Related: Buy the Holy Grail Steaks ultimate Wagyu experience to enjoy at home. Arby's customers can order a burger made with American Wagyu beef for $5.99 or $6.99 for the Bacon Ranch version. This little known plugin reveals the answer. Steak fans know the best cuts of beef. A wagyu blend burger topped with American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, and burger sauce on a toasted buttery brioche bun. So American ranchers had to breed and raise with the genetic lines already introduced to America. This means the high fat content famous in wagyu beef cannot exist within wagyu beef burgers. Or, of course, if you went to Japan. Although the breeding and ranching techniques for Wagyu cattle originated in the Kobe region of Japan, only the meat from cattle raised in this geographic area can accurately be called Kobe beef. Even if you have a plain wagyu beef burger, the inclusion of the bun will only add unnecessary blandness to the palate, making the wagyu taste less prevalent. Another thing to consider is that the maximum allowable amount of fat in ground beef is capped at 30%, and even thats considered above the reasonable limit for the meat used in a burger. While a wagyu burger may sound like the epitome of lavish eating, you have to be sure that youre getting the real thing when you go out and buy one. Wagyu burgers are a real thing, albeit rare. Many go light on the toppings and seasonings as to not mask any delicious, natural Wagyu flavors. Lower grades, from lowest to highest, include Canner, Cutter, Utility, Commercial, and Standard. If you incorporate it into your already balanced diet, it can be to your benefit, because this type of beef is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. All of this makes using wagyu for burgers a questionable decision at best, at least as far as cost-to-reward is concerned. In order to qualify, it has to come from one of four breeds: black, brown (usually called red), shorthorn, and polled (or hornless). Simply put, Wagyu means Japanese cow, But the straightforward definition belies a subject riddled with misinformation. Look Closely at the Steak. Set Descending Direction. Im going to take a look at what goes into making a wagyu burger, and in essence what is wagyu burger. are trademarks of The Wagyu Shop. A Wagyu burger is a burger that is made with Wagyu beef. The brioche bun was warm and soft. 2 pounds (907g) freshly ground "wagyu" beef, formed into four 5-inch patties, Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, Vegetable or other neutral oil, for cooking. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Unlike the cows in Japan that were carefully kept apart to make sure the bloodlines stayed the same, the wagyu in the States were crossbred with angus cattle. The Japanese beef is widely considered the creme de la creme when it comes to all things bovine, with the highest grades costing up to $200 per pound, according to Business Insider. The meat from these cows is noted for its intense flavor and tender texture. Costco currently sells a variety of offerings , ranging from a 24-pack of Wagyu Beef Craft Burgers priced at $109.99 to a 12-pound A5 Japanese Wagyu Boneless Ribeye Roast available for $899.99. (Sometimes people refer to these crosses as Wangus!) Despite all this, the topic is rife with confusion, at least partly because of unscrupulous operators who want to jack up the price of the steak you're eating. George Owen, executive director of the American Wagyu Association, told Food & Wine that most full-breed wagyu is used for breeding because there are so few of them. There's Yonezawagyu from Yamagata Prefecture, Hitachigyu from Ibaraki Prefecture, Kazusa from Chiba Prefecture, Miyazakigyu from Miyazaki Prefecture, Kumamoto Akaushi from Kumamoto Prefecture, and others. This type of beef features a distinct appearance due to the intricate fat marbling, which looks like thin white webs or veins across the entire piece. Kobe wagyu that doesn't say "from Japan" isn't actually Kobe. The manner in which the cows are raised, and the feed that they consume, will determine the graded quality of the beef from each animal. The distinctive thing about Wagyu meat is how well-marbled it is, meaning the fat is evenly and generously distributed. It's probably not worth going out of your way to make a wagyu burger, since it's not at all clear a superior burger will be the result. By Cecily McAndrews Updated on April 3, 2023 Fact checked by Haley Mades A common misconception about Wagyu burgers is that they are the same as Kobe burgers. Costco's A5 Japanese Wagyu New York Strip Steak isn't the only wagyu beef product you can pick up from the big-box retailer. Sirloin (sroin in Japanese) is popular as a steak, while rib roast (ribursu) is popular in the Japanese fondue called shabu-shabu. From the outside, this question may seem like a relatively simple one. As well as this, due to wagyus divine flavors, it is recommended to resist being heavy-handed with the seasonings to avoid