Difference Between Mutton and Lamb

Mutton vs Lamb

Mutton and lamb are both sheep but have significant differences. It is mainly on the basis of the age that mutton and lamb differ.

Lamb is a sheep that is under one year of age, and the meat is gotten from slaughtering sheep that are between 4 and 12 months old. The meat that is gotten from sheep that are over a year old is termed as mutton. This means that tender meat is lamb and meat from older sheep is mutton.

Mutton has a stronger flavor than lamb. Moreover, the mutton is a tougher meat when compared to the lamb. Though lamb has a firm texture, the meat is tender. Unlike lamb, mutton does not have tender flesh. Mutton also contains more firm, white fat.

Lamb comes in pink to dark red in color whereas mutton has a deep red color. Moreover, mutton contains more fat than the lamb. When compared to lamb, mutton has a small percentage of water.

Lamb is divided into three types: forequarter, loin, and hindquarter. Forequarter includes the meat from the neck, front legs, ribs up to the shoulder blade, and shoulders. Hindquarter is the meat from the hips and rear legs. Loin is the meat of the ribs. Another difference is that the lamb has pink-colored bones, and the mutton has white-colored bones. A thin skin that is white covers the lamb, and a pink-colored, thin skin covers the mutton. It can also be seen that the joint of bones in mutton is jagged while it is smooth in lamb.

Summary:

1.Lamb is a sheep that is under one year of age, and the meat is gotten from slaughtering sheep that are between 4 and 12 months old. The meat that is gotten from sheep that are over a year old is termed as mutton.
2.Mutton has a stronger flavor than lamb.
3.Lamb comes in pink to dark red in color whereas mutton has a deep red color.
4.Unlike lamb, mutton does not have tender flesh. Mutton also contains more firm, white fat.
5.Lamb has pink-colored bones, and mutton has white-colored bones. A thin skin that is white covers the lamb, and a pink-colored, thin skin covers the mutton.

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