# Anyone Like Mutton Better Than Lamb **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575 "2015-07-30T13:27:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/1 "2015-07-30T13:27:29Z")
I love the taste of lamb but really hate mutton. Something about it I can’t stand. Seems everyone I have known perfers lamb to mutton. For what it’s worth, I like veal better than beef too. I was wondering if anyone here actually like mutton more than lamb. [oops wrong forum, I’ll ask a mod to move it] ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/2 "2015-07-30T14:19:33Z")
I had hoped this was about dating. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/3 "2015-07-30T14:21:50Z")
It depends on the preparation. As a roast or chop lamb is better but the stronger taste of mutton is good in a curry. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/4 "2015-07-30T15:17:35Z")
I haven’t had mutton often enough to say for sure; and it’s rendered complicated by folks telling me that the mutton I’ve had (e.g., Keens Steakhouse in Manhattan) isn’t really. But within the limits of those disclaimers, I’ve enjoyed mutton better, although I live lamb quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Richey84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Richey84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richey84)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/5 "2015-07-30T15:37:42Z")
I had a mutton chili once that was delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten it otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/6 "2015-07-30T15:40:47Z")
Mutton seems to work in highly seasoned dishes. I’ve never had a piece of simple mutton roast or a chop so I can’t really say how it would taste all by itself. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/7 "2015-07-30T15:50:39Z")
Mutton’s rather hard to find in my neck of the woods (Midwest US). I’d really like to try it, but I hold out for a decent cut, since I’m told the bits that are available locally (less than choice animals, cuts long frozen, etc) are not so tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/8 "2015-07-30T18:21:52Z")
I had mutton in Africa, where it’s very common. Didn’t like it, as it had a strong (and unpleasant, to me) flavor and was very fatty. I like lamb, particularly the stuff from NZ and Aus. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/9 "2015-07-30T20:45:56Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Mutton’s rather hard to find in my neck of the woods (Midwest US). I’d really like to try it, but I hold out for a decent cut, since I’m told the bits that are available locally (less than choice animals, cuts long frozen, etc) are not so tasty. Same problem here! I’ve tried to find it to see what it’s like, and have come up stymied. I may never know! ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/10 "2015-07-30T20:56:05Z")
Mutton’s quite hard to come by in the UK too - though I’ve seen it sold in supermarkets’ Halal sections I think. I used to think even lamb had too much of that funny ‘dead meat’ taste about it; but now I love it, and embrace the odd bit of mutton or goat when I can. Prince Charles has been an outspoken advocate of mutton in the past, though he does speak out about a lot of stuff… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/11 "2015-07-30T21:12:23Z")
I’m not sure I’ve ever had anything that would qualify as mutton. I think I’d like it quite a bit, as I enjoy “strongly” flavored meat. Absolutely love goat and lamb when I can get it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/12 "2015-07-30T21:58:53Z")
I used to have mutton quite a lot when I lived in New Zealand. I liked it well enough, but like lamb better. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/13 "2015-07-30T23:07:45Z")
I strongly believe that someone paid their university tuition my freshman and sophmore years with a herd of sheep. We had mutton three times a week or more in the student caf. It wasn’t awful, but not my favorite either. I’m used to stronger tasting meat as I come from a family of hunters, but while strong, mutton’s flavor isn’t really gamey. After two years of such a plethora of mutton, I’d be perfectly happy to never eat it again. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/14 "2015-07-30T23:55:10Z")
The story has always been that, in the US, our soldiers who served in WWII in the South Pacific had mutton and learned to hate it. I’ve never seen it In Akron OH. the last 45 years but admit I don’t shop in markets that might carry it. Most upscale restaurants in the US now serve lamb from the Western US rather than New Zealand or Australia. I think it’s better in the cuts I’ve had. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/15 "2015-07-31T02:19:07Z")
Former sheepherder here. If the female didn’t give a lamb in the spring. She was our dinner. We cooked it in a dutch oven. Outside. The smell, when it is cooking, is not pleasant. But the flavor is excellent! Would have liked to eat lamb. I hear it is good. But they went to market. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/16 "2015-07-31T04:35:38Z")
Since I’m passing by, I’ve moved this thread to CS. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/17 "2015-07-31T04:36:18Z")
What, exactly, is the difference between veal and mutton? I thought they both meant the meat of an adult sheep, as opposed to lamb, the meat of a baby sheep. Someone fight my iggorance here, before I have to do the unthinkable and go Google That For Myself. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/18 "2015-07-31T04:52:53Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > What, exactly, is the difference between veal and mutton? Veal is baby beef. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/19 "2015-07-31T05:09:14Z")
> [@Carryon](#): > > I was wondering if anyone here actually like mutton more than lamb. [Silly Sally](http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activity/silly-sally.html) does. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575/20 "2015-07-31T05:46:55Z")
For what it’s worth, many Indians use ‘mutton’ to mean goat, and ‘lamb’ to mean sheep. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-like-mutton-better-than-lamb/726575.md?page=2)