Wagyu marbling score explained

Wagyu steak lovers must have encountered the words marbling and marbling scores before. But what exactly are they?

Marbling refers to the white flecks of fat that you can see on a rib eye, for example, and marbling scores are determined based the distribution and amount of these intramuscular fats on the meat cut. These scores then form the basis of the quality grades of meats. Meats with high marbling scores tend to be more flavorful, juicier, and have a more superior texture compared with those that have lower scores, so make sure you keep an eye on meats with very visible marbling. On average, high-quality kinds of wagyu beef have around 20-25% of marbling. Don’t worry if you are health-conscious because marbled fats generally lower the bad kind of cholesterol (LDL) in our bodies, so we encourage you to go ahead and indulge in that wagyu steak once in a while!

Typical marbling scores range from a low score of 4 to a very high score of 12. Only the wagyu beef from Japan has managed to achieve a 12 so far, which explains why it is one of the most highly sought-after beef cuts in the world. Note though that the quality of a lot of Australian wagyu beef fares somewhere between 9 and 10, so the quality of our meet is also way up there. The visibility of the marbled fat is also evaluated based on the following criteria: abundant, moderate, modest, small, slight traces and practically devoid.

The herd of cattle that produce the best wagyu beef and achieve almost consistently high marbling scores undergo a thorough and detailed rearing process. A lot of these cattle, particularly those in Japan, are raised in enclosed barns that limit their physical activity (which explains the accumulation of marbled fat) and also prevent them from being exposed to grazing dangers. These cattle also have strict diet regimens that change and are adapted to the stage of growth that they are in. For optimal results, these cattle are sometimes given regular massages to evenly distribute their subcutaneous fats.

Now that you’re much better informed about marbling, it’s now time to order the best wagyu beef that you can possibly have here in Sydney. Get our top-quality wagyu beef to your doorstep! It only takes a few clicks on your end and we at Korean BBQ Online will take care of the rest.