Finding The Right Butcher

Loin-Back ribs before butcher cuts

When I'm cooking at home for practice or just for fun, I don't mind using meat from a store such as Sam's or Costco.

When its competition time and Money is on the line, I always rely on my butcher.

I use a local butcher that I've built a relationship with because he has a direct line to premium cuts of meat that I can't find at a Sams or Costco etc...

I've found that it helps to start a general search in your local area by phone book, internet, etc. Then I go out and visit these shops. The first thing I look for is cleanliness.

I've walked into some shops that wreak and have a sloppy freezers and meat boxes. This is an immediate Red Flag that the proprietor doesn't care about his customer or product. I want the freshest product available not something that has been in a smelly cooler with who knows what.

I make a point to talk to the owner. Most of these shops are individually owned and the person ordering, cutting, and selling the meat is one in the same.

First I explain to the butcher what I'm looking for, be it Fresh Boston Butts or C.A.B. Brisket, or Contest Cut Ribs.

I make sure that he understands that I'm looking for Quality Meat not a "deal".

My butcher trimming my ribs
butcher using a butcher saw

Let him know that you want the best quality meat that he can order and ask him to see some of his current stock.

I explain to him what goal I'm trying to achieve and how important the meat is to me from start to finish. You will find that most butchers are willing to listen and eager to help you find the exact product you want.

baby back ribs before trimming

butcher trimming pork ribs

Check-out the site...

The Perfect Slab Of Ribs - Spare Ribs Method Video Recipe - St. Louis vs. Baby Backs - Finding a good butcher - Secrets and tips - RIBS	Slow-Smoked Pork Perfection - Choosing your Shoulder or Butt - Secrets and tips - Pulled Pork - Shoulders for BBQ Contest Video
How To Cook A Whole Hog - How To Cook A Whole Hog - 9 Steps To Cook A Whole Hog - How We Trim Our Hog - 7 Tips For Cooking a Whole Hog - Injection Recipe and Video	Award-Winning Brisket Method - Competition-Style Beef Brisket - How To Trim A Brisket Video - Brisket Injection Recipe - Beef Brisket Recipe and Method - Brisket Cooking Tips - Brisket Burnt Ends Recipe
The BEST BBQ Chicken Recipe - My Best BBQ Chicken Recipe - Video BBQ Chicken Recipe - Competition BBQ Sauce Recipe	Competition BBQ - The Memphis In May Experience - Get Started In Competition BBQ - Competition BBQ Networks - Building A Blind Box for KCBS - Competition BBQ Events - BBQ Cooking Time Line
Grills and Equipment - How to Build a UDS Smoker - Smoker Facts and Tips - Choosing the perfect Grill - Equipment and Accessories	Other BBQ Pages - BBQ, Contest & Equipment Pictures - "How To" BBQ Videos - Killer Hog BBQ Team Videos - How to get started with Competition BBQ

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Here at HowtoBBQright.com, our goal is to provide you with the secrets, the methods and the techniques you need to produce competition-quality BBQ. We try very hard to give enough detail for BBQ novices, but still offer information that is useful for the professional BBQ cooks.

Here at HowtoBBQright.com we focus on cooking ribs, shoulder, brisket, chicken and whole hog... because that is what REAL bbq is... Malcom Reed Competition BBQ Champ

pork butss on smoker We spotlight 4 very important factors in bbq...

The meat
The methods
The flavors
The smoke

Once you have these four factors mastered you WILL produce a perfect product... mouth-watering bbq pork, brisket and chicken.

We also talk about bbq equipment, smokers and grills here at HowtoBBQright.com. And we LOVE to keep up with and try the latest BBQ gadgets... so you can expect to get our reviews on that stuff.

Killer Hogs BBQ Team HowtoBBQright.com is written by and run by Malcom Reed (with the help of his wife, Rachelle.)

Malcom and his brother Waylon are The Killer Hogs Competition BBQ Team. They have been competing in the MIM, MBN and Kansas City BBQ circuits for 10 years. They have won over 50 separate awards including grand champion and Patio Porkers Memphis In May Champion.

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