Are butchers really that much better?

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    NotAMoodle on 05/01/2016 - 19:01

    I use Moo Baa Oink quite regularly, they have on on Findon Rd now in the Western Burbs. Fantastic they are, they have a ticket system when you walk in as there is always too many people in there.

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  garetz on 30/12/2015 - 23:20

  +1

  Try it and find out, not all butchers are better than coles and woolies, but on average i find butchers know their craft, while woolies and coles employees are not butchers so do not know what they are doing. They usually use commercial processes to get a similar affect, which will never compare to a real butcher knowing their job.

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  ganymede on 31/12/2015 - 02:02

  +1

  Interesting discussion, out of curiosity, how much are you guys paying for meat?

  1) Whole chicken
  2) Free range chicken
  3) Pork loin
  4) Pork shoulder
  5) Pork leg
  6) Beef blade
  7) Beef scotch fillet
  8) Chicken mince
  9) Pork mince
  10) Beef mince

  For me:
  1) 4.99/kg
  2) 7.99/kg
  3) 13.00/kg
  4) 8.00/kg
  5) 8.00/kg
  6) 16.00/kg
  7) 35.00/kg
  8) 5.00/kg (not sure)
  9) 6.50/kg
  10) 10.00/kg

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  Skinnerr on 31/12/2015 - 03:42

  • meat is fresh not preserved

  Just FYI all meat is preserved someway. Im no scientist to say if it starts degrading as soon as it's slaughtered but I know for a fact butchers preserve ALL meat. They have a spray bottle like a garden one for weeds filled with chemical preservative that they spray on meat to keep it looking red and glistening, its why one side is red when you get home and the other side is blue/grey.

  Source: worked in a butcher shop.

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    MountainGoat on 31/12/2015 - 12:12

    The shop i've worked at never did this. The bright red colour in our display cabinets was made using the light in the cabinet itself provided there was a high turnover of meat on display.

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  ankor on 31/12/2015 - 08:19

  It's been hard to find a cheap, fantastic butcher in Brisbane's southside area because of the increase in beef prices. I've still found the best solution to be buying from a bulk meat place like Superbutcher. I've managed to cook some things that have blown the socks off of friends and family, just because of the quality of the meat there, combined with the foolproof sous vide method of cooking.

  Alternatively, it's a short drive to Sunnybank to scout out some of the local asian butchers because they are great with pork.

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  wkd on 31/12/2015 - 11:24

  i can never find aged steaks at butchers

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    PVA on 31/12/2015 - 19:59

    try Coles.

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  saber on 31/12/2015 - 13:43

  I go to my local butcher because they have gourmet sausages, about 20 different types.
  Price is just an afterthought all tho it's usually about same prices as woolies. Just to add there's only 3 guys that work there who are always friendly and up for a chat, even ask for suggestions if I have any for flavors.

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  Magpye on 31/12/2015 - 16:20

  I try and buy meat from the butcher whenever I could, mostly because I know the meat is going to be reasonably fresh, and I can ask them for whatever I need.
  Last butcher I used was pretty decent, and as the OP is asking about Sydney butchers, FWIW, the one on Crinian St, Hurlstone Park always ran a clean shop with polite staff - always a pleasure buying from them.

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  Zondor on 31/12/2015 - 19:07

  I don't buy from beef coles/wooly's because they come from abattoirs that don't do the irreversible bolt properly. I care alot about how my meat was killed and do not support just having the animals throat slit.

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  arescarti42 on 01/01/2016 - 13:23

  Dunno about butchers, but I find that the quality of meat at Coles and Woolworths is not always great (but it varies by store). Aldi is better IME, but I tend to get my meat from Costco, which is consistently great quality.

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  massivedmg on 01/01/2016 - 19:51

  +1

  I don't know about quality of meat, as I've heard that Coles/Woolies have a lot of buying power - therefore they tend to get the best from the farms that source their meat.

  However, I do shop at my local butchers for weird cuts or junk parts for my pets.

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  vaneska on 02/01/2016 - 17:29

  I've found it depends on the butcher.

  If you find a good butcher, the benefits are:

  • You can have a real idea of where your meat comes from. I sometimes am guilt ridden about loving a good steak, but at least I know the cow had a happy, peaceful existence grazing in a paddock with lots of space.

  • If you're interested, your local butcher can probably hook you up with bulk meat sold as 1/4 cow, 1/2 a sheep etc on a per kg basis, and if you have the freezer space, it's usually a pretty good deal.

  • Good advice if you're not sure the best cut to use

  • IMO - old fashioned, personalised service (and more chances of freebies/round-downs than at a supermarket)

  I'm lucky enough to have a butcher in the family not far from me, and I'm always happy with the quality. He supplies some of the local independent supermarkets and a lot of meat trays for club/pub raffles and prizes, so I'm guessing the value/quality is there for non family members as well!

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  jdt1986 on 05/01/2016 - 15:37

  I only go to my preferred butcher for certain things, like pork sausages (beef sausages are horrible full stop, and Woolworths/Coles pork sausages taste like garbage), and when I'm buying large quantities of meat (like steak) for a BBQ (as it usually does work out cheaper and better quality). But for everyday meat (bacon, chicken, lamb etc) supermarket stuff is fine.

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