masking the taste. Its an extremely fascinating but confusing world, says Joe Heitzeberg, the co-founder and CEO of Crowd Cow. The Japanese stuff is almost like a light beer experience. Arby's version weighs in at 6.4 ounces and is a 52% blend of American Wagyu and 48% ground beef that is cooked "sous vide style" to create a juicy and tender burger. Ground beef should have an internal temperature of 160F ( 71C ) as recommended by the USDA. Read on for insight into how Wagyu beef burgers are made. Real wagyu is rated by multiple strict systems in Japan. Starting at $10.10 ea. When you have very high-end Wagyu, you barely want to cook it. So, what is a wagyu burger? This is baby-making fare and child support isn't cheap. They get a high-energy diet and have plenty of safe space so they don't burn fat and develop too many muscles. Weve gathered some of the foremost experts in restaurant industry to explain. Crowd Cow has branched out a little more than that these days, become one of the top importers of A5 in America, selling a wide variety of cuts and different breeds from around Japan. We wrote a blog post on the distinction. New York City (212 Steakhouse), Dallas (Nick & Sam's Steakhouse), Las Vegas (Wolfgang Puck), and Los Angeles (Shibumi) are a few of the cities where you can find restaurants that sell Kobe beef. Cows who dont get along are separated (because whats more stressful than grazing next to your nemesis?). Inquiring about these details can help to determine whether the Wagyu beef you're considering is the real thing. Wagyu typically has an A4 or A5 (A5 being the highest), according to Robb Report. It's hard to verify if a steak is truly Wagyu, and it commands a high pricewhich means the label attracts some shady operators. The fat shows as little dots of white distributed throughout the muscle. All true Kobe beef is born, raised, and slaughtered in Hyogo Prefecture before being graded according to strict regulations. It's more than taste, too. The ground wagyu wasn't bad by any means, but it wasn't special in a way that would justify its higher price tag. Hi there, I'm Angela! If you don't have a cast-iron skillet, try to pick out a skillet or frying pan that is heavy-bottomed as it will disperse your heat best. These cattle are known for their intense marbling. Robb Report notes that there are only 32 restaurants in America certified to sell Kobe beef. Its still likely to have better marbling than cattle that isnt crossbred with Wagyu though. Just like how some countries classify wine and cheese by region, Japan differentiates its beef by region and there are many types with slightly different regulations, according to Japan's governmental travel resource. Even the fattiest of ground beef that is typically used in burgers is around 25%. Youll also want to be sure that youcook your burgerto the point that its medium rare, as cooking it until its well done will eliminate many of the best flavors in the meat. That's not to say the domestic rating system is bad. Experienced cooks often recommend medium to medium-high temperatures at the most. Now, this was hardly a comprehensive survey of all ground wagyu out there put up against a range of other beef patty blendsit's merely a single data point. Instead, those burgers will mainly consist of the ground trimmings from Wagyu steaks. If so, then you can purchase Wagyu ground beef or patties around $15 $18/lb from CrowdCow.com. Cooking Wagyu burgers might be an adjustment for a lot of burger grillers as its best to cook it medium-rare, resulting in faster cooking times. Nan Sato, chief sommelier of Wagyu Sommelier, says, "In reality, you rarely use real wagyu meat in burgers. Rich and delicious Wagyu burgers are a wonderful dinner the whole family will enjoy! The meat is well-marbled and very juicy, making it perfect for burgers, meatloaf, and other dishes where ground beef is typically used. Im going to explore what separates a real wagyu burger from a fake one and also answer a few burning questions that people tend to have about these burgers. These make up 90 percent of Japans herd, while the remainder are red strains of Kochi and Kumamoto. Youve likely heard of A5 wagyu beef, which is widely considered to be the best in the world, but have you ever heard of a burger made out of it? The name recognition is undeniable, however, and it seems to appear on menus across the United States. Recipes for grilling Wagyu burgers often recommend that they be cooked for about five or six minutes per side in most cases. In the days when fake Kobe beef and wagyu were being routinely passed off as the real thing, rumors swirled about why the meat was so special. Heitzeberg, who admits it wasnt until hed spent ample time meeting with Japanese slaughterhouse owners and farmers (his minor in Japanese at the University of Washington helped) that he felt like he truly understood Wagyu. As Champagne can only come from Champagne, France, certain wagyu can only come from certain parts of Japan. This document should