Picanha

What is Picanha?

Picanha is an absolute BBQ classic in Brazil and is also known in the Netherlands as staartstuk. The meat is located at the end of the flat butt, or the hindquarter, just below the tail. The rule here is: the closer to the tip, the more tender the meat. A cow can be cut into two picanhas, as a cow only has two hindquarters. In typical meat countries like the United States, Argentina, and Brazil, Picanha – or staartstuk – is perhaps the number one barbecue meat. In Europe, this meat was long undervalued, but nowadays it is fortunately highly appreciated as top-notch BBQ meat. More than deserved! Picanha/staartstuk is deliciously tender meat, fine-grained, and full of flavor. The meat has a characteristic fat cap on one side, which ensures it remains juicy and imparts a lot of flavor. Ideally, you cook Picanha well on the fat cap side. In South America, Picanha holds the status of tenderloin, but since renowned butchers – such as Ginger Pig in London – have shared their love for this meat with the world, the popularity of this steak is rapidly increasing here as well. And rightly so! Picanha is wonderful meat with a beautiful price/quality ratio! At The Butchery, you can find picanha from the finest breeds, including Black Angus USA, Wagyu, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, and Rubia Gallega.

Why the Name Picanha?

The word "picanha" originally comes from Portuguese and has its roots in the regional and ethnic language use in Brazil. It is believed that the term "picanha" may be derived from the word "picana," an old Portuguese term that refers to a piece of meat skewered and roasted over a fire. In Brazil, picanha is often roasted in a style called "churrasco," where the meat is prepared on charcoal grills. Picanha is usually seasoned with salt because the meat's flavor is already rich and juicy on its own. Since picanha is one of the most beloved cuts of beef in Brazil and the surrounding countries, its name has spread to other parts of the world and is now recognized as a premium meat choice globally.

How Many Grams of Picanha per Person?

When purchasing picanha, always keep in mind that the weight will decrease somewhat during preparation. After all, there is a nice fat cap that will partially melt during cooking. Therefore, you should account for a higher weight compared to, for example, a tournedos or kogelbiefstuk.

Picanha as a Main Course
Normal eater: 250-300 grams
Big eater: 350-400 grams
Hardcore carnivore: 400+ grams

Picanha to Share
Normal eater: 400-600 grams
Big eater: 600-800 grams
Hardcore carnivore: no share

BBQ with Various Types of Meat
Normal eater: 100 grams
Big eater: 150-200 grams
Hardcore carnivore: 250 grams

Can Picanha Be Cooked Sous Vide?

Picanha is excellent for sous-vide preparation. Sous-vide is a great technique to cook picanha evenly while retaining the meat's natural juices and flavors. With sous-vide cooking, you have ultimate control over your steak.

Check the vacuum bag in which the picanha is packaged. It can generally be cooked sous-vide in the bag we use for packaging. However, you may need to re-seal it if there is a hole in the packaging or if you want to season it before placing it in the sous-vide bath. Set the device to 52°C for rare, 54°C for medium/rare, or 56°C for medium and place the picanha in the sous-vide bath. Now you don't have to watch it for 3 hours. Sear the picanha on the BBQ or in a pan. You can also use a torch if desired. Let the picanha rest for another 10 minutes before slicing..

Picanha on the BBQ, How Long?

Picanha BBQ, picanha and BBQ are inseparably connected. Picanha cooks very well on the BBQ! But how long exactly should you allocate for this? It depends on the weight and size of your meat and, of course, the temperature of your BBQ. A core thermometer is helpful to initially bring your meat to a core temperature of 45 degrees using indirect grilling. For illustration: at a constant temperature of 130 degrees, it takes about an hour to bring a picanha of 1200 grams to the desired core temperature. After that, you can prepare the barbecue for direct grilling to sear your steak until it reaches a temperature of about 52 degrees. Be careful, as it cooks quickly over the coals.

