Picanha is a cut of beef taken from the top of the rump. You might also know it as a rump cover, rump cap, sirloin cap or even culotte steak.
It is triangular in shape and surrounded by a thick layer of fat called a fat cap. Because it is not an overused muscle, this cut remains beautifully tender and juicy, producing an amazing flavour when cooked.
When buying picanha, the three things to look out for are its size, fat content and excess liquid. Generally smaller cuts are best – around 2.2lb to 3.3lb in size. Anything larger is likely to contain parts of other cuts as well, including the tougher outer-thigh region that runs below the rump. A good picanha will never be too big. You also want at least a 1.5cm fat cap, and not too much visible liquid in the packaging.