Shift in Beef Buying Habits - better taste / great cost!
Local grocery chain here in SE Texas has started putting prime (restaurant and hotel) grade beef for sale in their butcher counters. I've been buying recently 3" think Prime Sirloins for anywhere between $6.99 and $5.99 a lb, Prime Ribeyes are averaging $8.99 - $9.99 a lb. A definite benefit to consumer budgets and palates.
Great deal and the taste and texture is out of this world. Normally would buy the package stuff in the open refridgerator shelves.
Apparently with the economy on the down shift, job losses high, uncertainity etc. restaurants and hotels are cutting back on their orders due to business slowdown. The meat brokers are now beginning to sell directly to the grocery stores in order to move inventory.
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7 Comments:
Ribster, so has my grocery chain. I too am buying more expensive cuts of meat but now just eating red meat less often.
goodcooker at 10:31AM on 06/14/09
I would love it if my grocery store started doing that. I hardly ever buy red meat because the taste compared with the price just isn't worth it.
buffy at 10:58AM on 06/14/09
@goodcooker- yep the same here. Better quality 2 or 3 times a month plus no going out for a 'steak dinner'.
@buffy - I agree. Our store chain has always had these cuts, but priced at anywhere from $14.99 to $19.99 a lb. Doesn't make it worthwhile. The price drop is significant. Also if prices creep up again, I won't be able to go back to the packaged stuff (and my family probably won't let me). So I'll just have to keep eating good! :0) Will sacrifice something else on the budget.
Ribster at 11:29AM on 06/14/09
Hmmm. I buy a quarter-steer at a time from my neighbor who raises them 100% on pasture, never grain finished. I must admit the texture is quite a bit tougher than feedlot beef, but the flavor is out of this world. And the price is right: it works out to about $4/lb across the board, hamburger and filet mignon alike.
gueralinda at 4:32PM on 06/14/09
I buy most of my meats from Omaha Steaks and I love what I get.
pjracz10 at 5:32PM on 06/14/09
I've been buying my meat from local butcher shops instead of the supermarket. The prices are the same or less, and the quality seems better.
I have changed my buying habits. I don't buy veal anymore. I'm eating more pork instead.
salpico at 9:05AM on 06/15/09
I like the idea of buying a 1/4 steer - but I just don't have any room for a freezer. Tried buying from a local butcher but it was inconsistent in quality and availability. So I'm back to being opportunistic at the grocery store.
Ribster at 9:06PM on 06/15/09