Supermarket chains vs. big box stores!
High-end vs. regional!
If you're a carnivore who demands the highest quality at the fairest prices, here's where
you should and shouldn't be shopping.
Target is a quality store for plenty of products, but meat isn't one of them.
The chain first opened its doors in the 1960s but didn't roll out its grocery section until
1995, which might explain their shortcomings.
Simply put, Target just doesn't specialize in meat.
It doesn't have expert butchers, and you're just not very likely to find the freshest
cuts available.
Furthermore, they don't offer the best deals that you're more likely to find at grocery
stores that have a separate meat counter.
While the quality and price are less than optimal, Target does at least set expectations
with suppliers to follow or exceed its standards for meat and poultry.
These standards include, but are not limited to, adhering to national guidelines from organizations
like the National Chicken Council and the National Turkey Federation.
We appreciate that Target prioritizes animal welfare, but we'll still be buying our meat
elsewhere, and we advise you to do the same.
One of the best grocery stores to buy meat is Wegmans.
This East Coast-based chain offers all the central departments you'd expect, with the
addition of an extensive prepared foods department.
Some of their pre-made offerings include homestyle meatloaf, pulled pork, parmesan chicken, and
roasted turkey.
The incredible variety that Wegmans offers makes it a crowd favorite among meat lovers.
On the r/steak subreddit, you'll find shoppers praising the store's ribeyes and marbling,
which is particularly encouraging, as marbling on beef improves the quality and flavor.
This fat makes the meat easier to eat, so don't sleep on it when you see it at Wegmans.
If you live near a Wegmans location, you should consider yourself extremely lucky.
This chain provides incredible variety, comparable prices, and high-quality meats that will leave
your dinner party guests in awe.
"We're not worthy!
We're not worthy!"
Trader Joe's is a crowd favorite for snacks, pre-packaged meals, and seasonal offerings,
but it's less popular in the meat department.
This chain focuses heavily on customer service, making patrons feel at home in these stores
to ensure they'll return, but you shouldn't feel compelled to buy any beef or chicken
on those repeat visits.
Trader Joe's also does an excellent job with marketing and packaging, which might lead
some shoppers to purchase attractive packages that they don't really need.
But that might be a bad idea when it comes to meat.
As budget shopping expert Lauren Greutman noted to CNBC, the chain's meats sometimes
contain less in each package and cost more than what other stores offer, especially chicken.
To be specific, you can sometimes find a package of chicken selling for a dollar or two less
per pound at stores like Walmart and Costco.
While we certainly love grabbing holiday snacks and other specialty products from Trader Joe's,
that love isn't unconditional for everything that they offer.
Sprouts Farmers Market draws inspiration from, naturally enough, farmers' markets, as well
as healthy choices and organic grocery options.
If you're looking for one of the best grocery stores for meat, look no further than Sprouts.
This chain prides itself on offering a variety of good-for-you items that you can't find
at any superstore.
According to the website Price of Meat, Sprouts offers the best selection of meat, especially beef.
They note,
"Their beef is always fresh, and they never freeze it.
It's rated USDA Choice, which means you know it will be juicy and flavorful."
The beef at Sprouts is also 100 percent grass-fed, so you can be sure it's high-quality.
In addition to packaged meats, the butcher department offers some of the freshest foods
with trained butchers who can cut meat and craft artisan sandwiches.
The deli sandwiches also taste better than many popular sandwich shops.
While not everything at Sprouts is cheap, you absolutely get what you pay for in terms
of quality.
Whole Foods didn't get its reputation for being expensive for no reason.
After its 2017 merger with Amazon, some prices decreased, especially for Amazon members.
But when it comes to meat, are you getting the best bang for your buck?
In 2017, Bloomberg reported that the chicken from Whole Foods might not be as elite as
consumers once thought.
"Oh, there's a big surprise.
I think I'm gonna have a heart attack and die from that surprise."
The chain's 365 brand creates the idea that meats, especially chickens, are treated with
better care and are an exclusive product that you can't buy elsewhere.
But researchers have discovered that some other stores sell the same chickens under
different brand names for less money.
And as Business Insider reported in 2019, Whole Foods charged the most significant premium
in its meat department, with some prices more than 40 percent higher than other stores.
While Whole Foods' prices have become more competitive in recent years, you should really
consider getting your meat elsewhere.
Publix focuses on incredible customer service, community involvement, and high-quality products.
Unlike Sprouts or Whole Foods, Publix offers more affordable options so that you can save
money without compromising quality.
The chain's meat department offers incredible variety, with the likes of ground beef, pork,
group-raised veal, thick steaks, chickens, racks of lamb, turkeys, and more.
Publix's steaks are never frozen, and trained individuals cut the meats in-house to ensure
proper cuts.
Other major grocery stores simply don't have this same type of quality control.
Simply put, Publix is an excellent option if you're looking for healthy, quality, and
affordable meat.
Publix's only downside is its relative lack of real estate.
According to the company's website, they have more than 1,300 stores, but they're concentrated
in seven states in the Southeast.
So if you live in that region of the country, you're in luck.
Otherwise, you'll have to plan a trip to get the full Publix experience.
Walmart's motto of "save money, live better" tells us everything we need to know about
the price, but does the quality stack up?
