Prime vs Choice when is it worth going prime?

[sandyut]

Beef lovers,

I read a great write up on here on a brisket comparison here between choice and prime. basically no difference noted.

I can get NY strips at Costco for $7.99 choice and 15.99 prime, butcher is $16.99 and I think these were choice also. the strips didn't look all that different for 2X the price.

If I was going for a filet, I would have the butcher cut these fresh and to my requested thickness. Costco filets just seem strange to me - overly marbled, cut in odd shapes, mega thick and so on. there wasnt much cost savings on these at Costco either.

SO - it seems like there are some cuts where it matters and others not so much. what is you experience - suggestions on when Prime is worth the costs?

thanks!

 

[Bearcarver]

Sorry, I Can't help you.
I can honestly say I have never had anything accused of being "Prime".
I always choose "Choice".
Great Meat, and usually reasonably priced.

Bear

 

[BoilerBBQ]

I've been buying the entire top loin from Costco and cutting my own NY strip steaks. It is $5.99/lb for choice and $6.99/lb for prime. I only got prime once and actually preferred the choice. The prime was extra fatty and the texture of the meat seemed a little grainy. My sample size was only 1, so it could have just been a bad cut, but I'm happy with choice NY strip.

 

[fivetricks]

If it was strip I was considering, I'd prob just go with choice. Prime essentially just means more marveling. If I'm buying strip, that's not something I require.

If it was me, I'd buy the choice whole strip roast at a good price and dry age that sucker for 45-60 days and turn it into something that blows prime out of the water :-)

 

[sandyut]

I have not tried the dry aging yet. but thinking it over. any tips on that?

 

[noboundaries]

Choice is my preferred grade because I haven't noticed a huge difference in tenderness between Prime and Choice. That said, I recently grilled some Choice grade ribeyes with decent marbling that were tougher than shoe leather. My wife would'nt eat hers. They were the worst steaks I've had in years.

Since 2016 better cuts of beef are being sent to the Asian markets willing to pay a premium price. We get the price increase and a lower quality of meat. Free enterprise is alive and well.

"Eat mor chik'n."

 

[Preacher Man]

I buy prime when it's cheaper than choice.

 

[fivetricks]

I have not tried the dry aging yet. but thinking it over. any tips on that?

A good fridge that you can set to a constant temperature with some sort of constant or semi constant air movement is all you really need.

The open shelf space for several weeks I suppose is a requirement too

 

[johnmeyer]

The only time I buy prime is for steaks and standing rib roasts.

A much bigger difference, IMHO, is the difference between supermarket meat and what you can get at a top-of-the-line butcher. We still have a couple of these locally, and whether you get choice or prime, their meat is far better than supermarket or Costco meat.

It has to be a special occasion to justify buying at these places because the price is considerably higher.

 

[sandyut]

Grocery meats kinda gross me out (hope not offend anyone). My butcher has great meat. it costs a touch more and I wouldn't buy every thing there or I would be broke. But hey will cut me anything I want and even bone a leg of lamb on request. Their pork is superior and not much if any more than the grocery. I have not looked at costco for pork...but if its vacuum packed in a saucy mess I will pass. NY's costco for half the price is a no brainer. Filets - butsher only...no question the best steak I have ever had.
Prime seems to just not be worth it most of the time, but I would consider for special occations and special sales. Like when they had wagu full packers on sale...man i wish they would just call me when they do that again!

 

[tardissmoker]

The only time I buy prime is for steaks and standing rib roasts.

A much bigger difference, IMHO, is the difference between supermarket meat and what you can get at a top-of-the-line butcher. We still have a couple of these locally, and whether you get choice or prime, their meat is far better than supermarket or Costco meat.

It has to be a special occasion to justify buying at these places because the price is considerably higher.

Having worked at both in a former, much earlier life, it is because the local guy hasn't the volume of the supermarket and so ages his stuff to ensure a happy customer = repeat business. The big stores don't care. Locally you get better customer relations too. I was once asked to be a best man at a wedding. Nuts, eh! Yep, Canadian and proud of it!