Anyone use a butcher?

[rudeguy]

Bulk beef
That's not bulk
Alternator sized
Better Nate than lever

Now that we got that out of the way....


I've been doing the Paleo Diet for a while now and I'm loving it. I was recently informed that going to a meat market (basically a butcher) would be a better way of buying meat. One chick I talked to said she pays $150/month for something like 75-100 pounds of meat. She said she gets to mix it up any way she wants (pork, beef, steak, burger). The only catch is that if she doesn't use it, she loses it.

Anyone do this? I'm spending pretty close to this already on meat and I'd love to get better selection and better cuts.

 

[BUTCH1]

Do the math, $150 for 75lbs of meat is $2/lb, what kind of quality are you getting for that price?, usually old heifers that don't produce enough milk anymore, you can cut it into steaks but you better have jowl muscles like a hyena to chew it. The most common usage is ground beef, that's what Wendy's uses, I know, I spent a day in the plant that makes Wendy's patties locally..

 

[Iron Woode]

Do the math, $150 for 75lbs of meat is $2/lb, what kind of quality are you getting for that price?, usually old heifers that don't produce enough milk anymore, you can cut it into steaks but you better have jowl muscles like a hyena to chew it. The most common usage is ground beef, that's what Wendy's uses, I know, I spent a day in the plant that makes Wendy's patties locally..

if you know how to cook meat properly, its no big deal.

 

[alkemyst]

Buying meat in bulk is definitely a great cost savings. Make sure you buy an economical freezer though. Many underestimate the costs of running one especially if it's put in a non-climate controlled room (like a garage or workshop).

I lived by a great butcher at one time and would buy there even though it was a second trip to a store each week. I wasn't saving much money buying for just two of us, but I did get much better cuts of meat. You could really tell the difference if I bought at the grocery store when they ran a big sale.

That said, not all butchers are that great. Some sell lower end meats.

 

[techs]

Butchers are for wimps. I personally slaughter my cows by choking them to death. Then I use a penknife to skin and dismember them.
Chuck Norris

 

[waggy]

always. we get 95% of our meat from the local butcher.

I order meat bundles from them all the time. We usually get a "beef bundle" witch is a mix of steaks, roast and 10lbs of hamburger. then we order a hamburger bundle witch is 50-100lbs done in 1lb bundles.

everything is flash frozen and delivered.

Buying meat in bulk is definitely a great cost savings. Make sure you buy an economical freezer though. Many underestimate the costs of running one especially if it's put in a non-climate controlled room (like a garage or workshop).

I lived by a great butcher at one time and would buy there even though it was a second trip to a store each week. I wasn't saving much money buying for just two of us, but I did get much better cuts of meat. You could really tell the difference if I bought at the grocery store when they ran a big sale.

That said, not all butchers are that great. Some sell lower end meats.

this. DO NOT put the freezer in the garage. it cost a lot extra.

I have a 7ft chest freezer in the pantry. so its right off the kitchen. also keep it as full as you can. that saves electricity.


As alky said find the right butcher. Around me are 2 great butchers. they both do great cuts and about the same price. 1 tries to be a upscale butcher shop. they have a huge counter for cheese, olives and wine. You go in they are rude and you need to hurry. But i have never had a bad cut of meet. the 2nd one is a country butcher shop. you walk in someone says hello. They are always busy but will take the time to talk with you. Also they love it when my daughters girl scout troop comes in to do cookies. The owner always buys like 10 boxes and he will give the girls snacks during the day.

I go to the 2nd one all the time. but both have outstanding cuts of meat.

also a hivie store opened near us. they actually have a good butcher department. the meat is as good and priced the same. Though every now and then they have some really good deals.

 

[HeXen]

i'm super picky about cheap meat. I can even tell when a restaurant uses cheaper grades of beef despite all the rubs, tenderizers and grilling. It actually sucks i'm so sensitive to it as that narrows down where i go. Butchers in my area sell lower end meats, they try to market it differently but i can quickly taste and feel the difference and generally don't care for it, i'd rather eat a cheeseburger from fast food simply cause you don't really taste the actual meat itself.
now if i can hide or cover up the cheap meat taste and its well tenderized, i could likely eat it fine, but most rubs and sauces i've used just can't do it.
Not that it matters, i can't afford those high ass prices even for cheap meats.

