# Why isn't lamb more popular in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 23, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971 "2024-05-23T14:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [May 23, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/41 "2024-05-23T17:04:33Z")
At my supermarket my choices of lamb are leg, chops, or ground. I’d love more variety. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/42 "2024-05-23T17:15:16Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Everyone seems to go for leg of lamb, but IMO, shoulder is where it’s at - the meat is quite fatty there but that means it cooks very tender Lamb chops and rack of lamb were once more popular here in the US, easier to make a small meal from those cuts. I’ve seen lamb shoulder roasts and steaks available at times, don’t recall preparing anything from those cuts myself though. It’s popularity here has dwindled over time. Prices are often higher than beef. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/43 "2024-05-23T17:16:02Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Well, just my opinion, but lamb is gamey, greasy, smells and tastes like shit. Can’t be saved by no amount of Mint Jelly or spices. > > And in the field are noisy as Fuck. Wife raised them for years. Don’t miss them at all. It must be an acquired taste. I didn’t grow up eating it. I probably wouldn’t like lamb unless it’s heavily spiced like in a Gyro. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/44 "2024-05-23T17:19:09Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Well, just my opinion, but lamb is gamey, greasy, smells and tastes like shit. Can’t be saved by no amount of Mint Jelly or spices. Yep. Mutton is even worse. BBQing it doesn’t help, either. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/45 "2024-05-23T17:34:08Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Lamb can be gamey to the degree that it needs to be an acquired taste. When I tried lamb I could not get the taste out of my mouth for hours. No amount of mint jelly or alcoholic beverages could ever induce me to try it again. I consider it to be vile. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/46 "2024-05-23T17:45:30Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Everyone seems to go for leg of lamb, but IMO, shoulder is where it’s at - the meat is quite fatty there but that means it cooks very tender Except no one has it. [Answering expected pedantic corrections: Yes, it’s available, but you 1) Need to know where; and 2) Need to go out of your way to get it.] Around here you can get those tiny lamb legs or small rib racks from TJ’s. Lamb chops and lamb steaks are a rarity in the supermarkets. I don’t think I’ve ever _seen_ a lamb shoulder at a supermarket. But the talk about shoulders reminded me of this [vintage Sparkletts commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=budeaznVEQo). In it, the Sparkletts Water delivery guy makes friends with an old lady’s dog. 🎶 _The lady is pleasant and seems real nice_ _Leon don’t. He tried to bite me twice_ _So now I bring 'em water and two big juicy bones_ _**(Lamb shoulder)**_ 🎶 I guess lamb shoulders were more readily available in the '70s. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/47 "2024-05-23T17:56:18Z")
My mom occasionally made lamb burgers (from ground lamb) when I was a kid, and I _hated_ them. It got to be that just the smell of them cooking made me want to hurl. I didn’t eat lamb again until I was either in my late 20s or early 30s when a bf made lamb chops, and they were _delicious_. I’ve since had leg of lamb in a Middle Eastern restaurant, and it was fine. But I don’t see it often on menus, and I don’t cook a lot of meat at home, so I barely eat it anymore. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/48 "2024-05-23T18:12:29Z")
heres one reason > **[Sheep wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_wars)** > > The sheep wars, or the sheep and cattle wars, were a series of armed conflicts in the Western United States fought between sheepmen and cattlemen over grazing rights. Sheep wars occurred in many western states, though they were most common in Texas, Arizona, and the border region of Wyoming and Colorado. Generally, the cattlemen saw the sheepherders as invaders who destroyed the public grazing lands, which they had to share on a first-come, first-served basis. Between 1870 and 1920, a Cattle ranc... ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/49 "2024-05-23T18:14:42Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > My mom occasionally made lamb burgers (from ground lamb) when I was a kid, That reminds me: I have a pound of ground lamb in the freezer. I should get some keto buns and mix up some curry aioli. (There’s a red onion in the fridge that needs to be used up.) