If you are a meat-lover, you are probably on a constant search to find the best cuts of meat at the grocery store. You have also likely noticed that some stores have better quality meat in your shopping experience than others. But out of all the stores around, which grocery store has the best meats?
One of the best grocery stores to frequent for high-quality meat is Whole Foods. Especially when it comes to beef selection, Whole Foods has more prime choices than other supermarkets. However, some other stores have great meats as well. Much of this depends on the kind of meat you are looking for.
In this article, we will tell you all you need to know about the top supermarkets for meats. After reading here, you will no longer need to search multiple locations to find the ideal piece of meat. Instead, you can follow our guidance and head directly to the supermarket with the best meat in your area.
Grocery Stores with the Best Meats
Many locations will offer you fantastic cuts of meat. But there are a few supermarkets that stand above the rest for their dedication to providing the best meat you can find. Here are four of the best supermarkets in that category:
- Whole Foods
- Sprouts
- Wegmans
- Publix
Each of these companies institutes strict regulations and standards for the meats that they sell. In the sections below, you can learn more about how each of these companies delivers on its promise to supply the best meat.
Whole Foods
Whole Foods has a reputation for selling some of the healthiest foods you can find in a supermarket. Their entire brand centers on a commitment to organic produce and animal products.
The meat selection you can find at Whole Foods is no exception to the store’s commitment to quality. Whether you buy beef, poultry, or any other kind of meat at Whole Foods, you can be sure that there are no hormones or antibiotics in it.
Whole foods also make efforts to source their meats from local farmers. That local mindset gives you the chance to eat the freshest meat from your area.
Whole Foods applies many animal welfare standards to the meat that they stock and sell along with those efforts. This ensures that the animals who supply Whole Foods beef are healthy and live a humane life.
Sprouts
The Sprouts philosophy is remarkably similar to the Whole Foods philosophy. Both stores pride themselves on their organic approach to selling healthy foods.
Sprouts has a wide selection of all-natural beef, poultry, and sausages. These meats often come from local or regional meat providers. But Sprouts also imports high-quality meats from places like New Zealand.
Regardless of the origin, Sprouts meats do not include hormones or antibiotics. The store also contains many options for grass-fed beef.
Wegmans
Wegman’s is a smaller chain that has less than 100 locations in the United States. All of those stores are in the eastern part of the country, meaning that only specific populations of Americans can enjoy Wegman’s great meat selection.
Wegman’s does not have an exclusive dedication to organic foods. But they do have many organic options for their meats and other products.
This supermarket places less emphasis on the humane treatment of the animals that provide their meat. So, those with ethical qualms about traditional meat production may want to look elsewhere. Despite that, most of the meat in a Wegman’s meat section is of fantastic quality.
Publix
Publix is another excellent supermarket when it comes to finding the best meats. This company exhibits a level of dedication to quality that matches that of organic stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts.
When you shop for meat at Publix, you can be sure that there are no harmful chemicals present. Publix also promises its customers that all of the animals that provide their meat have a vegetarian diet for the entirety of their lives.
Publix also makes some unsubstantiated claims that their meat comes to the store via a humane process. While there is little concrete proof of that, the beef at Publix remains some of the best that you can expect to find at a supermarket.
What Makes Some Meats Better than Others?
Now that you know a few of the best places to get great meat, let’s uncover a few reasons why some meats are better than others. There are many subjective factors, like personal flavor preferences, that will influence which cut of meat is your favorite. But some aspects are a bit more objective. The sections below will explain a few of those meat quality standards.
Meat Marbling
One of the quickest ways to determine the quality of a piece of meat is to look at the marbling. Marbling refers to the fat that is present within the muscle of the meat cut. Marbling appears as streaks of white fat that run throughout the red parts of the meat.
Generally, the more marbling you see on a meat cut, the better quality that meat is. Marbling is essential when it comes to the juiciness of your beef. This fat content helps to maintain moisture as the meat cooks. That retained moisture prevents you from having to endure a dry bite of meat during dinner.