contain important information about the source of the beef as well as its official grade from the Japanese Meat Grading Association. The beef is graded A, B, or C based on yield ( A=72% and above, B=69% and above, and C=69% and below ). This type of beef features a distinct appearance . Again, buy from a reputable place, and ask questions. So if you're in the mood for a steak dinner, and you want a giant steak, you can't really do that with Japanese wagyu.". At worst, they're actively deceiving people, so they are not to be trusted. I also bought some ground chuck from Whole Foods ($6.49 per pound) for comparison. If you have packaged ground beef and not patties, divide the beef into 4 portions. As a native of New Orleans, cooking is second nature to me. But the fast-food chain's offerings. The shredded lettuce is a bit messy and I feel a burger on the level of Wagyu deserves a lettuce leaf. First Lights cattle are grass-fed, not grain finished. However many burgers you decide to prepare, flatten the patties out to roughly 1 inch in thickness. Not only that, wagyu beef is inherently aromatic and flavorsome, and so topping the wagyu patty with pickles, sauces, tomatoes, and a bun may cover up the distinct flavor and exquisite quality which wagyu beef is so known for. Eventually, Japan realized how prized of a breed of cattle it had created and eventually banned the export of any members of the herd, thus ensuring the very best stayed home. As a side note, the soft, squishy . There are technically many different types of regional wagyu Shutterstock Wagyu is a beef breed raised in Japan and is the same breed that produces the prized Kobe beef. Because of the god-tier wagyu of which dreams (and beef sweats) are made, the term has come to signify a quality level that much of the "wagyu" out there fails to deliver. In America, there arent such stringent rules in place, so the rating may be employed as a gimmick. Even people who only eat beef occasionally typically know some of the most famous, like rib eye, filet mignon, and New York strip steak. To get started, if you bought ground Wagyu beef, you will need to form the burger patties. (Prices vary based on location.) In fact, since authentic, prime Wagyu should not be consumed in vast quantities, a Wagyu slider might actually be the most practical route. American Wagyu is trickier. It also provides a range of important vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins. Are Arby's Wagyu Burgers fake? Using "our meat expertise," Arby's claims that this new burger is "the highest-quality burger" the fast food market has ever seen, featuring a blend of 52 percent American Wagyu (as opposed to . (Time to book a trip to Japan?). There are two components that go into that rating. Wagyu burgers are usually made from ground beef, but they can also be made from steak or roast. Just be careful who you invite over for dinner. Melted fat can also sometimes cause flame flare-ups that can char the outside of the burgers. The commonly held view is that there is little use grounding wagyu beef into burger form if you plan on sampling the desirable texture, tenderness, and flavors, however, the jury is still out. Everyone agrees that the taste is beyond good and that these burgers truly are the best ever! American crossbreeding is more of an availability issue than anything else. Once you've seen what real Wagyu beef looks like, you may be able to spot an imitation product with the naked eye. Impeccable Taste. This is because the fat holding the meat together would essentially liquify and break down the meat. Down Under, youre not getting that ultra-fatty A5 experience that pure Japanese beef will give you. Whether in a skillet, on a griddle, or on a grill, cook it hot for a good sear and flavor development. The meat is extremely tender and juicy, with a rich flavor that is often described as buttery or nutty. Place each ball of beef on the hot surface, using parchment paper over the meat, and firmly smash it straight down (use the bottom of a glass, the back of a spatula, or a smash burger press) into a thin patty. An A represents the highest meat yield, while a scrawnier cow will get a B rating. Due to the extraordinarily quality of wagyu beef, this may ensure a buttery, rich, and fantastically textured patty, surpassing all other burgers. Many high-end steakhouses and burger joints also have Wagyu beef burgers, however, their burgers contain all Wagyu beef. The grades let consumers know the quality of the meat, and the most common from lowest to highest are Select, Choice, and Prime. "The American stuff is wonderful," Joe Heitzeberg, co-founder and CEO of Crowd Cow, told Robb Report. The new menu item caught the attention of burger lovers around the world, including our reporter Seiji Nakazawa, who was desperate to try it. By Mary Squillace Photo: courtesy Holy Grail Steak Co. Wagyu beef you know, the transcendently tender, fatty, umami-rich steak has become as synonymous with luxury as caviar or black truffles..