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Original poster

Buying from a butchers?

26 replies

JennyPenny23 · 14/05/2010 15:02

I have never bought from a butchers before as I always get meat from the supermarket. But my new house is a 2 min walk from a "traditional butchers" that looks great.

Can anybody tell me the benefits of buying from a butchers? Is it much more expensive? I feel a bit clueless about the whole thing but we are on a healthy eating mission here so think it might help if I am avoiding the supermarket as much as possible!

OP posts:
BoysAreLikeDogs · 14/05/2010 15:04

It is not always more expensive

Speak to the butcher, tell him what you want, he can help you to decide

Real butchers rock

BigTillyMint · 14/05/2010 15:05

Ours is fab!

It is not more expensive, if you compare like-with-like,
you can get whatever cuts a recipe requires and advice on which cuts would be best for a recipe,
they will give you cooking advice if you ask for it!

Disenchanted3 · 14/05/2010 15:06

I don't like it as I like to see the price I'm payin.My aunty got 3 chicken breasts and it was £8 the other day!!!
#she nearly died, lol.

Pootles2010 · 14/05/2010 15:08

I often find with chicken breasts from a butcher that they're massive. I don't know if this is because the supermarkets cut them in half, or use small chickens or what, but they are twice the size normally, so i would find out what weight of meat you need, rather than saying 4 chicken breasts , that way you'll know what price you'll be paying.

sethstarkaddersmum · 14/05/2010 15:09

it's the fact that they will advise, and will sell you exactly what you need. Eg you can say 'I'm having 4 people for dinner and I'd like to do roast pork with really nice crackling' and they will sell you an appropriate size piece and tell you how to cook it.

people are often scared to go to the butcher because they feel ignorant but actually if you are ignorant you get the most out of them

Joolyjoolyjoo · 14/05/2010 15:09

Ooh- I love my butcher! It's possibly slightly more expensive, but the quality is so much better than the supermarket, I would rather have slightly less, better quality meat than save on supermarket "offers"

Your butcher can give you the exact amount you want, and can advise you re how much you need given the number you are cooking for. Many butchers also sometimes do "offers". They know what they are talking about when it comes to meat, and know where their meat is from.

In this day and age where big supermarkets are forcing the little guy out of business, it's vital we support smaller businesses if we want to maintain any real choice.

Pootles2010 · 14/05/2010 15:11

Also - i know not everyone has the time/inclination to make their own stocks, but if you do they'll normally give you free chicken carcasses/beef bones! Much better than using the bones from a sunday roast.

DanJARMouse · 14/05/2010 15:13

We have started using the local butcher for a few things, and I really like it!

I wanted diced steak for a pie last week, and usually in the supermarket I would pay up to £5 for a 500-750g pack. I went in, told him I wanted diced steak, to make a pie for 2 adults and 3 kids. Bagged up how much I would need, it cost £4.68 and not only was there the right amount, it was the best diced steak I have ever had! So much nicer than supermarket stuff!

He also does a nice range of homemade burgers - the chinese ones in particular are gorgeous. Ok so he charges £3 for 4 of them, but again, they are so tasty!

MadameCheese · 14/05/2010 15:13

Our butcher is fab also. They locally source the meat and the poultry and pork is free range. They make their own sausages which and are out of this world. Go on be brave and get in there!

LoveBeingAHungParliament · 14/05/2010 15:16

They are fantastic and it is very wrong that supermarkets have been able to run them out of town.

They will know where their meant has come from and get get you anything you want. build up a good relationship and you will be looked after. Agree re the chicken breasts, the supermarket ones are from such small chickens that te butcher ones look like giants.

ShinyAndNew · 14/05/2010 15:21

The two butchers I use are cheaper than the supermarket by far. The meat is also much better in quality. To the point where even the dds can tell if the meat is not from the butcher. I never buy meat from anywhere else.

The butcher just over the road from me does gorgeous v. cheap mince (about £2 or less for 1 lb) the one near where I used to live does gianormous chicken breasts for around £2.50 per breast.

I hardly ever buy from supermarkets. We use the greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers and tea man. WHy do I need a supermarket?

sethstarkaddersmum · 14/05/2010 15:22

If you're watching the pennies you can get them to tell you the price as they go along.

Pootles2010 · 14/05/2010 15:23

Shiny - you have a tea man? what you mean like he delivers tea bags?

minipie · 14/05/2010 15:24

I loved the butcher where we used to live. Nearly a year on and I still miss it . Great meat, no more expensive than the supermarket, a much wider variety of cuts oh yes and less unnecessary packaging too.

