What is topside beef?

Beef topside is an economical yet flavoursome cut from the inner thigh. Topside has a strong beefy flavour. It’s ideal for roasting and slow cooking whilst excellent eaten hot and cold.

Like silverside, topside of beef packs a lot of flavour despite being a fairly cheap cut. It’s sourced from the hindquarter of the cow, the long inner muscle of the thigh to be exact, and is very lean.

Topside beef has little fat marbling, but when purchased as large boneless joints, butchers tend to secure a thin layer of fat on one side to help with the cooking and enhance the flavour.

Due to the lack of fat, we can classify topside of beef as one of the healthier cuts of beef. And since it’s pretty affordable, it’s ideal for those of us looking for low-cost, low-calorie Sunday roasting joints!

How to cook topside beef

Topside of beef is ideal for roasting, but due to its lack of fat, it’s very important to baste the meat regularly to stop it from drying out. We recommend a long roast in the oven or slow cooker, remembering to fill the dish with a small amount of stock. If you cook in the oven, a covered dish is the best choice as, again, this will lock in moisture.

Leftover roast topside of beef makes for the perfect roast beef sandwich, so Sunday’s roast dinner is fixed and Monday’s lunch is also covered! Aside from slow-roasted topside of beef, this versatile cut can be used in a wide range of stews and casseroles.

Cooking topside beef in slow cooker

Topside is delicious when cooked in a slow cooker. Topside can also be used in dishes such as beef bourguignon, where the beef is cut into pieces and slow-cooked with stock and red wine. Apply the same rule of slow cooking with plenty of stock, vegetables and herbs in your casseroles and stews, and you’ll benefit from gloriously tender meat.

How long to cook topside beef?

Roast your topside beef at 190°C for 20 minutes per 500 grams plus an extra 20 minutes. This will give you a medium finish. For rare, cook for between 15 and 20 minutes, with 15 minutes at the end. For a well-done topside joint, cook for 25 minutes per 500 grams plus 20 minutes at the end.

How to prepare topside beef

Bring your beef joint to room temperature before cooking. It’ll take around an hour out of the fridge before cooking. Before cooking, rub the joint with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Is silverside or topside better?

Topside is generally well suited to roasting, while silverside can also be roasted but is commonly used for slow cooking and other dishes. The best choice depends on the cooking method and texture you prefer.

Topside of beef from Campbells

Buy Scotch topside of beef. It is sourced from Scotch Beef cattle raised on farms with high animal welfare standards. When you buy topside of beef online from Campbells, it’s prepared by our skilled butchers and freshly delivered to your door. Order online today for fresh, premium-grade meat from Scotland’s best online butcher.