Tubes in shin of beef

[catsonahottinroof]

I've usually found Morrisons to be very good for meat, probably the best quality of all the supermarkets. However, recently bought beef shin from there for a casserole and it was full of tubes, very offputting obviously (we didn't realise until we were eating it). Does anyone know what these tubes are called? - is it a type of artery. And is there any way to avoid these tubes in future? I know braising steak is an option but not always available.

I don't know what they're called but does it matter ? I find that kind of thing off putting as well but I cut them out prior to cooking .
I tell myself that I know I'm eating an animal and it's all part and parcel .I try not be squeamish as it seems silly ,but I don't always succeed .
Turkey's are a real problem to me -something to do with the sheer size and the way they remind me of a baby!

No I agree it doesn't really matter what they're called, I'm just curious and couldn't turn up anything on search engines apart from 'femoral artery' which is unlikely given the size and location! I thought they should have been obvious from the outside before cooking, but my partner does most of the cooking and I'm not sure if he noticed - he will probably inspect more carefully before buying in future though.

Yeah they will just be blood vessels- arteries and veins. Just cut them out before or after cooking! I'm not squeamish by a long way but don't like these!

"Tubes" 😁

Veins or arteries. All animals have them.

Dead animal's veins

I use beef shin in slow cooking dishes like ragu and find that all the connective tissue bits melt into the sauce. I've never noticed tubes though.

I always call them tubes too and as soon as I see one, that's me done eating. 🤢

Yes Flooper, connective tissue, that's what I think my partner thought it was and that it would melt away. I had some in my mouth before I realised and it was inedible as so tough, you couldn't have eaten it even if you'd wanted to!

Do you eat sausages?

When this comes up I always think of Frank Skinner putting ‘meat tubes’ into Room 101 when he was a guest on its original incarnation. And that is where they belong.

@KnickerlessParsons I don't actually but see what you're getting at. I have willingly eaten faggots though.

I don't mind as much if it's all mulched up. You can't see it. It's just when the tube is there poking out, it just turns my stomach.