 

[webdave]

If you have any beef farms around buy a 1/4 of 1/2 a cow. Usually it is one price for the meat and all of the butchering/packaging. Stuff it all in your freezer and you'll be set for months.

 

[BUTCH1]

Buying meat in bulk is definitely a great cost savings. Make sure you buy an economical freezer though. Many underestimate the costs of running one especially if it's put in a non-climate controlled room (like a garage or workshop).

I lived by a great butcher at one time and would buy there even though it was a second trip to a store each week. I wasn't saving much money buying for just two of us, but I did get much better cuts of meat. You could really tell the difference if I bought at the grocery store when they ran a big sale.

That said, not all butchers are that great. Some sell lower end meats.

I've said this before in another thread, I'll say it again, very, very few butchers are doing "breakdown" anymore, (where a side of beef is broken down into primal cuts), they are buying the same beef from the same company's the grocers are using. That being said how it's cut and trimmed can make for a better steak and you can order something you like (say a thicker T-bone) much easier there, many grocers cut way to thin IMO which makes for a dry, tough, steak. I was a meat cutter for 9 yrs..

 

[BUTCH1]

if you know how to cook meat properly, its no big deal.

Braising is about the only thing that will work, try eating a T-bone or NY strip from a heifer, I did more than once and it's tough with a "steely" taste to it..

 

[chusteczka]

always. we get 95% of our meat from the local butcher.

I order meat bundles from them all the time. We usually get a "beef bundle" witch is a mix of steaks, roast and 10lbs of hamburger. then we order a hamburger bundle witch is 50-100lbs done in 1lb bundles.

Do those bundle witches get burned on your steaks? D:

 

[wirednuts]

ha... i live alone. the very idea of keeping a 2nd freezer full of various meat is just absurd. i would be spending $150 a month on meat and throwing $100 of it away.

but local butchers are awesome. im glad theyre still around. many get their meat from local farms that dont use hormones and shit... so i am looking forward to start doing that once i get settled in this town better.

 

[MovingTarget]

I would use one if I could find a local butcher and if my apartment had room for a deep freezer. Bulk beef is not an option.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Freezer plans are a good deal. Plus, you get real cuts of meat instead of the 'wtf is it' cut from the band saw bandits at your grocery store.

 

[waggy]

ha... i live alone. the very idea of keeping a 2nd freezer full of various meat is just absurd. i would be spending $150 a month on meat and throwing $100 of it away.

but local butchers are awesome. im glad theyre still around. many get their meat from local farms that dont use hormones and shit... so i am looking forward to start doing that once i get settled in this town better.

LOL they have small bundles. the one near me has a great one for a single guy. 14 steaks (NY strips or ribeye) and 10 lbs of hamburger. Each wrapped and flash frozen. I can't remember the price (was like $150-160 though). Frozen beef properly frozen and wrapped will last 6 months easy

and i have a hard time telling the difference between that and fresh stuff (if you allow to thaw right). it is still better then the crap they sale at most stores.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I live in a fairly rural area, so we have a real slaughterhouse locally. They actually raise their own animals and pay local farmers to bring in theirs for sale. They maintain a butcher storefront at a separate location and we buy a "freezer pack" every month or so. We save a little money over the grocery stores, but we also get to support a local business and we know exactly where our meat came from. It's nice that they will divide meat for easy thawing as well. We have them pack ground beef in 1lb cups and actual cuts (chicken breast, pork chops, steaks) in 2 packs. I still need to try their bacon. My wife said their sausage is really good, but I don't enjoy sausage.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I think there is a lack of knowledge regarding freezer plans. While the best deals are to buy a quarter or half beef and store it yourself, you can still save money over the grocery store by buying a plan and the butcher stores the meat in his freezer.

 

[waggy]

I think there is a lack of knowledge regarding freezer plans. While the best deals are to buy a quarter or half beef and store it yourself, you can still save money over the grocery store by buying a plan and the butcher stores the meat in his freezer.

hmm i haven't seen those. now that would be good.

My 7ft freezer holds a lot..but i would save more buying the larger plans. I will have to ask my butcher i fhe does that.

 

[pepperbegs]

Do butchers carry chicken fat for sale?

Its supposed to be really tasty as in frying things in it and using like butter.

