But grilling meat at home is worth the extra effort, because – not to mention overpriced. Grilling meat doesn't typically involve a whole lot of ingredients. Oil, salt, and pepper play supporting roles, but it's clear that the star of the show is the meat itself, so it's crucial that you choose a quality steak.

That's why I talked to chef Pete Geoghegan, culinary director for Cargill Protein, one of North America's largest beef processors, to find out just how to pick the best steak at the grocery store. With a few basic pointers, you'll be walking through the meat aisle with the swagger of a seasoned steak specialist — or, at the very least, having more confidence when it comes to shopping for the best steak. Know your cuts From flank steak to filet mignon, the meat section at the grocery store is full of different cuts, each one with unique flavors, applications, and grilling properties.

If you're planning on grilling meat often, it helps to know . Skirt steak, for instance, is lean and usually has a lot of connective tissue, meaning it can be tougher, but it's super flavorful and lends itself to tenderizing marinades. So if you're making a flavorful steak dish like carne asada, skirt steak may be a great pick.

Middle meats include popular cuts like strips, T-bones, and ribeyes, which are more tender and fatty and don't need as much care and attention as some of the leaner cuts. Ask your butcher As you probably know, there are a lot of factors to keep in mind when it co.