Also, don't forget to let your picanha rest under aluminum foil for about 10 minutes after it comes off the BBQ.

Looking for a good recipe for Picanha smoked on the BBQ? Picanha smoked on the BBQ recipe can be found here!

Preparing Picanha

How do you best prepare picanha? It's relatively simple. This meat doesn't need much because, thanks to the fat cap, it remains juicy and flavorful. Score the fat cap in a crosshatch pattern and rub it in with some freshly ground black pepper to taste. You can then season the meat as you like, for example with a BBQ rub, but it's not strictly necessary. Picanha already has that typical authentic beef flavor. Whether you prepare this meat (or any other large piece of BBQ meat) on the BBQ or in a pan, a core thermometer is useful. Measuring is knowing, after all. Sear it well and then let it cook slowly (to a core temperature of about 52 degrees, depending on your desired doneness). Then let it rest, and voila, you have a divine piece of meat to share with several people. A complete recipe can be found here.

What to Eat with Picanha?

What do you eat with Picanha? Chimichurri, of course! This amazing South American salsa pairs perfectly with the authentic beef flavor of picanha. Additionally, you can serve it with, for example, hasselback potatoes and grilled vegetables. It always works well!

Buying Picanha Online

Picanha is perhaps one of the most popular cuts of the moment, especially among BBQ enthusiasts. Want to buy staartstuk online? You can do so at The Butchery from various beef breeds, including Black Angus USA, Wagyu, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Rubia Gallega, and A5 BMS12 Wagyu. We deliver from Monday to Friday between 17:00 – 22:00, and if you order before 11:00 on weekdays, you have your meat the same evening! Prefer daytime delivery? Can do, from Tuesday to Saturday we also deliver during the day. Make sure your order arrives at our place the day before delivery by 3 pm. By the way, we already have the fastest delivery option checked for you, but through the calendar, you can choose your delivery day yourself. Handy if you want to order for next week. Keep in mind that once your order is with the courier, there might very rarely be a one-day delay. But no worries, we pack your order well, and if the meat arrives completely thawed, we will neatly resolve it with you. Promised!

Picanha Quickfrozen Delivered

As mentioned above, picanha is delivered quickfrozen. How does this work exactly? We'd be happy to explain! Upon arrival from our supplier, the meat goes directly to our production department where each piece is handled by our skilled butchers. The steaks/roasts are precisely trimmed so that you don't have to cut anything at home, making them grill-ready. They are then individually vacuum-packed, labeled, and frozen in a special way within an hour. This ensures that quality is guaranteed and the nutritional values & structure are preserved. And you receive your meat frozen at home, so you can decide whether to put it back in the freezer or thaw and prepare it for consumption within a few days.

Ordering Picanha Online

Ordering picanha online is a piece of cake. Choose your favorite and the desired weight, and we ensure that your Picanha is quickfrozen – with all flavor and nutrients preserved – delivered to your home. Oh, by the way, we ship for free from 60 euros. So feel free to add to your shopping cart with products that are always handy to have in the freezer, such as homemade burgers, braadworst, chicken fillet, or a fine roast for Sunday. We offer both daytime and evening delivery, and you can choose your delivery date at checkout. You can plan the delivery time when you are sure to be home!

Oh, you might be wondering how the meat is delivered frozen to your home. As mentioned above, we take great care to freeze your meat optimally. To deliver it frozen at your desired time, we work with two couriers. Trunkrs handles our evening delivery. The packages delivered by Trunkrs are only picked up by us around 11 am and start being delivered from 5 pm. So, the packages are on the road relatively briefly. For transport, we pack your order in a cardboard box with an insulated bag and dry ice, ensuring that your meat arrives frozen at your home!

We also collaborate with Leen Menken, a courier who delivers during the day and specializes in conditioned transport. They regularly perform quality checks on temperature. With both delivery options, you can be sure that your order is delivered frozen.