Butchers vs Supermarket

Mids_Costcutter

We're lucky to have a good butcher in our town and although not cheaper the quality is noticeably better. Buying fatty tasteless minced beef from a supermarket is a false economy! The butcher will happily order in any meat or poultry that he doesn't have in stock in a couple of days - do any supermarkets provide such a service?

Another advantage of using your local butcher is that it will drastically reduce the amount of waste packaging you throw away: in supermarkets everything seems to be packed in rigid plastic trays and covered in cellophane. From the butcher it's just a small polythene bag: no more than is needed.

soba

boliston wrote: »

Most butchers seem to be closed in the evening when I do my weekly food shop.

Well, of course they are! Most butchers have a very early start and tend to be 'one man bands'. After 10 hours standing in a shop they're ready for home. Remember they probably don't get a dinner break just a snatched cup of tea between serving customers. And yes, I did used to work in a butchers......

Finefoot

I much prefer to buy meat from the local butcher. Unfortunately we only have one now, in the corner of the pie shop.
He trims and cuts the meat exactly how I want it, and keeps my dog happy with bones.
The supermarket meat is poor in comparison.

sparrer

My late step-dad was a butcher in the days of the big wooden chopping block that got scrubbed white at closing time, sawdust on the floor, the cashier in her little booth - and a piece of mutton cloth tied round any cuts on the fingers (none of his customers died from anything caught in his shop;)) From him I learned not only how to use each piece of meat to its best advantage but how to make proper sausages, faggots, haslet etc. I've tried these from supermarkets, they're insipid, heaven only knows whats goes into them and I could have got fresh meat at the butcher for the same price. I'm fortunate to have a local butcher less than a mile away and two more within 5 miles. I understand supermarkets hours are more convenient for some but the butcher is open 6 days a week. With most homes having a freezer it only takes a shop once every couple of weeks or so to build up a good relationship with the butcher...and more often than not a customers loyalty is rewarded by a little extra here and there (meat, that is )

I admit to buying some meat in the supermarket from time to time but I also like the social side of going to the butcher, personal service, buying exactly the quantity I want and much more variety.

markdavey

I buy all my meat from my local, excellent, butcher. They have a small shop with the option of pre-packed, pre-priced meats in fridges (like a supermarket) or you can have trays made up to your specification. This satisfy's the people that don't like butchers 'cause they don't know what the meat will cost. And also gives the traditional option.

The meat is almost identical in price to the Tesco's in town but of a FAR higher quality (especially the chicken breasts). No brainer if you ask me

stef240377

Have been to my local butchers today for the first time - should be ashamed of myself as it is only a few hundred yards away.

I purchased 1lb of best mince, 1lb thick pork sausages and 1lb of belly pork. This has cost me a total of £7.50. On leaving the shop noticed blackboard signs at the back of the shop saying 5lb of belly pork was £6.88, 5lb pork chops was £ 8.xx and endless other offers. Have told hubby we will run the freezers down over the next month and then stock up on the 5lb offers as it will work out cheaper than the supermarket. As the main butcher in there knows the other half he has been told to pop in in the morning to fetch a bag full of beef marabones for the dog all FOC.

busiscoming2

I shopped in the local supermarket for years purely because I didn't know the quantity to ask for in the butchers and felt I would embarrass myself by even trying. FOOL!! I took the plunge a couple of years ago after seeing a programme about the origins of a lot of supermarket meat and was pleasantly surprised by the butchers reaction when I owned up to only knowing which size pre packed meat I should buy!!
If I am not sure how much something will cost I ask them to weigh it - giving me X amount of people's worth! If it is too expensive I don't buy it.

I visited all my local butchers over a period of time and now stick to the one I prefer in terms of cost, range and friendliness. The butcher I use is open 7 days a week which is really useful to a lot of people and they sell local produce.

As other people have said the sausages are made on the premises, have less much less fat and taste much better.

Would never go back to supermarket meat again.

boxer786

I felt I had to share the experience I have just had half an hour ago. I have just been to my local butcher, and I have to say I am disgusted with what I have just witnessed. a butcher handled my meat with out gloves, with his bare hands. He then handled money and credit cards and the pay machine without washing his hands. he then placed meat in carrier bags and bits of meat and all over the outside of that bag. He obviously has no regard for food hygiene regulations or even that his customers witness him doing this. I am a male, and maybe he thinks that males are not fully aware with food etc? I don't know. But what I do know is that this is much less likely to happen in the supermarket. I will never shop at a local butcher again. I was going to make a complaint to the environmental health but instead I will write him an anonymous letter. I don't feel comfortable complaining directly to people, especially when others are doing their shop. It has put me off buying meat from a local butcher for life. You don't find this I bet with kosher butchers. Maybe I will try them

spiritus

geri1965 wrote: »

I don't use my local butchers as they all sell halal meat, so it's supermarket for me.

.

I'd check your supermarket's policy towards halal meat also if I were you.

AlwaysSmiling

I think that from experience, the supermarket is good for budgeting the weekly shop, however having used a butcher now I would not go back to supermarket meat! I am young (early twenties) and I can really tell the difference of butcher meat to supermarket meat. Firstly the cut of the meat is better, such as pork loins, chicken breasts and steak and the price is not far off. In my local butcher I got 2 god sized chicken breasts and 2 pork loin steaks for £5. I have to say I was scared of going in, I had a work friend come with me to explain how it all works and in the end I told the butcher how much I had to spend and asked him what he could offer me. He was lovely and brought the true sense of customer service to life. I really have to say, just try it once and see if you like it, it might not be for all, but the quality and advice you get is far greater then saving 20-50 odd pence in the supermarket!