Meat

Photo: PicLeidenschaft/iStock/Thinkstock

3 of 4
Sign #3: The Label on the Meat Doesn't Give You Any Details
When you shop for beef at the supermarket, you're probably choosing between "prime" (lots of marbling, aka fat), "choice" (somewhat less marbling) and "select" (leaner, so not as juicy). All of these grades are perfectly acceptable, provided you cook them in a suitable way. However, if you see a package of beef simply labeled "USDA graded," steer clear. This description tells you nothing about the meat's quality (and actually applies to 94 percent of beef sold in the U.S.).