In US butchery, the plate of beef (also known as the short plate) is a forequarter cut from the belly of the cow, just below the rib cut. It is typically a cheap, tough and fatty meat. In UK butchery, this cut is considered part of the brisket.[1][2][3]

It is used for two kinds of steak: skirt steak, used for fajitas, and the hanger steak.

The beef navel is the ventral part of the plate, and is commonly used to make pastrami.

The remainder is usually used for ground beef.