Buffalo Shanks is the shank (or leg) portion of a steer or heifer. In Britain the corresponding cuts of beef are the shin (the foreshank), and the leg (the hindshank). Due to the constant use of this muscle by the animal it tends to be tough, dry, and sinewy, so is best when cooked for a long time in moist heat. It is an ideal cut to use for beef bourguignon. As it is very lean, it is widely used to prepare very low-fat ground beef. It is very cheap and a low-cost ingredient for beef stock. Beef shank is a common ingredient in.