March 24, 2026

9 Cuts of Lamb Defined

Cutting an American lamb shank on a wooden cutting board

There isn’t an official number, because it depends on how detailed the breakdown is (retail vs. butcher-level vs. culinary classification).

However, lamb is generally divided into 9 cuts in standard butchery:

Cuts of Lamb

  1. Leg – Lean and tender; often roasted whole (leg of lamb).
  2. Loin – Very tender; includes loin chops and tenderloin.
  3. Rack – The classic “rack of lamb”; can be cut into rib chops.
  4. Shoulder – Flavorful, slightly tougher; great for slow cooking.
  5. Breast – Fatty and flavorful; used for stuffing or slow roasting.
  6. Shank – Lower leg portion; ideal for braising.
  7. Neck – Rich and meaty; good for stews.
  8. Flank – Thin and fatty; often ground or rolled.
  9. Foreshank – Upper portion of the front shank (sometimes grouped with shank).

Did you know?

When broken down further (into chops, roasts, steaks, ground lamb, etc.), lamb can yield 20–30+ named retail cuts.

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