Denver, CO - Over Memorial Day weekend Americans will fire up their grills and overwhelmingly select beef as their entree of choice. A new survey finds that three out of four Americans cook out on the grill to kick off the summer grilling season.
The survey, conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide, explored Americans' grilling habits and preferences. The research found that 72 percent of Americans will grill with their families on Memorial Day, an 11 percent increase over 1996. Americans love to choose beef when they fire up their grills, with 80 percent of Americans selecting beef such as T-Bone steaks and hamburgers, over the 32 percent who grill chicken. Tried and True T-Bone Tops the List
Steak enjoys first place as the most popular meat for grilling, garnering a 49 percent showing over other beef cuts. The survey confirms the increasing popularity of steaks, with 49 percent of respondents most often grilling steaks, a 10 percent increase over the 39 percent of Americans grilling steaks in 1995. Beef steak is now the most popular beef dish served at home, accounting for nearly 20 percent of all beef eaten in America's kitchens.
Tender beef steaks such as T-Bone, ribeye and sirloin steaks lead the pack as the top three steak cuts, with 59 percent of respondents selecting one of the three as their steak of choice. Americans also grill tasty and versatile filet mignon, NY strip steak, top round steak and flank steak. And when grillers serve up steaks on their barbecues, 63 percent choose to enhance a steak's delicious taste by marinating the beef before grilling. Great American Hamburger Remains A Classic
The great American hamburger continues to be the entree of choice on the grill for roughly 40 percent of Americans. Versatile in preparation and moderate in price, the survey shows 41 percent of grillers choose hamburgers as their beef entree in 1998. Today's selective consumers consider a number of factors when they choose to cook beef on the grill.
Nutrition and convenience are important considerations, with 73 percent of shoppers selecting lean or extra lean ground beef as part of their balanced diet. A total of 33 percent of consumers sometimes purchase pre-made, frozen hamburger patties.
“Whether it's steaks or hamburgers, Americans clearly love to grill beef,” says Clark Willingham, NCBA President. “And now is an especially good time to choose beef. It's a great buy and provides a delicious, nutritious meal at a price families can swallow.”
Consumers looking for a meal deal as they enter prime grilling season can expect a bargain at the meat case. Prices have remained steady throughout the year and are expected to remain at nearly the same level as last year. “Customers can expect to enjoy great buys in beef throughout the grilling season,” said Chuck Lambert NCBA Chief Economist. “Whether its steaks, beef hot-dogs or hamburgers, beef is a nutritious value at any budget.”
Memorial Day is traditionally the largest beef consumption day of the year, followed closely by Labor Day and the Fourth of July. Lambert projects Americans will eat nearly 60 million pounds of beef this Memorial Day, which is 25 percent more than the 1998 projected daily average of 47.2 million pounds.
The grilling survey was commissioned by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the national marketing and trade association for America's one million cattle farmers, ranchers and feeders. With offices in Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C., NCBA is a consumer-focused, producer-directed association representing the largest segment of the nation's food and fiber industry.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
Return to Home Page