Let's Talk BBQ
Tips, Tricks & Just Good Advice! => Good to Know! - A collection of How-To's & Sage Advice => Ask A Butcher! => Topic started by: perferd on June 07, 2013, 08:26:17 PM
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Sad to say but I have never purchased meat outside of buying prepackaged ground beef for helper or prepackaged chicken breasts. These were always purchased from the local grocery store which I dont know is either good or bad. I have looked up butcher shops near me but cant really find anything besides meat markets that sell all prepackaged meats which are either boxed up or shrink wrapped?
Is there a diff between buying meats at the meat counter of my grocery store and a true butcher shop? Is all the prepackaged stuff there the same as I would buy at the butcher shop that I pick and he wraps up in the brown paper bag?
I know I am sheltered living with 3 little girls and a wife who is a veggy lol...
Thanks
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Glad you asked!
Yes there is a difference in the meat and the service. Most times, but not always*, the meat is fresher and of a better quality.
The person owning the Mom & Pop Butcher Shop or small grocery store has a vested interest in the community and needs your loyalty to stay in business. Whereas a chain grocery is an arm of a larger conglomerate and only looking at the bottom line and ignoring quality to achieve this.
In this day and age the large majority of the poultry and meat in supermarkets has been enhanced with a saline solution of up to 20%, which supposedly adds "flavor" but also adds weight and shelf life to the product. You won't find this in your butcher shops. Super stores like Walmart and Target not only have enhanced meat, but also their product is packaged with a whiff of carbon dioxide to keep the meat looking fresher for up to three weeks or more!! Yes, that's true.
Your butcher shop will have knowledgeable personnel behind the counter vs. the large chain supermarket or box store.
* unfortunately there are exceptions and you will need to shop for yourself to see the difference
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Hey Rummm I thought it was carbon monoxide that they used to keep the meat red? Well you can tell that they do this. Just look at the bottom of the steak when you pull it out of the package. The bottom will be grey in color due to no carbon monoxide/dioxide exposure and the rest will still be red.
It is really sad the the small butcher shops are disappearing. People tend to choose convenience over quality nowadays. Now with super Wally Marts around they can go to one store for almost all their shopping needs. I still shop at Stater Bros. because they have butchers on site and will cut something for you if they do not have any out on display. I also like Costco for my meats.
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I am really lucky I live about 3 minutes from my local butcher. I pay a little more there but I get quality meat; butchered from local stock. He has the best brats, at least 12 different styles, and great bacon, delicious smoked hams, ring bologna, old fashioned bung bologna and even beef bacon. I really have no incentive to process any of my own since his is so good. Smokin Don
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Hey Rummm I thought it was carbon monoxide that they used to keep the meat red?
Correct it is carbon monoxide that keeps meat RED (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/04/dining/04curi.html?_r=0)
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I am really lucky I live about 3 minutes from my local butcher. I pay a little more there but I get quality meat; butchered from local stock. He has the best brats, at least 12 different styles, and great bacon, delicious smoked hams, ring bologna, old fashioned bung bologna and even beef bacon. I really have no incentive to process any of my own since his is so good. Smokin Don
You are a lucky man SD. I buy some stuff at a local butcher that I like a lot. But they are not price competitive on steaks, ribs, and poultry. I buy those at Costco. Butcher has great ham, brats, bacon and others
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If y'all ever pass through central Georgia around the Macon area, specifically Byron and Warner Robbins, check with Jaxon because he has the BEST local butcher shop I have ever seen. It would be worth the side trip time to visit it and buy some quality meat. Dee
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If y'all ever pass through central Georgia around the Macon area, specifically Byron and Warner Robbins, check with Jaxon because he has the BEST local butcher shop I have ever seen. It would be worth the side trip time to visit it and buy some quality meat. Dee
Saw dust on the floor?
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Yep. It helps soak of the blood so y'all don't slip, fall, and sue. Dee