Where Does LongHorn Steakhouse Get Its Steaks?
USDA Choice beef from grain finished cattle, delivered fresh and never frozen. LongHorn does not name its ranches, but its parent company buys through large national meat suppliers.
So there is no single LongHorn ranch. The chain buys to a set grade and specification, and each restaurant cooks from there.
What grade of beef does LongHorn use?
USDA Choice. That is the second highest of the main USDA grades, below Prime and above Select, and it is the standard grade for most casual steakhouse chains. Choice beef has good marbling, the fine streaks of fat that keep a steak juicy and flavorful as it cooks.
| USDA grade | What it means | Where you usually find it |
|---|---|---|
| Prime | The most marbling, only a small share of US beef | High end steakhouses |
| Choice | Good marbling, tender and juicy | LongHorn and most casual steakhouses |
| Select | Leaner, less forgiving if overcooked | Budget cuts and grocery stores |
Is LongHorn beef grass fed?
Not in the way the label is usually meant. LongHorn uses grain finished beef, which means the cattle spend the early part of their lives grazing on grass and are then fed grain for the final months. That last stage builds the marbling that Choice steaks are known for. Fully grass fed beef is leaner and has a different, more mineral flavor, and it is not what LongHorn serves.
Are LongHorn steaks fresh or frozen?
Fresh. LongHorn says its steaks are never frozen, and Flo’s Filet in particular is sold on that promise. Fresh steak holds its moisture better on the grill, which is one reason the chain can compete with more expensive steakhouses on texture.
The grill masters
LongHorn puts a lot of weight on who cooks the steak. Every restaurant has trained grill masters, and the company runs a yearly contest called the Steak Master Series to find the best one.
| Steak Master Series | Details |
|---|---|
| Who enters | Nearly 3,000 LongHorn grill staff each year |
| Format | Four rounds of head to head grilling plus written tests |
| Preparation | A study guide only, with no advance notice of what they will cook |
| Prize | 15,000 dollars and the title of Steak Master Champion |
How LongHorn seasons its steaks
Steaks are seasoned before grilling, and you can ask for a different blend. LongHorn’s bold, peppery seasoning is often called Prairie Dust, and there is a milder, herbier grill seasoning as well. If you want the beef to speak for itself, ask for just salt and pepper, or ask for it lightly seasoned to cut the sodium.
How to pick a cut and doneness, plus current steak prices and calories, is on the LongHorn Steakhouse menu. How the chain got its name is in why is it called LongHorn Steakhouse.
Related Questions
Where does LongHorn Steakhouse get its steaks?
LongHorn does not name its ranches. Its parent company, Darden Restaurants, buys USDA Choice beef in bulk through national meat suppliers, and in 2015 it named Sysco’s specialty meat business as a supplier.
What grade of beef does LongHorn use?
USDA Choice, from grain finished cattle. Choice is the grade below Prime and above Select and has good marbling, which keeps steaks juicy on the grill.
Are LongHorn steaks ever frozen?
No. LongHorn says its steaks are fresh and never frozen. That applies to the steaks, not necessarily to every other item on the menu.
Does LongHorn use grass fed beef?
No. The cattle graze on grass early in life but are grain finished, which means fed grain in the final months to build marbling. LongHorn does not sell fully grass fed steaks.
What seasoning does LongHorn use on steaks?
A bold, peppery blend often called Prairie Dust, with a milder grill seasoning also available. You can ask for either, or for just salt and pepper.
What is the LongHorn Steak Master Series?
An annual contest for LongHorn grill staff. Nearly 3,000 enter each year, competing in four rounds of grilling plus written tests, and the winner takes home 15,000 dollars.
More on LongHorn
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with LongHorn Steakhouse or Darden Restaurants. Beef and supplier details come from company statements and published reporting and may change. Current prices are on the LongHorn Steakhouse menu.
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