Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

2

When does the lean to fat ratio of grass-fed beef make it not worth bothering with? I found a VERY close (I have no idea how I missed the field of longhorns driving by it three times a week, but it happened) source with what I think are reasonable prices (grass-fed, no hormones/antibiotics), especially considering I won't have to waste much gas to get it -

$3.50/# for 95/5 ground beef
$5.50/# choice roasts/liver
choice filet/ribeye/t-bone/sirloin between $10.00-$12.00/#
they do bulk for hanging weight with butchering/packing for $3.75/#.

...anyway, the rancher touts the beef as "naturally lean Texas longhorn" and such, and with that sort of fat-to-lean ratio, am I getting much benefit over the grain-fed stuff (aside from ethical issues)? I suppose I could ask if she sells the suet, perhaps?? It's just literally down the street - talk about buying local. Heeeelp.

flag	asked Feb 17 2012 at 23:58 Blossom1 1,303●2●13

	Definitely ask for any extra fat. Even if you don't add it to your ground beef, you could render it down to tallow. Grass-fed lard is a beautiful, tasty thing. – Chris Feb 18 2012 at 0:10
	Is it difficult to add into ground beef? I am trying to picture how that would work...I do possess a pro meat grinder, but I've never used it - regrind? – Blossom1 Feb 18 2012 at 0:20
	Just curious... where in TX? – malapert Feb 18 2012 at 0:45
	Totally not in Texas...just the breed name. :-) – Blossom1 Feb 18 2012 at 0:55
	Blossom- I would think you'd have to to regrind. Throw in some ground meat, few chunks of fat, repeat. – Chris Feb 18 2012 at 14:35

Dragonfly · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-18 00:11:39Z UTC

2

Try it! (Unless you have to buy a side of it at once?)

85/15 is the lowest I go with ground beef, so you could add some fat or skip it.

Steaks depend on the breed and pasture.

We had 3 local producers where we used to live and I only liked the meat from one of them.

answered Feb 18 2012 at 0:11

Dragonfly
31.2k●1●8●41

1

Nope, by the pound. Good point. It's down the street, and it's $3.50. Durr. – Blossom1 Feb 18 2012 at 0:18

1

I see a new business for you in my crystal ball. Pack that up in some dry ice and ship it out to the rest of us who are paying $6+/lb. for ground grassfed. – Happy Now Feb 18 2012 at 9:30

pjnoir · Answer 2 · 2012-02-18 00:15:35Z UTC

grass fed is leaner but not all GRASS FED is the same. You need to invest time and finding the right farm or rancher. A good butcher should not cut the animal in the same way as a convential butcher does either. Cheaper cuts will be better.

Eric · Answer 3 · 2012-02-18 06:03:25Z UTC

1

They are selling it as lean to market it to the low fat crowd. They will likely sell you meat with more fat. If it is grass fed it is worth it regardless of the fat level.

answered Feb 18 2012 at 6:03

Eric
22.5k●1●17●68

stephenj · Answer 4 · 2012-02-18 03:23:46Z UTC

She may mean it's not as well marbled -- you don't get much if any marbling in grass-fed -- in which case it could just be a matter of asking them not to trim cuts too close.

Another angle is just going for fatty cuts. I'd be really surprised if the brisket is lean, for example.

Happy Now · Answer 5 · 2012-02-18 04:03:55Z UTC

0

Depends what you want to do with it.

For making jerky from ground beef I go for as lean as possible.

Might be a good base for something like a bacon wrapped meatloaf.

answered Feb 18 2012 at 4:03

Happy Now
25.6k●13●68

Grass-fed Beef - how lean is too lean?

5 Answers