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/50 "2024-05-23T18:40:14Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > My mom occasionally made lamb burgers (from ground lamb) when I was a kid, and I _hated_ them. It got to be that just the smell of them cooking made me want to hurl. I didn’t eat lamb again until I was either in my late 20s or early 30s when a bf made lamb chops, and they were _delicious_. I once tried making shepherd’s pie with ground lamb, seeing as how lamb is the traditional meat for shepherd’s pie and all, and I did not care for it. Then last summer I went to [this restaurant](https://croninsrestaurant.com/) when I was in Ireland. Many of the Yelp reviews absolutely raved about the roast lamb shank, which is apparently the house specialty. I debated ordering it, given my past experiences with lamb, but I decided to be adventurous and try it. It was _amazing_. (And no, it didn’t require _any_ mint jelly or heavy spices). I commented that it didn’t really taste very “lamby”, which sounds funny, but what I really meant was that it didn’t have the strong gamey flavor of the lamb I’d eaten in America. So I’m going to be that guy who says “maybe you just didn’t have it prepared properly” to those who don’t like it. I think I’ve heard that the amino acids that give lamb its distinct flavor are found in the fat, so if you trim off the fat before cooking you can remove a lot “gamey” flavor. I suspect that’s why @carrps and I didn’t like ground lamb; it’s pretty much impossible to remove the fat from ground meat. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/51 "2024-05-23T18:44:58Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I once tried making shepherd’s pie with ground lamb I use the cooked lamb roast, running it through the meat grinder. > [@WildaBeast](#): > > And no, it didn’t require _any_ mint jelly or heavy spices) For me: Salt, black pepper, and rosemary. I detest mint jelly. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/52 "2024-05-23T18:46:05Z")
Poor Iamb. I think he’s a cliché now. These days nobody talks about anything but trochees, spondees, and anapests. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/53 "2024-05-23T18:48:39Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I think I’ve heard that the amino acids that give lamb its distinct flavor are found in the fat, so if you trim off the fat before cooking you can remove a lot “gamey” flavor. I suspect that’s why @carrps and I didn’t like ground lamb; it’s pretty much impossible to remove the fat from ground meat. I’d heard that, too, and that when mutton was more popular in the US, it was pretty fatty. I suspect your suspicion is correct. > [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Poor Iamb. I think he’s a cliché now. These days nobody talks about anything but trochees, spondees, and anapests. _Snort._ ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/54 "2024-05-23T19:19:05Z")
Lamb goes nicely with gravy or mustard sauce. Traditional heavily-sugared green sauces are useless on anything, and are much worse than ketchup, which at least pairs well with things like meatloaf and fries. But it is definitely more expensive than pork or beef here in Canada. Apart from steak sauce or gravy, traditional English chefs should perhaps not be in charge of the sauce. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/55 "2024-05-23T19:24:07Z")
To me, there is a huge difference in flavor between Australian/New Zealand lamb and American lamb, which has a decidedly gamey flavor. It must be what they’re fed. As for scarceness, not so much these days. It used to be you couldn’t find it unless Easter was near. Nowadays you can buy really nice lamb chops at Costco at any time. I’ve had mutton precisely once: never again. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/56 "2024-05-23T19:32:10Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Lamb chops and rack of lamb were once more popular here in the US, easier to make a small meal from those cuts. I’ve seen lamb shoulder roasts and steaks available at times, don’t recall preparing anything from those cuts myself though. It’s popularity here has dwindled over time. Prices are often higher than beef. When I was a kid in the late '50s and early '60s, we had lamb chops all the time. My parents did not tend to buy expensive cuts. I suspect the price is a lot of it. I live lamb myself, so does my wife. But now it is too expensive to be part of our regular meal rotation. We won half a lamb, cut up, at a charity auction once. It was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/57 "2024-05-23T19:49:25Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Wool is an amazing natural fibre and has some amazing properties and insulating performance when wet, but it’s not always as comfortable as cotton for garments that will be in contact with the skin. And also, wool shrinks if you wash it too vigorously or dry it with high heat. Your new sweater is now a Barbie sweater and your blanket is a felt potholder. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/58 "2024-05-23T20:33:36Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > When I was a kid in the late '50s and early '60s, we had lamb chops all the time. I had meningitis when I was an infant. While recovering, the doctor said I should eat lamb chops. I recall nothing of it, but my older sister told me once that she was jealous. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/59 "2024-05-23T21:02:21Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > To me, there is a huge difference in flavor between Australian/New Zealand lamb and American lamb, which has a decidedly gamey flavor. I wonder if that was at least part of the difference with the lamb I ate in Ireland as well. I assume it was probably raised in Ireland or the UK, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they fed them a different diet there, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971/60 "2024-05-23T21:04:12Z")
I’m willing to bet that their lambs are grass fed, as opposed to corn fed American ones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-lamb-more-popular-in-the-us/1001971.md?page=4)