best place for beef joint?

Uniscots97

dogstarheaven wrote: »

which is the better quality from Asda or Morrisons?

Most of my family prefer Morrisons.

zippychick

ivwe moved this to shopping and groceries to see if you can get some more input over here

Zip
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dogstarheaven

now, thinking it would be better if i bought a rib on the bone one but am unsure what weight to get and how to cook this considering that there's only one oven to do the other 2 meats.. and the veg as well to roast!!

i've changed my mind about buying it from a s/m and get one from the butcher's, but how do i know the quality of their meat? a lot of them seem to have half-frozen meats on trays in the windows, and that doesn't deem to be the best way of promoting the 'freshness' of the goods!

can someone advise me?
thanks!

A._Badger

I'm afraid the only way to be sure is to try a butcher first. Maybe buy some less 'mission critical' meals beforehand? You can, of course, also ask around among friends and family.

One of the few upsides to the way supermarkets have driven small retailers out of business is that usually only the best have survived. I live in a rural area and can think of four or five local butchers in nearby towns and villages, any of whom I would be happy to buy from, and I am very fussy indeed about the meat I buy.

If it were me, I would look for an old fashioned butcher and try something like a couple of pork chops or some lamb beforehand. Look for a butcher who says where his meat comes from. The ones near me actually say which farms they source from - they take real pride in their businesses - which is probably why they still have them!

Don't be afraid to ask advice, either. Proper butchers are skilled at their trade and like all skilled people they like to be appreciated.and like to be asked for advice. They also know, as small business owners, that if they please you, you will come back. Frankly, Tesco and the rest couldn't care less - you are a drop in the ocean to them.

As for those who say the are happily buying and cooking supermarket beef, I can only say that I am honestly impressed by their skills. I've been cooking for several decades and I simply cannot manage to make most supermarket beef taste like anything but chewy shoe leather. This has been true so often that I've simply given up buying it.

Finally, do try rib of beef on the bone (the bone matters - it adds flavour and transmits heat through the joint during coking). It can be hard to find a small piece and it is very expensive but, again, ask for your butcher's advice about quantity.

Hope that helps.

PennyForThem_2

Waitrose is good for meat. Often special offers and forgotten cuts such as pig cheeks which can be combined with lentils to make a really economical meal

Edwardia

I called or emailed the supermarkets personally and the ONLY supermarket which doesn't allow farmers to feed GM feed across all ranges is Waitrose.

Last year ASDA sold Hereford beef - which came from Uruguay. :mad:

Forget pretty pictures of calves and butcher's vans saying proudly serving people in Hampshire since 1965 - neither of those guarantees that the meat is British and not factory farmed - let alone local.

The only supermarket I would trust to buy non organic meat from now is Waitrose.

I'd never buy non organic from Tesco, not after plain pork chops with sodium acetate, glucose syrup and 11% added water. :mad: :mad:

A._Badger

PennyForThem wrote: »

Waitrose is good for meat. Often special offers and forgotten cuts such as pig cheeks which can be combined with lentils to make a really economical meal

Yes, I should have mentioned that I make an exception for Waitrose, too. Their meat tends to be very good, I agree.