When it comes to purchasing meat, we want to spend within our budget, but it's worth
paying more when necessary to ensure a high-quality cut.
While Walmart offers noteworthy discounts, the deals in their meat department generally
don't meet the expectations of their shoppers.
The website Go Banking Rates wrote about Walmart's best and worst deals, with meat landing in
the latter category.
Basically, you can find better prices and choices at other stores or even a farmer's
market.
And as Consumer Reports noted in 2017,
"[Survey respondents] griped about the quality of the produce, the lack of variety, and the
quality of the meat and poultry."
It's a little disappointing to know that you can't count on the meat from the same store
where you buy packaged goods, clothes, toys, or electronics.
If you like shopping at Walmart, we suggest sticking to the categories that offer you
the best deals, and head somewhere else to buy your meat.
Costco delivers in pretty much every category.
It's no secret why so many people pay for this superstore's yearly membership.
Its reputation for bulk food and low prices makes it one of the best places to shop for
anything, especially if you have a large family or are planning a big event.
And that includes bulk purchases of meat.
One reason that customers should shop at Costco is because they sell USDA Prime Beef.
This label means that the meat has more marble, and thus more fat and more flavor.
Costco also offers a variety of organic ground beef, so if non-GMO feed is crucial to you,
you're in luck.
With better quality for a lower price, Costco absolutely comes through when your stomach
is rumbling.
One of Costco's best deals is their $4.99 rotisserie chickens that provide a quick and
easy meal for a whole family.
If you don't want the entire chicken, you can opt for a half or a quarter instead.
It's hard to beat this delicious deal.
"I feel so calm here just knowing all the bulk deals are waiting."
Placing Aldi in the Worst category may surprise you, as this German-founded chain often receives
glowing reviews for its low prices and award-winning products.
Nevertheless, we don't recommend buying your meat and produce here if you can help it.
It all comes down to the fact that you can find more satisfying options elsewhere.
Farmer's markets and local grocery stores tend to provide the best quality meat and
produce, even if the rates run slightly higher.
Carnivore Style is one website that has reviewed the meat experience at Aldi, as they noted,
"Unfortunately, when it comes to meats you should avoid, there are quite a few.
It's important to remember when saving money on your grocery bill, not everything will
be up to expectations, especially if you're used to a butchers' cut."
That being said, we don't recommend abandoning Aldi entirely.
So when you're shopping there, we would say that you should focus on the store's specialties
like gluten-free products, organic foods, and dairy.
Stater Bros. Markets' state-certified meat cutters prepare fresh cuts guaranteed to satisfy.
This chain also provides seasoning, custom cuts, meat tenderizing, and grinding for no
additional charge.
No doubt about it, the quality meat and customer service make Stater Bros. one of the best
grocery stores to buy meat.
It's also worth noting that they finished ninth on Consumer Reports' 2017 survey on
the best places to grocery shop.
The report raved about the chain's staff, competitive prices, and the quality of meat
and poultry.
One particular cut that's worth buying at Stater Bros. is the ribeye.
Their butchers have also been known to cut a steak to customers' preferred thickness
if they ask politely.
We appreciate a store that takes special requests and makes consumers truly feel special.
It's the little things that make a big difference in the shopping experience.
Stater Bros. scores highly because of its reasonable prices and excellent quality control.
The only drawback is that the company's more than 170 stores can be found only in southern California.
If you're in a neighborhood near a Stater Bros., don't hesitate to do your grocery shopping
here, especially for a delicious cut of meat.
And if you're an out-of-towner visiting SoCal, make sure you become acquainted with the Stater
Bros. experience.
"At Stater Bros., it's our meat that made us famous."
Next among the worst grocery stores to buy meat is the popular chain Safeway.
There are a lot of mixed reviews out there regarding its meat department offerings and prices.
Safeway as a whole sells a variety of delicious products, including packaged and whole foods.
But its meat-based reputation is rather spotty.
In a 2022 article about grocery stores offering the best quality products and prices on the
website Consumers' Checkbook, Safeway was among the chains that were dinged for the
low quality of fresh produce and meats.
Obviously, quality is a huge factor when it comes to buying meat, so this isn't good news.
If you do the rest of your shopping at Safeway and know when they're running sales, it could
be worth checking out solely for the price reduction.
But scoring a deal doesn't exactly ensure high-quality products, especially when it
comes to a cut of meat.
For this reason, we have to say that you're generally better off at stores that have higher
prices than Safeway.
The members-only Sam's Club makes shopping easy and reduces costs by creating a simple
shopping environment.
Its prices and quality of goods make it one of our favorite stores to buy groceries in
general, and buying meats in particular.
Sam's Club and its big box rival Costco are generally fairly comparable, with Sam's Club
having lower prices on chicken but somewhat higher prices on ground beef.
And like Costco, Sam's Club also offers $5 rotisserie chickens.
We recommend visiting whichever location is more convenient to you, as both offer great
deals and high-quality meat.
One of the best meat options at Sam's Club is the 100 percent grass-fed organic ground
beef, which isn't easy to find at just any old grocery store.
Sam's Club also offers a prime brisket that you should be able to score at an attractive price.
So if you're looking for grass-fed beef, or prime brisket, or really any other type of
meat, you can't go wrong with Sam's Club.