Marbling is easy to see even if you don’t have much experience with selecting great meat. If you can recognize marbling, you are on the right track. After all, marbling is one of the primary considerations in one of the most widespread meat rating systems.
Beef Grade
As you evaluate meat, one rating you should understand comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). You have likely seen USDA labels on the beef you have purchased in the past. But perhaps you did not recognize what those labels mean.
The USDA has a tiered system that rates beef by its quality. Within that system, there are eight levels. The three highest levels, representing the highest-quality meat, are the following:
- USDA Prime Beef: This beef comes from young, healthy cattle and has plenty of marbling. Beef with the “prime” label is what you should expect when you order a steak from a restaurant.
- USDA Choice Beef: Choice beef has less marbling than prime beef but still has a decent amount. These cuts are best for both dry and wet cooking methods.
- USDA Select Beef: Of the top three ratings, select beef has the least amount of marbling. That lack of marbling makes for a less juicy piece of meat. As such, these cuts often taste best after you marinate or braise them.
There are several other ratings in this system, bringing the total to eight. However, if you are looking for the best meat, the top three ratings are what you should strive for. Any beef below those grades will often not have a USDA grade label on their packages. The absence of a label is a sure sign that you are looking at lower-quality meat.
Different Parts of the Cow
The part of the cow from which your cut of meat originates matters in the overall quality of the cut. This discrepancy in quality comes from how the cow uses different body parts while it is alive. The features of the body that the cow uses most often have a lot of connective tissue. Those tissues make the meat tougher and less desirable.
There are numerous sections of a single cow. Each one has a different name which indicates what part of the cow it is while indicating the quality of meat there. Here are the different cuts that you can find on a beef cow:
- Chuck
- Brisket
- Rib
- Plate
- Short loin
- Flank
- Sirloin
- Tenderloin
- Top sirloin
- Bottom sirloin
- Round
- Shank
Of all those cuts, the chuck, round, and brisket tend to be the toughest. Those cuts come from the legs and shoulders, which work continuously throughout the animal’s life. By contrast, the rib, tenderloin, and sirloin cuts come from lesser-used muscles and are therefore more tender.
Grass-Fed Beef
Another label you will probably see at the supermarket when shopping for meat is a “grass-fed” label. If you are unfamiliar with the cattle-raising process, you might not understand why it matters what a cow eats. Let’s shed some light on why a beef cow’s diet is so crucial to the overall quality of their meat.
While it is natural for a cow to eat grass, grass-fed beef is less common than grain-fed beef. In large-scale agriculture, it is more convenient to feed cows grains. Grains help fatten cows more quickly to prepare them for slaughter and sale. Raising beef cows on grass alone takes a bit longer. However, there are some advantages for consumers who choose grass-fed beef. Here are some of the benefits:
- Higher concentrations of vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin E
- More healthy fat content, including omega-3s
- Lower fat content overall, equating to lower calories overall
Considering those points, it is easy to see that grass-fed beef is the healthier option for beef consumers. However, this boost in nutrition can come at a cost. As we already mentioned, fat content makes for higher moisture content. So while grass-fed beef is a smart choice for your body, it may cause you to sacrifice some juiciness in your meat.
Organic Beef
Many people are interested in finding organic foods, including the meat they eat. Fortunately for those people, there is a growing availability of organic beef in supermarkets.
Consumers choose organic meat for several reasons. Some prefer organic because they believe it is a healthier way to eat. Others select organic meat because they think it implies that the animal lived and died humanely.
To a degree, both of those assumptions are true. Organic meat comes from cows that are antibiotic and hormone-free. Cows that produce organic meat also eat a diet that is free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). But that does not mean that an organic beef cow is grass-fed. Instead, organic beef cows often eat a mixed diet of grains and grass.
