When a mother or housewife goes to the market to buy meat, she finds dozens of options: lamb, veal, camel, chilled, fresh, frozen, ground, large cuts… Then the questions begin:
What’s best for daily cooking?
What’s the difference between ribs, shoulder, and neck?
How do I know the meat is fresh?
What’s the right quantity for my family?
This guide has been prepared specifically to be the clearest and simplest reference to help you choose the perfect meat for your family according to your needs, recipes, and budget.
To understand the right choice, you need to know the most common types of meat in Saudi Arabia:
Most commonly used in Saudi homes.
It’s characterized by:
Best breeds:
– Naimi
– Najdi
– Georgian
– Ethiopian
More tender and lighter than lamb.
Preferred by those who want:
Excellent for children’s and elderly dishes.
It’s in high demand because it:
Suitable for dishes:
Choose cuts:
Because they can handle long cooking and become tender and delicious.
Best cuts:
These cuts contain natural fats that give better flavor when grilling.
Best:
These cuts melt during slow cooking and provide rich broth.
Choose:
Because they’re tender and easy to digest.
– Slaughtered within the Kingdom
– Usually higher priced
– Very fresh
– Suitable for grills and traditional dishes
– Excellent quality when good cold chain is available
– Lower priced than local
– Varied flavors
Has not been frozen.
Better texture.
Kept between 0° and 4°.
Excellent quality and arrives with high safety.
Long shelf life.
Good for some dishes.
250–350 grams per person
300–450 grams per person
400–500 grams per person
120–200 grams
Choose cuts:
And avoid:
Best options:
Tender after cooking
Perfect for kabsa
Clean meat
Low fat
Perfect for occasions
High juiciness
Perfect for broth and saleeg
Best for grilling
Amazing tenderness after slow cooking
Famous American cut
Perfect for smoking
Best freshness stage.
Only right before cooking.
Slices – cubes – ground meat.
Food safety is more important than price.
Because you don’t know what type of cut was used.
Not necessarily. What matters is:
No—it remains beneficial if frozen properly.
What matters most is the type of cut and its quality, not just the country of origin.
Choosing the right meat for your family is not a random process. It depends on:
When you know these elements, buying meat becomes an easy and smart experience—and you ensure the best taste, quality, and health for your family.
