First, what are Freezer packs? A Freezer Pack is normally a package of 30 – 60 lbs of meat, usually sold as 10lbs of this and 10lbs of that. The cost savings comes in the total number of lbs, and the quality of the cuts. 10lbs for ground beef can be package in 16oz packages, which would be 10-one pound packs. With that may be 10lbs of fryer chicken, have them cut in quarters; which would be four chicken dinners. Plus 10lbs of pork chops; again this can be packaged to fit the side of your family. For my family of four adults, we get four chops per package and 5 or 6 packages depending of the thickness of the chops.
Second, a truly GREAT Freezer Pack may depend more on the ages of family members than on your cooking skills or the cost of the freezer pack. Young children may prefer hot dogs and hamburgers to stake and chops, some families prefer roasts and stews, and some bacon or sausage to chicken.
Third, shop around! Just because the meat department at your nearest market offers one or more freezer packs, doesn’t mean you should buy yours there. Buy a roast or some stakes, pick what you are buying from the list of what is in the package you are the most likely to buy. If the butcher asks, tell him why that roast, stakes or chops. Before you buy check out three of four butchers. That free standing meat market the extra four blocks away, may give you a better quality roast or stake for the same money, or give you better over all quality or service for you dollar.
I have bought enough meat from my favorite butcher that he knows I want a corned beef brisket in March and lamb chops in April, a whole turkey in November and a Ham for Christmas. Stew beef in the winter and beef ribs in the summer. Then again I have life in the same house for almost fifty years and shopped the same markets for more than twenty years. And yes, if you ask my family, they will tell you I just bought a freezer a year ago.
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