg of lamb may not seem important at first glance, but it can help you choose the right cut to impress any dinner guest. Now that you’re a lamb expert, Vincent’s Meat Market offers leg of lamb for sale online, along with cooking instructions so you can make the perfect meal wherever you are.