Hanger vs Testicles — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Hanger (hanger steak) and Testicles (testicles (criadillas/Rocky Mountain Oysters)) are not the same cut: Hanger is plate primal (Hangs from the diaphragm, between the last rib and the loin); Testicles is offal primal (Removed at castration — sold as a standalone cut).
Side-by-side
| hanger | testicles | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | plate | offal |
| Muscle / location | Hangs from the diaphragm, between the last rib and the loin | Removed at castration — sold as a standalone cut |
| Character | Also called hanging tender or butcher's steak. A thick, V-shaped muscle that 'hangs' from the diaphragm — only one per animal. Extremely flavorful with a coarse grain. Distinct from skirt steak, which is the diaphragm muscle itself. | Bull testicles. Sold and prepared as a standalone cut across multiple cultures. Known as criadillas in Spain and Latin America, Rocky Mountain Oysters in the US west, and Prairie Oysters in Canada. Typically peeled, sliced, and deep-fried or grilled. |
Key differences
- Different primals: plate vs offal.
- 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
Hanger
Pick Hanger when you want its specific marbling/texture profile: Also called hanging tender or butcher's steak. A thick, V-shaped muscle that 'hangs' from the diaphragm — only one per animal. Extremely flavorful with a coarse grain. Distinct from skirt steak, which is the diaphragm muscle itself.
Testicles
Pick Testicles when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: Bull testicles. Sold and prepared as a standalone cut across multiple cultures. Known as criadillas in Spain and Latin America, Rocky Mountain Oysters in the US west, and Prairie Oysters in Canada. Typically peeled, sliced, and deep-fried or grilled.
Hanger and Testicles are different canonical muscles/primals: Hanger is plate (Hangs from the diaphragm, between the last rib and the loin); Testicles is offal (Removed at castration — sold as a standalone cut).
Choose based on tenderness, marbling, grain direction, and how you plan to cook (sear vs braise vs slice thin).
Read the full guides: hanger (what-is) · testicles (what-is) · hanger hub · testicles hub