Highlights
1. The difference between lamb and mutton lies in the age of the animal, with lamb referring to younger sheep aged less than one year and mutton referring to adult sheep that are more than two years old.
2. Lamb is preferred in Western countries due to its mild taste and tenderness, while mutton is preferred in Middle-Eastern and far Eastern countries due to its stronger flavor and higher fat content.
3. The demand for lamb is higher in Western countries, while mutton is more popular in Middle-Eastern and far Eastern countries.
Introduction
Lamb vs Mutton
Meat of the domestic sheep is known as either mutton or lamb depending on the age of the animal. Both mutton and lamb have made it to the dining table as a delicious and expensive dish. This article will discuss the differences in age, contents, taste, and demand between lamb and mutton.
Lamb
Lamb refers to both younger sheep aged less than one year as well as their meat. In Australia, lambs raised for meat are known as prime lamb. The taste of lamb is mild due to its tenderness, making it popular in Western countries. The color of lamb meat ranges from light to dark pink, and it contains more fat. The bones in lamb are also tender in texture. There are three main kinds of lamb meat: forequarter, loin, and hindquarter. Forequarter contains more connective tissues, while loin includes the meat around the ribs. A whole lamb weighs about 5 – 8 kilograms. In Australia, there is also “old-seasoned lamb” or sucker lamb, which is about 7 months old and weighs up to 30 kilograms. However, it is not old enough to be called mutton.
Mutton
Mutton is the flesh of adult sheep of both genders (ram and ewe). The sheep should be more than two years old for its flesh to be called mutton. In the United States, mutton is known as lamb. Mutton has a stronger flavor due to the concentrated fatty acids in the muscles, making it preferred in Middle-Eastern and Far Eastern countries. The fat content in mutton is generally lower than lamb, but it varies depending on the cuts. The color of mutton meat varies within light and dark red, and the bones become stronger and whiter as the animal grows.
Comparison
Here are some key differences between lamb and mutton:
– Lamb is more expensive.
– Lamb has more names and cuts in recipes, while mutton has fewer.
– Mutton has slightly higher protein content, while lamb has slightly higher fat content.
– Lamb is more popular in Western countries, while mutton is more popular in Middle-Eastern and Far Eastern countries.
– Different food habits and classifications also contribute to the differences between mutton and lamb.
Overall, both mutton and lamb are great sources of protein and have their own unique characteristics.
