Beef Prices

[MidwestSmoker]

I bought a 13 lbs Prime packer at Costco about a week ago for $4.99/lb.

 

[GrillMeister]

I picked up more Wagyu London Broil at HEB today. I had to ask for it at the butcher counter. The store's manager helped me. He asked me how many and I said 3. As he was asking me, he was holding a huge cryovac of beef from Snake River Farms.

Holy Cow! (pun intended). H-E-B's Wagyu beef is from Snake River Farms.

Snake River Farms Wagyu London Broil at $7.99 is a fricking steal as it is as good as any regular Ribeye or NY Strip when reversed seared.

 

[JamesB]

I picked up more Wagyu London Broil at HEB today. I had to ask for it at the butcher counter. The store's manager helped me. He asked me how many and I said 3. As he was asking me, he was holding a huge cryovac of beef from Snake River Farms.

Holy Cow! (pun intended). H-E-B's Wagyu beef is from Snake River Farms.

Snake River Farms Wagyu London Broil at $7.99 is a fricking steal as it is as good as any regular Ribeye or NY Strip when reversed seared.

I saw a 16 pound Wagyu brisket at my local H-E-B today for $8.05/lb. I came very close to taking that home.

 

[Murphy's Law]

You folks are lucky. I saw a brisket at my local grocery and it looked like it may have come from a large, ugly dog!

 

[MidwestSmoker]

I just came back from Costco. I was not planning to buy a brisket, but I checked the prices to see if there were any changes since I last purchased a brisket 10 days ago. I had bought a Prime packer at $4.99/lb then. Today it was $4.69/lb and so prices are heading down.

Walleye had said that it was $7.99/lb for Choice at his Costco. I think what he reported may have been for the flat, not the whole packer. Choice flats were indeed $7.99/lb today at my Costco. Anyway, I am relieved that prices may be headed down.

Murphy, I think you should consider Costco membership! Or move to Texas!!

 

[miguelb]

Here are the prices at Costco by my place. The thing I couldn't understand is why the prime is cheaper that choice. We are cooking 2 brisket this weekend and they only had 1 prime and about 10 choice. This was was on Wednesday. Going to check again either this evening or tomorrow for another prime otherwise get a choice.

 

[RustyJake]

Here are the prices at Costco by my place. The thing I couldn't understand is why the prime is cheaper that choice. We are cooking 2 brisket this weekend and they only had 1 prime and about 10 choice. This was was on Wednesday. Going to check again either this evening or tomorrow for another prime otherwise get a choice.

Prime looks to be a whole packer and the choice looks like it is listed as a flat. Maybe they are charging a premium for portion cutting the meat?

 

[JamesB]

Those are pretty bad pics, so I can’t read the labels. However, there are a few things that could potentially cause one to be more or less expensive per pound.
Pre trimmed
Flat only
Point only
Grass Fed
Angus as opposed to no name

With brisket, you really need to know what you are looking at/buying. I’ve seen choice right beside a prime that was a much better brisket, but in general, prime will be a better cut of meat. You just have to look them over…

 

[JamesB]

Maybe they are charging a premium for portion cutting the meat?

They definitely do that here!
It can be 2-3 bucks a pound cheaper to buy a packer, as opposed to the same brisket separated

 

[RustyJake]

They definitely do that here!
It can be 2-3 bucks a pound cheaper to buy a packer, as opposed to the same brisket separated

Here as well, 6.98/lb for portion cuts. I got them on sale over the winter for 4.98/lb. But I was able to select all point pieces so that was alright.
His labels seem to show one being packer and the other says flat

 

[JamesB]

Here as well, 6.98/lb for portion cuts. I got them on sale over the winter for 4.98/lb. But I was able to select all point pieces so that was alright.
His labels seem to show one being packer and the other says flat

I could barely make it out, but after you said that I looked again. Indeed, the pic on the right does look like it says flat.

 

[Walleye Hunter]

Is one better than the other? Point, flat, packer?

 

[RustyJake]

Is one better than the other? Point, flat, packer?

Depends on what you like
Lean, you will want the flat
Fatty, you will want the point
Mix of both, you will want a packer as it has a complete brisket point and flat as one piece of meat

Personally I like the point. But I will never pass on smoked brisket flat.

 

[Walleye Hunter]

Depends on what you like
Lean, you will want the flat
Fatty, you will want the point
Mix of both, you will want a packer as it has a complete brisket point and flat as one piece of meat

Personally I like the point. But I will never pass on smoked brisket flat.

And the two are separate muscles (the point and the flat) so they could be bought as a packer and separated?

 

[Murphy's Law]

And the two are separate muscles (the point and the flat) so they could be bought as a packer and separated?

Yup.