Big box meat companies

[WoodChuckDad]

We buy grain from a local menonite owned mill. They also have a meat shop in the same building I pay for the grain. I have bought a 1/4 beef from them and it came out to about $8.50 lb. That was last year. They had a similar deal there a few months ago. Currently we have a couple deer and 3 goats in the freezer so I'm eating my ways thru those before I can think about buying more beef. But the beef from the Menonites was very good. Just have to eat your way across all the cuts. it was an educational experience and I enjoyed my wife's new dishes.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I was recently gifted a box of Omaha Steak products. We got steak, hamburger patties, chicken, and hot dogs. We also got 2 bottles of their seasoning. The beef seemed to be prime cuts and were really good. We just had the hot dogs a couple of nights ago, kept well in the freezer. The cuts of steak are small portions, like 4 to 5 ounces before cooking. That would be my only complaint.

We also received a Omaha Steak gift box this year as a birthday gift. It took us about 7 months to eat it all but we never had a single portion that was not simply great. Omaha gets a 'A' from us on quality. No bad cuts whatsoever.
But - as was mentioned, the price must have been very high.

 

[NorTracNY]

Am I really that spoiled in western NY? I have many farmers around me that I can purchase hogs and cows from. Some have freezers and will sell separate cuts. It's great quality too. I just don't have the room though as I take 3 deer most years. There's a place not far from me that takes in over 50,000lbs of venison/yr and turns it into about 25 different products for hunters.

 

[MattB4]

I grew up back when you could get first rate beef and not highly priced garbage like Omaha Steak sells. Stores would have 2-3 grades or more. Most folks do not know beef grades anymore and a lot of places do not tell you. The few that do label anymore think "Select" is supposed to be pretty good stuff. Heck many regular stores had different ground beef depending on the meat it came from, Chuck, Round, Sirloin or simply ground beef.

Yes there are the really high cost online sellers of Prime grade steaks and the better quality steak houses that sell Choice (one step below Prime).

And don't get me started on stringy range cattle advertised as grass fed beef to the ignorant.

 

[Jstpssng]

Chuck, Round, Sirloin or simply ground

We still get that here. I usually pay extra for the ground round as it has a lot less fat... why pay for something I'm just going to pour off into a can and toss?

 

[etpm]

In Washington state the boxed meat companies have a terrible reputation. They seem to be constantly in trouble and they go out of business quickly, only to show up again under a different name. I live on Whidbey Island but just across the water from me are more than one place to buy bulk beef and other meats. Even on the island my local grocery store, which is quite small, has bulk meat deals. I suggest looking around for local meat suppliers for bulk meat deals. When I was a kid we used to buy 1/2 cows and would sometimes need to drive quite a distance to get the meat. But the cost savings was worth it and the meat was way better than the stuff from the supermarket. I have been grinding all the ground meat we consume since 1981 and even the cheapest cut of meat from the "used meat" bin tastes better ground than the stuff the stores sell.
Eric

 

[dodge man]

I’ve had Omaha steaks before, they were always good but it’s been a while. Like someone said know your grades. Select is the lowest, then choice then prime. I’ve actually got some of the best steaks at our Walmart. The choice fillets are usually really good, expensive at $18 to $20 but we will split one.

 

[kenmac]

I have never ordered any meats online. Was to afraid of getting burned. Having said that, I haven't bought any beef from the grocery store since I added cattle to my farm about 6 yrs ago . I raise my own and haul it to the processor

 

[paulsharvey]

Has anyone had good luck with the online meat companies who deliver to your door in bulk ?
A couple years ago we got 500.00 or more worth of meats from Back Yard Butchers when they were touring the Tractor Supply lots in our area... Long story short.. It all went in the dumpster.. it was absolutely awful.
I have started seeing another company advertising on TV now for meat delivery.. Don't want to get burned again.. But we are trying to get a stockpile for the winter when we are in our RV for a couple months.

I have used Barn2Door to order, and pick up from a local beef farm. Barn2Door just handles the website and transactions, but you pick up directly from them. Honestly, their box deals aren't that fantastic; but we did the 60# of ground beef a couple times, and liked the beef. I did also do the 1/8th cow, and was less happy. You end up with things you wouldn't typically buy or use;

 

[paulsharvey]

One note, the guys ive ordered from; which I like, but others may not; burger meat comes in 2# rolls, which is about right for us, but not for 2 people; and its pretty darn lean. Its also not cheap, even with some volume discount, $6.60/lbs.

Also, Barn2Door, one farm might be awesome, another trash, its independent sellers, using them for payments and some very minor advertising. With that, I think, you might save a bit by on the 2nd or 3rd order, calling them direct and cutting out Barn2Door, and whatever their take of the sale is? Probably 10%?