Organic labels also indicate that the cow lived a somewhat peaceful and enjoyable life. Rather than living in confined spaces, organic beef cows have the chance to roam and live in a way that is natural to them. That lifestyle does not necessarily make for better meat, but it does mean that you can enjoy your meat with no guilt over animal mistreatment.
What Are the Best Cuts of Meat?
By this point, you can see that there are many labels that indicate the quality of meat in a grocery store. But there are a few more words and names you should know as you shop for the best meats. The meat you see in the store will be one of a few common “cuts” of beef.
Each section of the cow produces multiple cuts, each of which has its own characteristics. You have probably heard some of the names of these cuts as they are the way that most people refer to different kinds of beef. Cuts come in many different varieties, but if you are looking for the best of the best, the best cuts you can choose are the following:
- New York Strip: Sometimes called strip loin, New York strip is a typical cut of beef that comes from the short loin. It comes in several forms, including T-bone and porterhouse.
- Rib Eye: This cut is one of the most popular of all cuts of beef. Ribeye has a lot of marbling, which leads to unique flavors.
- Top Sirloin: Top sirloin is a larger cut that has plenty of taste and a reasonable level of marbling. If you are grilling, top sirloin is one of the best cuts you can pick.
- Tenderloin: Based on the name, it is no surprise to find that tenderloin is the tenderest of all cuts you can get. This cut is the basis for famous steak dishes like fillet mignon.
As you explore the best meats at the supermarket, you will gradually develop a preference for some more than others. If quality is your aim, look to one of those four cuts, and you won’t be disappointed.
What is Wagyu Beef?
In your search for great meat, you may have come across another identifying term. Wagyu beef is exceptionally popular, but some people do not know why.
Wagyu beef comes from a specific population of Japanese cows. This beef is a luxury item that many meat lovers covet. The reason that wagyu beef is so famous is that the cows that provide it have specific genetics that allows their meat to have a high volume of marbling. This leads to some incredibly flavorful and tender meat.
How to Choose the Best Meat at the Store
To help you pick out the best meat at the store, we have created a brief buyer’s guide. This guide will teach you the tactics you should employ when choosing between one piece of meat and another. This skill alone can help you ensure that you are eating the best meat possible.
Look at the Color
The first sign of a meat’s quality is also one of the most noticeable. The color of the meat in your store can tell you right away how good the meat is.
A fresh piece of beef should be red. The shade of red can vary, and those variations tell you more about the meat quality. But if the meat does not have brown spots, it is likely a fresh cut.
If the meat is red, then you can begin to take a closer look at the exact hue. Often, dark red meat comes from older cows, while light red meat comes from younger cows and is usually more tender.
There are some other causes of dark red meat as well. For instance, grass-fed beef is often darker than grain-fed beef. Also, even the freshest meat will darken over time as it gains more exposure to oxygen.
Check the Date
Many perishable items like meat come with a sell-by date. That date can give you a better idea of which piece to buy. As a rule, the further away the sell-by date is, the better.
However, a piece of meat that is past its sell-by date has not necessarily gone bad. As the date suggests, it is just an indication of when the meat should be sold rather than when it should be eaten.
Know Where to Look
Typically, the freshest cuts of meat will be at the back of the shelf. The reason for this is two-fold. First, the older meat will go bad sooner. That gives grocers an incentive to sell it sooner.
The second reason for this relates to how stockers fill the shelves. If they fill the meat shelves in your store from the back, that means that the newest, freshest meat will usually be in the back.
If you are at the store and you notice that most of the meat is due to expire soon, reach a bit further back. Doing so might give you access to some of the best meat in the store.
Avoid Moisture
The best way to keep a cut of meat fresh is to store it in a tight package. With a strong seal, the meat will have less air exposure, which means that it can stay fresher for longer.
At times, it is difficult to tell how good a meat’s packaging is. But there is one sign that you can use to know if the packaging is subpar.
