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: hikerman on September 06, 2013, 09:07:33 PM

Title: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: hikerman on September 06, 2013, 09:07:33 PM
I ordered tri-tip from my local butcher shop. Could not order one as he said they'd go bad before he could sell them. No problem, came 5 in a package, 17 lbs. at 3.99/lb. It is graded as choice. Good price?
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: flbentrider on September 06, 2013, 09:16:26 PM
I pay $6.99/lb when I can find them.
Title: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: Pappymn on September 06, 2013, 09:18:11 PM
$6.79 at Costco.  Choice as well. You got a good price
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: hikerman on September 06, 2013, 09:21:21 PM
My butcher told me he appreciates my business and would sell it to me at the same price he pays from his packing house. We ordered them on Sat. and they were delivered today.
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: drholly on September 06, 2013, 09:21:59 PM
Hey Pappy,

Up in Fridley - headed over tomorrow - http://www.bobsproduce.com/Shop/WeeklyAd.aspx  - Page 2

Keep your fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: sliding_billy on September 06, 2013, 09:27:07 PM
That is a great price.  My two butchers both stock them regularly, and I pay between $4.50 and $5 a pound (choice) when they are on "sale."  They both charge $5.99 regular for choice.
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: hikerman on September 06, 2013, 09:38:55 PM
Oh one thing I failed to mention, they need to be trimmed. They have a fat cap, the fella said he could cut it off if I wanted, but I decided to do it myself. I actually felt a little guilty if he wasn't making any money on the deal. I can't wait to cook my first one....
Title: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: Pappymn on September 06, 2013, 10:07:54 PM

Oh one thing I failed to mention, they need to be trimmed. They have a fat cap, the fella said he could cut it off if I wanted, but I decided to do it myself. I actually felt a little guilty if he wasn't making any money on the deal. I can't wait to cook my first one....

Mine come trimmed. Would be curious how much you end up trimming off. I have never seen an untrimmed one
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: hikerman on September 06, 2013, 10:10:47 PM
Pappy, I'm going to open the bag tomorrow. I just got a new vac. sealer so I'm going to trim and seal, in the a.m. I'll post a pic or two for you.
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: pz on September 07, 2013, 12:51:18 AM
... I just got a new vac. sealer ...

You'll never regret purchasing the vacuum sealer - I have food in the freezer in FoodSaver bags that are months old, yet look as good as the day I sealed them.  In contrast, the ZipLoc bags that I formerly used for freezer storage would always result in the formation if ice crystals in the bag as well as freezer burned meat.

The FoodSaver might not be the best quality sealer on the market, and I'm almost ready to invest in something better, but it sure saved me lots of $ in what would have been ruined food.
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: muebe on September 07, 2013, 01:48:50 AM

Oh one thing I failed to mention, they need to be trimmed. They have a fat cap, the fella said he could cut it off if I wanted, but I decided to do it myself. I actually felt a little guilty if he wasn't making any money on the deal. I can't wait to cook my first one....

Mine come trimmed. Would be curious how much you end up trimming off. I have never seen an untrimmed one

We have them trimmed and untrimmed here. There is not an enormous amount of fat but it could be a 1/2 lb or up to 1 lb.

Even the trimmed ones I find here are only trimmed on the part you see from the package. You lift it up and look at the bottom to see a big layer of fat ??? Costco does not do this however.

Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: Rummm on September 07, 2013, 05:21:40 AM
I ordered tri-tip from my local butcher shop. Could not order one as he said they'd go bad before he could sell them. No problem, came 5 in a package, 17 lbs. at 3.99/lb. It is graded as choice. Good price?

Not only is that a good price, it's a GREAT price! Next time you are in the shop, take your butcher a couple hunks of the cooked Tri-Tip  :)

Just a suggestion for freezing........I like to lay the meat on a cookie tray with wax paper or foil and set in the freezer (if you have room) for about 45-60 minutes and then vacuum pak them. Not as messy  ;)
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: hikerman on September 07, 2013, 09:53:33 AM
I ordered tri-tip from my local butcher shop. Could not order one as he said they'd go bad before he could sell them. No problem, came 5 in a package, 17 lbs. at 3.99/lb. It is graded as choice. Good price?

Not only is that a good price, it's a GREAT price! Next time you are in the shop, take your butcher a couple hunks of the cooked Tri-Tip  :)

Just a suggestion for freezing........I like to lay the meat on a cookie tray with wax paper or foil and set in the freezer (if you have room) for about 45-60 minutes and then vacuum pak them. Not as messy  ;)
Thanks Rumm for the advice, and I will bring my butcher some finished product. You are right, hopefully he'll enjoy it.
After trimming the fat layer off, I ended up with 12 1/4 lbs. of lean meat. That comes out to about 4.90/lb. still a good price judging from what everyone else pays. 
A few pics since Pappy was interested.   Now to put a good rub on one and vac. seal the rest.
Thank you everyone for your advice!  ;D




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Title: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: Pappymn on September 07, 2013, 10:02:49 AM
Thank you sir!
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: hikerman on September 07, 2013, 11:07:36 AM
You are welcome Pappy. It didn't take too long to remove the fat cap on the 5 roasts, 'bout 10 min. each. I kept the fat and vac. sealed it as well, to try Old Daves recipe for white burger meat.
Title: Re: Is This A Fair Price?
Post by: TentHunteR on September 13, 2013, 11:09:54 AM
$3.99/lb seems like a great price to me.

Around here, when I can find it, Tri-tip is going for around $6.99 - 7.99/lb.  :o