Which meat from the butchers?

OllysMum_2

I've been using our local butcher for some months now and wouldn't go back to supermarkets. It's probably not more expensive overall because you aren't tempted to buy anything else, but yes, more expensive per piece. However, I'd much rather have good quality meat than tasteless, flabby, factory farmed stuff and to do that I just have more days in the week where we are meatless.

My butcher is so helpful - he'll make recommendations and often on a Saturday afternoon says he'll "throw in a bit extra".

Having said that, when I have room in my freezer I'm going to try this which gets good recommendations on another thread here.

I do feel that might be treacherous infidelity...

building_with_lego

My butcher finds his prices to be cheaper than the local supermarkets on chicken breast fillets and bacon, even when they're on offer, and waaay cheaper for beef mince (£6 for 2lbs in supermarket vs £7.99 for 5lbs in butcher).

I'd be brave, tell the butcher that it's your first time and you don't know what to ask for. Give him your meal requirements and budget and see what he recommends. I suspect that you'll get some exciting ideas and will soon be on first name terms with your butcher!

rabidbun

I often get chicken thighs and drumsticks for good prices from my butcher, cheaper than a whole bird for the amount of meat. In addition, none of the meat shrinks due to added water like the supermarket stuff does and the cuts are what they should be (full size chicken fillets rather than the skinny ones without the " mini fillets" removed). :-)

chesky

Shin of beef definitely the best for steak pies and beef casserole (beef in red wine fantastic). Or breast of lamb - if you can find it.

viv0147

I bought from a butcher this week first time ever I normally buy cheap supermarket frozen sausage's so I asked for four pork sausages and they cost me £1.74 it seemed quite expensive to me but I am yet to taste them!

flea72

viv0147 wrote: »

I bought from a butcher this week first time ever I normally buy cheap supermarket frozen sausage's so I asked for four pork sausages and they cost me £1.74 it seemed quite expensive to me but I am yet to taste them!

And therein is the difference. You cant compare price for cheap sausages, with butchers ones that actually contain meat.

Also sizewise. Most supermarket sausages are 8 to the lb. im lucky if i get 6 at my butchers, which is hard, when mentally most people want 2 sausages, no matter what they weigh

Cybes100

Well I went to the butchers today, armed with all your advice!!!

It wasn't what I expected at all!
I think I'll actually try a different one next time!

There wa sno fresh meat counter, just fridges full of cuts of meat already packaged and priced! I did ask, and they do cut/prepare all the meat 'behind' the shop, and package it themselves, onsite.

So I could only have what was there - and there were no cheap cuts like people suggested!

I did buy a few bits though, so hopefully I'll notice a difference in quality - the prices were about the same as Tesco!

A._Badger

Cybes100 wrote: »

Well I went to the butchers today, armed with all your advice!!!

It wasn't what I expected at all!
I think I'll actually try a different one next time!

That sounds like a good idea. When I lived in London some years ago there were a few butchers around like that. I avoided them! Find a good old fashioned one and I'm sure all the excellent advice you've had will apply..

RHYSDAD

My good friend Will is a butcher of nearly 30 years and is a goldmine of info of the different cuts and how you should cook them. But it comes at a price. I get mates rates but it still makes my wallet weep when I fish it out of my pocket. He makes all his sausages and burgers from scratch, all with meat he's boned out from the joints. His sausages contain minced pork, rusk and seasoning in a natural case. His burgers the same. Beef, rusk and seasoning. Why is there the need to add all this muck into our food? It's just that I don't want to feed my family additive laden, fat laden Inferior meat just to save a few pennies. I economise in other ways to compensate

PLRFD

Cybes100 wrote: »

Well I went to the butchers today, armed with all your advice!!!

It wasn't what I expected at all!
I think I'll actually try a different one next time!

There wa sno fresh meat counter, just fridges full of cuts of meat already packaged and priced! I did ask, and they do cut/prepare all the meat 'behind' the shop, and package it themselves, onsite.

So I could only have what was there - and there were no cheap cuts like people suggested!

I did buy a few bits though, so hopefully I'll notice a difference in quality - the prices were about the same as Tesco!

I honestly think you need to find a new butcher Cybes100.