When looking at meats, notice if there is any moisture inside the package. Condensation indicates that there is a leak in the container. Those leaks will cause your meat to go bad much more quickly.
Understand Fat Content
Meats come with many different fat contents. Some sirloins have a fat percentage as low as 8%. Other meats have fat rates in the 20% range. The fat content of the meat you choose plays a role in its tastiness and how you should cook it.
Earlier in this article, we mentioned the importance of marbling. Marbling is a direct indication of fat content and meat quality. It is best to select the meat that has a high volume of marbling that is consistent throughout the cut.
Pick a Cold Piece
The colder your meat is, the longer it will go without spoiling. When you are in the store, you should pay attention to the general temperature of the meat you are considering buying.
If you notice that one piece is warmer, that may be an indication that another shopper handled the meat and raised the temperature. Keeping your meat cool is vital to keeping it fresh. That is why you should only pick cold meats from the store.
You should also plan your shopping trip so that you pick up your meat last. By getting your meat later, you are shortening the time that it is outside of a refrigerated area. Bring your meat home right away and put it into your fridge. That process will help your meat last longer.
Why the Best Meats are the Most Expensive?
If you prefer high-quality meat, then you know that getting the meat you like comes at a higher cost. While this is somewhat frustrating, there are some excellent reasons why prices for the best meats are loftier than those of low-quality meats.
Lower Demand
The most reasonable explanation for why the best meats cost more is that there is less demand for those meats. Whether consumers cannot afford them or they simply prefer other options, top-of-the-line meats are not the most popular items in a grocery store.
Since there is a smaller group of people who desire high-quality meats, meat suppliers are willing to raise the price of their meat to make production worthwhile. By raising those prices, meat suppliers stand a better chance of profiting from high-quality meat even though the demand is minimal.
Greater Production Costs
Another reason why the best meats are the most expensive is that they require more time and effort to produce. The benefit of large-scale grain-fed cattle is that farmers can make a lot of meat in a relatively short amount of time.
On the other hand, organic and grass-fed beef takes longer to raise. These animals also need more room, meaning that organic farmers will get a smaller meat yield for the same land area compared to those who use factory farming methods. To compensate for those production costs, those who sell grass-fed and organic meats do so at a higher price.
Other Places to Find Great Meat
The supermarket is not the only place to find the best meats. In fact, there are some smaller-scale options that may have better quality meat than what you would find in a corporate grocery store. If you find that you are struggling to find the best meat in a supermarket, consider shopping elsewhere. In the sections below, you can learn about a few alternatives to the supermarket where you can find the best meats.
Butcher Shops
Butcher shops are some of the best locations for finding great meat. This is no surprise considering that meat is the distinct specialty of a butcher.
By shopping at a butcher shop for your meat, you can gain greater insight into how the animal lived and how the butcher prepared the meat. This eliminates all questions about humane meat farming practices.
At a butcher shop, you can open a dialogue with the butcher to learn about where the meat came from and what the quality is like. Often, local butchers will prepare meats themselves after selecting whole animals from nearby farms.
Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s markets are another great place to find high-quality meat. As with most ingredients at a farmer’s market, you can easily find out where your meat came from.
Since farmer’s markets are a local affair, you have a good chance of finding healthy local meats. Just like with butcher shops, farmer’s markets let you get to know your meat supplier and have a better idea of what it took to get your meat from the farm to your table.
Online/Meal Delivery Meats
This method is a bit less conventional than others, but purchasing high-quality meat is something you can no do online. Many of these online services will deliver meat to your doorstep.
The options for meal delivery are growing. So, you will need to do some research to ensure the service you choose has great meats that come from healthy sources. As you browse, you’ll find many companies for whom that is the case.
Conclusion
Finding great meat is easier than ever before. There are several grocery stores that offer meats that are healthy for you and come to you via a humane farming practice. To select those meats, you need to know not only where but how to find great meats. Start by looking in the supermarkets we listed here. If you still cannot find the meat you want, know that there are other options as well.