I do find however that most butchers (and fishmongers) will try to sell you more than you actually need - if you say "roast beef for 4" you get half a cow...! So it's as well to learn to ask for how much you need in weight, or by eye (i.e. "I need a piece this big ).

ShinyAndNew · 14/05/2010 15:27

Yup. He delivers tea. Not just any tea either, but the best tea you have ever tasted. Proper yorkshire tea (Ringtons). And he also has coffee, biscuits and sweets. If only he would start delivering alcohol and fags I'd never need to leave the house again

Pootles2010 · 14/05/2010 15:28

Really minipie? i have the opposite. I go in and say i need 500g or whatever for a recipe, and she'll say oh no you don't need that much... you only need this much - and she's always right.

Pootles2010 · 14/05/2010 15:30

thats hamazing. i want one.

Ivykaty44 · 14/05/2010 15:31

In a supermarket they package the food the weight they want you to buy. In a butchers you will be able to purchase the amount of meat you want to buy - which is great for savings.

I a butchers if you ask for scrage ends of fillet steak, cause you want to stri fry them - they will knwo what you mean or kidneys or liver or shina beef, the butcher actually understands the cuts and product.

So even if it is more expensive you get a good cut for what you are cooking instead of making do with supermarket cuts that the lad has not idea about he just stacks the shelves

minipie · 14/05/2010 15:33

Ah, Pootles, maybe I've just come across particularly cunning butchers!

PigeonPie · 14/05/2010 15:37

This thread has just made me realise that I forgot to get my usual ham from the butchers this morning! Ours does the most delicious ham which is cooked in the shop and which they slice for you there and then.

They often have 'deals' too which I freeze; so I'll buy a pack of their chicken breasts or thighs and bag them up (chopping breasts into small meal-size portions) which take less time to de-frost.

And their sausages are soooo gooood. Also you can get just sausagemeat in bags from the end of their sausage making which is great for bits like my Sausage and sweetcorn pie.

sethstarkaddersmum · 14/05/2010 16:26

you might need to specify that you don't want leftovers, if you don't want a massive roast - mine always asks but maybe sometimes they just assume you do.

Original poster
JennyPenny23 · 14/05/2010 17:02

Thanks. WHen I next need something I will go in there instead.

Any tips on whats nice and cheap that can be shoved in the slow cooker?

I used to buy lamb heart in our big supermarket which was dirt cheap I think about £1.50 for a pack of small bits that I would just shove in the slow cooker with some veg and gravy and it was lovely and the kids loved it. Would the butchers do this cheap do you think? I don't want to look like an idiot! lol. And I also don't want whole hearts as I had these from Morrisons once and I hated cutting it up, didn't know which bits to chuck and it took so much longer to prepare! Our Local sainsburys don't seem to do heart now we have moved. Used to be my real budget meal that used up all my veg!

I wish there was a green grousers there too and then I would be more likely to avoid the supermarket. Will have to look to see if there is one locally (Horsham)

OP posts:
taffetacat · 14/05/2010 19:22

Our butcher has lots of gentlemen of a certain age behind the counter who dispense marvellous cooking tips dependent on joint and a slightly younger bloke who has some great recipes up his sleeve ( not literally that would be vile, they would be blood splattered ).

I also like that you can pop in and order stuff so its definitely there for you when you need it AND that if you forget your purse you can "pop the cash into us later in the week, love. "

They do know where I live.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 14/05/2010 19:33

We have several farm shops near us and I've found they vary. One has a very scary butcher with a menancing demeanour and a missing fingertip. I thought it was just me but another friend said he made her friend cry.

However the other two are lovely, very helpful and sell great quality meat. Also another local butcher has just taken on an allotment at our newly opened allotment site which were rotavated by pigs. He went to introduce himself to poor old Percy who he would be responsible for turning into sausages soon he said. Percy had now vanished and we've had a letter about an allotment BBQ, they are supplying the meat, I think it is Boris. I guess at least we know he was ethically reared.

Price wise they vary as well, with two of them being more expensive than the supermarket and the other one being cheaper. I don't yet know how Percy sausages compare.

Jux · 14/05/2010 19:34

Our butcher is great. We point at weird cuts and ask how to cook them and get loads of advice, recipe suggestions and lots of gossip. They always notice if I'm not with dh and ask after me. They're interested in dd's progress. They were lovely when my mum died and then my brother. It's a bit like having a family