 

[DrPizza]

Around here, you don't go to the butcher to save money; you go to the butcher to get better meat. Our local butcher is competitive with store prices, but much better meat. And, throughout the summer, he has pre-marinated patio steaks. They're like a big thick london broil (or something), that he puts into some sort of vacuum, tumbling marinater. He alternates between two flavors; both are awesome.

Imho, I don't like those quarter/half deals. I don't want round steaks. I don't want chuck roasts. There are a lot of cuts at the store that I simply would never purchase. Steaks? Ribeye, tbone, porterhouse, NY strip (which are all from the same part of the animal.) That's it, except perhaps 2 or 3 smaller roasts a year, plus a big 25 pound roast for beef on weck at Christmas. After that, it's hamburger.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

hmm i haven't seen those. now that would be good.

My 7ft freezer holds a lot..but i would save more buying the larger plans. I will have to ask my butcher i fhe does that.

It works like this, you're basically buying 'X' number of pounds of burger, steaks, ribs etc. The butcher keeps track of how many pounds of what cut you pick up each time you go in. He's not really butchering a half and storing the whole thing in his freezer, he's making up your order and debiting it from your plan.

 

[waggy]

Around here, you don't go to the butcher to save money; you go to the butcher to get better meat. Our local butcher is competitive with store prices, but much better meat. And, throughout the summer, he has pre-marinated patio steaks. They're like a big thick london broil (or something), that he puts into some sort of vacuum, tumbling marinater. He alternates between two flavors; both are awesome.

Imho, I don't like those quarter/half deals. I don't want round steaks. I don't want chuck roasts. There are a lot of cuts at the store that I simply would never purchase. Steaks? Ribeye, tbone, porterhouse, NY strip (which are all from the same part of the animal.) That's it, except perhaps 2 or 3 smaller roasts a year, plus a big 25 pound roast for beef on weck at Christmas. After that, it's hamburger.

the beef bundles i get have a choice of NY strip or ribeye for the cheap bundle. the expensive one has Tbone and porterhouse cuts.

both have 8-12 lb roast and a small portion of hamburger.

the larger bundle does have some "inside round steaks" that are great with making stir-fry and taco's.

the straight hamburger bundles are great. if you buy over 25 lbs its $2.99 (for 85 lean) and $3.19 (for 95 or better) a pound. the meat looks so good and taste better.

those prices are far better then any store around here.

 

[DrPizza]

That reminds me - I better get a few deer this fall to fill the freezer! Lots of hamburger from them. I was at my brother's house last night; he had been kicked out for most of a year (long story, involves a former fiance who decided that if she broke up with him, she deserved the house for being with him for a few years. Then, she filed an order of protection to keep him out.) He showed me his freezer in his basement - completely packed with things like hotdogs that he got from the venison. 40 pounds of venison, plus the pork fat & stuff the butcher added = 70 pounds of hotdogs. (And cost him a little over $200 to make those 70 pounds of hotdogs.) They're incredible though; better than anything you can purchase in a store.

But, in relation to this thread - you can go to the butcher for other services besides simply purchasing beef.

 

[waggy]

That reminds me - I better get a few deer this fall to fill the freezer! Lots of hamburger from them. I was at my brother's house last night; he had been kicked out for most of a year (long story, involves a former fiance who decided that if she broke up with him, she deserved the house for being with him for a few years. Then, she filed an order of protection to keep him out.) He showed me his freezer in his basement - completely packed with things like hotdogs that he got from the venison. 40 pounds of venison, plus the pork fat & stuff the butcher added = 70 pounds of hotdogs. (And cost him a little over $200 to make those 70 pounds of hotdogs.) They're incredible though; better than anything you can purchase in a store.

But, in relation to this thread - you can go to the butcher for other services besides simply purchasing beef.

hmm venison is great. While i don't enjoy venison steaks i do love hotdogs, jerky, sausage etc.

Growing up we would combine venison and beef hamburger. it was fucking amazing.

 

[gorobei]

the foodie craze has had some benefit for the recession realities, a lot of places are offering classes on how to process large primal cuts. once you can butcher a primal yourself the cost of meat goes way down.

but as said earlier, you need to come up with recipes for all the different cuts of meat. or get used to eating hamburger for a month.