Online butchers?

[NotAGolf]

I don't have a local butchers, and I'm noticing a decline in the quality of meat at the supermarkets, so I'm looking for alternatives.

It's mainly chicken that I'm struggling with. Supermarket mince is ok, and we rarely have steaks/sausages.

Budget is tight, so I'm not looking for high-end artisan stuff. It needs to be close to supermarket prices otherwise I don't think I can justify it. I am happy to buy in bulk and freeze it though, but that's a bit risky if a get 5-10kg of nasty stuff, hence looking for recommendations!

 

[Nabinium]

Do you have a Costco membership? Their stuff is decent. About £6 a kilo for chicken breast fillets. I think 2.5kg a pack. Quality is better than supermarkets. From experience, there's much less water content in Costco's chicken breast too.

I don't get the stuff often, as it's a bit out of my way, but it's been good whenever I have.

 

[BUDFORCE]

I don't find the quality of the chicken in my local Aldi too bad.

Sure you can get better but you'll pay for it. Those are online butchers are great for the slightly more than obscure stuff, but honestly if its basics by the time you've faffed about you won't save anything.

The above post is a good shout IF there is a Costco near you, otherwise by the time you factor petrol/travel cost and time, not really.

Avoid: Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury's/Morrisons (**** Morrisons) those are getting really expensive for not any better quality, often worse.

If you have a large freezer you could look at catering/cash carry suppliers sone of them will deal with public but usually have a minimum order like £200 or something to deliver.

Another thing you can do is just eat less meat. I make a chilli for example, I do use beef mince but I put in a ton of mixed beans, carrots, celery, onion so the meat content is actually quite low, keeps the cost down and it's lovely.

 

[dave28]

It needs to be close to supermarket prices

That is the issue, the supermarkets have it all worked out to specifically block smaller competition from being able to do that.

 

[BUDFORCE]

That is the issue, the supermarkets have it all worked out to specifically block smaller competition from being able to do that.

Yes precisely.

 

[Vestas]

I don't find the quality of the chicken in my local Aldi too bad.

Aldi chicken breasts are pretty bad now. I just don't buy them there anymore. Thighs are OK.

 

[BUDFORCE]

Aldi chicken breasts are pretty bad now. I just don't buy them there anymore. Thighs are OK.

I never understood the appeal of chicken breast.

You go to places on Asia and chicken breast is like the peasant cut. The the thighs in particular have the highest fat content therefore taste the best and are less prone to drying out.

 

[Vestas]

I never understood the appeal of chicken breast.

You go to places on Asia and chicken breast is like the peasant cut. The the thighs in particular have the highest fat content therefore taste the best and are less prone to drying out.

With you on that, however wife aggro accrues with thighs.

There have been times I've bought Aldi chicken breasts which were so tough I strongly suspect they were turkey breast cuts.

Also the butchery for Aldi chicken is pretty poor as well - there's usually bits of bone/cartilage in everything filleted.

 

[BUDFORCE]

Also the butchery for Aldi chicken is pretty poor as well - there's usually bits of bone/cartilage in everything filleted.

Yea it can be a bit hit and miss.

I still think it's worth the saving though if you are willing to put just a tiny bit more effort in on the odd occasion.

 

[j.col]

Have you got an Asian butchers nearby?
I often buy chicken breasts from them when getting other bits and i find the quality to be pretty good.
Lamb mince is also pretty good.
I know some people don't like buying halal meat, so its up to you.

 

[Begbie]

I never understood the appeal of chicken breast.

You go to places on Asia and chicken breast is like the peasant cut. The the thighs in particular have the highest fat content therefore taste the best and are less prone to drying out.

And better/higher nutrients

Fresh meat packs do some good deals, comparable to supermarkets.

 

[Doggie2k]

So as others have mentioned I get my chicken and beef mince from Costco (maybe some pork ribs as well) but for more speciality cuts and even steak I order from a site called field and flower. Been using them for a few years now and the quality hasn't changed. They also use pretty good couriers to get the stuff to you in time.

 

[glitch]

Do you have a Costco membership? Their stuff is decent. About £6 a kilo for chicken breast fillets. I think 2.5kg a pack. Quality is better than supermarkets. From experience, there's much less water content in Costco's chicken breast too.

Based on my experience with buying meat from Costco, you get exactly what you pay for - it is certainly not the quality that people seem to think it is, but as always everyone has their own preferences and yardsticks.

I have three Costco warehouses roughly equidistant from me and all of them are pretty poor. Chicken is especially average and the packs of thighs I have bought have been very badly butchered with broken bones and blood/marrow clots/spots.

Waitrose and M&S are still far better for quality, at least in my experience, but even they have their limits. It's very hard to find proper chicken that has already been portioned up, unless you spend stupid amounts of money on it.

@NotAGolf - want better quality meat at lower prices? Buy whole chickens from a reputable source and learn to butcher them. Not a hard skill to learn and easy to practice on some very cheap chicken so you aren't wasting the good stuff.

Makes your money go further and gives you access to a wide range of cuts and ingredients for stocks, sauces and beyond.

 

[Nabinium]

Based on my experience with buying meat from Costco, you get exactly what you pay for - it is certainly not the quality that people seem to think it is, but as always everyone has their own preferences and yardsticks.

I have three Costco warehouses roughly equidistant from me and all of them are pretty poor. Chicken is especially average and the packs of thighs I have bought have been very badly butchered with broken bones and blood/marrow clots/spots.

Waitrose and M&S are still far better for quality, at least in my experience, but even they have their limits. It's very hard to find proper chicken that has already been portioned up, unless you spend stupid amounts of money on it.

@NotAGolf - want better quality meat at lower prices? Buy whole chickens from a reputable source and learn to butcher them. Not a hard skill to learn and easy to practice on some very cheap chicken so you aren't wasting the good stuff.

Makes your money go further and gives you access to a wide range of cuts and ingredients for stocks, sauces and beyond.

That's the problem. Unless you have the time, headspace, etc., it's not possible for everyone. Unfortunately, a lot of people want the convenience, but they obviously pay for it in quality, etc.

 

[~>Dg<~]

I never understood the appeal of chicken breast.

You go to places on Asia and chicken breast is like the peasant cut. The the thighs in particular have the highest fat content therefore taste the best and are less prone to drying out.

once you realize or get older chicken breast is so boring....i literally cant eat it.thighs or legs. all the flavour.