Petite Tender vs Shoulder Clod — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Petite Tender (petite tender (teres major)) and Shoulder Clod (shoulder clod) are not the same cut: Petite Tender is chuck primal (Teres major muscle, tucked alongside the shoulder blade); Shoulder Clod is chuck primal (Upper shoulder, above the arm and outside the blade).
Canonical entities: Petite Tender · Shoulder Clod
Side-by-side
| petite tender | shoulder clod | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | chuck | chuck |
| Muscle / location | Teres major muscle, tucked alongside the shoulder blade | Upper shoulder, above the arm and outside the blade |
| Character | A small, narrow muscle from the shoulder that resembles a miniature tenderloin in shape and tenderness. Only about 250-350g per side, making it one of the lowest-yield cuts on the animal. Extremely tender but relatively unknown outside professional kitchens. | A large, lean muscle group from the outer shoulder. Contains the flat iron (infraspinatus) and petite tender (teres major) as sub-cuts. Often sold as shoulder roast or clod steaks. |
Key differences
- Texture and slicing: compare fibrous, grain-heavy cuts vs more tender steak-style muscles based on each cut’s description.
- Retail naming diverges by country—always map through a canonical cut when translating menus or labels.
When to use each
Petite Tender
Pick Petite Tender when you want its specific marbling/texture profile: A small, narrow muscle from the shoulder that resembles a miniature tenderloin in shape and tenderness. Only about 250-350g per side, making it one of the lowest-yield cuts on the animal. Extremely tender but relatively unknown outside professional kitchens.
Shoulder Clod
Pick Shoulder Clod when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: A large, lean muscle group from the outer shoulder. Contains the flat iron (infraspinatus) and petite tender (teres major) as sub-cuts. Often sold as shoulder roast or clod steaks.
Petite Tender and Shoulder Clod are different canonical muscles/primals: Petite Tender is chuck (Teres major muscle, tucked alongside the shoulder blade); Shoulder Clod is chuck (Upper shoulder, above the arm and outside the blade).
Choose based on tenderness, marbling, grain direction, and how you plan to cook (sear vs braise vs slice thin).
Read the full guides: petite tender (what-is) · shoulder clod (what-is) · petite tender hub · shoulder clod hub