Price for pork belly?

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bigfish98

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
394
12
Bismarck, ND
OK, I am getting ready to do my first Buckboard Bacon.  This is my first venture into the world of making bacon.  I decided to go with BBB because I can get pork shoulder for 1.70 a pound at sams.  The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to try regular bacon made from pork belly, so I contacted a local butcher to see what their price was per pound.  They informed me that they sell it for $3.99 a pound. 

I have two small kids, a house I am trying to sell, daycare and an apartment, so one of my main goals behind making my own bacon (other than the fact that bacon is so good and I can never have too much) is to make it cheaper than what I can buy it for in the store.  Well, at $3.99 a pound just for the meat (not counting the time, effort and other ingredients), I can't see it being economically feasible, even though I see the merit of making something to your own tastes.  So my question is then, can making your own bacon from pork belly be cheaper than buying it in the store, or is BBB the only way to make it for less than store bought? 
 
Have you checked with other butchers in your area?

I paid $2.59lb here, but prices vary from one area to the next,

I saw folks on here saying how cheap a tri tip roast was, and when I checked with my butcher he wanted sirloin prices.
 
You may need to get them to price a  3 or 5 belly case for you.  Smaller butchers don't like stocking it because there isn't that great a demand for it if you do not have large Asian and Hispanic populations in your area.

The other option is to find someone that actually butchers pigs on-site.  They will have them or can save them for you.
 
Shop the small stores...

I just got a case for 2.29..

Most already made bacon packages bought in stores are less than a pound.

Craig
 
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I'm at 2.69lb here in Northeast FLa.
 
I am a complete moron!  My uncle works at a Farmland packing plant in Illinois that butchers hogs!  I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner!  I am gonna see if he can get me a couple cases for cheep and my parents can bring them when they come visit!!  D'oh!

Bigfish
 
hey just an update...

i am looking into this as we speak. i have had my local bucher on notice for months that on his next order toss some on for me. they called yesterday to let me know they are still a while away from needing to order but they were at the (somewhat local) Cash & Cary (35 miles) has a sale until the end of the month on Bellies $2.15lb case pricing and a case is 4-5 pieces at +or- 42 lbs. i called the Restraunt Depot (acroos the street) after looking at their web site and they have them individual (10-14lbs)  for $2.15lb. for any one that has one of these locations available. as stated above price can vary around the country, we are in the northwest. hope this helps..

Tom
 
hey just an update...

i am looking into this as we speak. i have had my local bucher on notice for months that on his next order toss some on for me. they called yesterday to let me know they are still a while away from needing to order but they were at the (somewhat local) Cash & Cary (35 miles) has a sale until the end of the month on Bellies $2.15lb case pricing and a case is 4-5 pieces at +or- 42 lbs. i called the Restraunt Depot (acroos the street) after looking at their web site and they have them individual (10-14lbs)  for $2.15lb. for any one that has one of these locations available. as stated above price can vary around the country, we are in the northwest. hope this helps..

Tom
I've got some decent deals on bellies at cash & carry here in cali but the bellies are frozen and still have the rind on em. I hate trying to remove the rind. If you don't mind rind then cash & carry is a good deal.
 
 
bigfish98... you need to call and place an order for pork belly at your Cloverdale plant in Mandan, my wife called last week and drove there today to pick up our 2 cases of 47 pounds for $2.00 per pound. Quite a bit of other wholesale meat there also!
 
bigfish98... you need to call and place an order for pork belly at your Cloverdale plant in Mandan, my wife called last week and drove there today to pick up our 2 cases of 47 pounds for $2.00 per pound. Quite a bit of other wholesale meat there also!
Thanks Mossy!  I will definitely give them a call!  I didn't even know there was a cloverdale plant in Mandan.  I am new to the area, but how did I miss that!

Thanks again!

Bigfish
 
Man the cheapest I have ever gotten them here is $2.99 mostly $3.29 
 
One local smoke house in central Oregon wanted five bucks a pound for a fresh belly.

Then I went to whole foods, talked to the butcher, and he went back and got me a belly. I didn't ask the price, but it turned out to be $3 a pound, with the rind taken off. I think, if you are at anyplace that makes their own bacon and sausage on site, they will have bellies. I'd like to look around some more, I'll report back!
 
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