Hamburger meat???

[cpaysonc]

GFS?

 

[chopsaw]

My buddy uses those GFS chubs exclusively for his coney sauce / hot dog business. Always tastes damn good.

I buy the 81 / 19 . Been on sale for $4.49 a pound . Jeff it has really great beef flavor . I break it down into 1 1/2 pound packages . Vac seal and freeze .
Been using it for Summer sausage too .
On the SmokeFire !

It's good .

 

[chopsaw]

GFS?

Gordon's Food service .
See if they have one close to you .

 

[civilsmoker]

There is lots of misinformation and fear propagation going around about this but it’s (importing beef for ground) been happening for more than 20 years.

Second, I have worked in a USDA certified food production facility and what I can tell you is NOTHING like was described would be happening in these plants!!! The imported product is going to USDA facilities as it has been for 20 plus years….ie it’s not being snuck in on shadow boats in the cover of darkness…. The only thing that has changed is the imported beef is tariff free and the savings is to be passed on to the US customers….. are Beef moguls gonna make $$$ yup same as they have for countless years……

Most people don’t know that a lot of the healthy “free range” pork is just wild feral hogs that is trapped by farmers and dropped off at a USDA plant for inspection and processing……

If you are worried about it just buy US based ground chuck….. and have a drink while making a smash burger…..

 

[mr_whipple]

All that aside, I've noticed a change in texture whenever I buy ground beef. Chalky and kind of stringy at times. Don't know why that is, but I'm not liking it. I don't do a lot with ground beef, sloppy joes etc etc a burger here or there. I have been tinkering around with the idea of grinding my own and just ordered a dual grind head for my big bite #8.

 

[chopsaw]

I have worked in a USDA certified food production facility and what I can tell you is NOTHING like was described would be happening in these plants!!!

Exactly , and along with that know what you're buying . If you don't inform yourself , and only believe the BS , then that's your fault .
I started buying beef primals during covid . I started using the USDA website to gain some knowledge .
Everything you want to know is on the package .

If you are worried about it just buy US based ground chuck…

Yup . I was just at the store , and snapped a picture .


Not sure how many understand what they're looking at ,
Product of USA is an easy one
The stamp with a circle refers to the fact that it's been inspected .
EST stands for Establishment , and the number is the plant / establishment where it was processed .
You can look up the number on the USDA webite list . It will tell you where the plant is located .
Also , that's a vac packed product . Same idea as the chubs . It's sealed under inspection and has not been altered if the seal is intact .

You won't see that stamp on plastic wrapped , foil tray store grind . Why ? Because there was no inspector to watch the process .
I'm no expert on any of this , but I try to stay informed .

 

[civilsmoker]

All that aside, I've noticed a change in texture whenever I buy ground beef. Chalky and kind of stringy at times. Don't know why that is, but I'm not liking it. I don't do a lot with ground beef, sloppy joes etc etc a burger here or there. I have been tinkering around with the idea of grinding my own and just ordered a dual grind head for my big bite #8.

There has been a big change in how beef is finished…. Ie the desire for all grass freed….this is creating product that is “gamey” by nature and on opening then the lean water years while they are grass eating isn’t helping. Even the standard grain feed stuff has been reduce to 120-150 days when it was around 300 days….. they are also being harvest at a longer term (older) for increased Wt……

 

[sandyut]

He's the one that opened my eyes to buying the chubs of ground beef . All processed with USDA supervision and testing . If I'm not grinding my own I buy the chubs . I've bought 80 pounds in the last 2 months in anticipation of this madness .
It's tested on site pre grind , checked for the correct lean to fat ration , then tested again post grind , stuffed , and labled so you know what you're buying . I get it at GFS in 10 lb. chubs .
I never buy store grind anymore .

Nevermind. I found the store. Not close to me but good deals. Might need to make the trip one day

 

[sandyut]

Gordon's Food service .
See if they have one close to you .

DO you get your briskets there as well?

 

[chopsaw]

DO you get your briskets there as well?

Yes . I buy 99 % of all my meat there . They stopped stocking whole chickens , so I get those at a regular grocery store when on sale .

This used to be a normal run for me .
2 different runs , but you get the idea . To expensive to do that now .

 

[sandyut]

Yes . I buy 99 % of all my meat there . They stopped stocking whole chickens , so I get those at a regular grocery store when on sale .

This used to be a normal run for me .
2 different runs , but you get the idea . To expensive to do that now .
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WOW! They have some real good pricing that is for sure! Brisket would have saved me $25 compared to Costco on the last one I smoked.