Pork Butts at Wal-mart

[BBQ_Mayor]

Hey All-
I did a practice run with my cooker yesterday. I was mainly dialing in the cooker and practicing trimming up the butt the way I want it for comps.
So I bought a 9lb butt from Wally world. I don't like cooking any of wally worlds pork because it tastes hammy to me and I don't like it, but the price was right for a practice.

This got me to thinking. Does anybody use pork from Wal-mart for Comps?

[KC_Bobby]

We use Sam's Club. Before I had a membership I bought butts at WM all the time, I never noticed anything bad. However, I didn't care for their picnics.

[Divemaster]

Check at Sam's... I picked up a case of butt's for $.93 a pound... $63 for 67 pounds....

[NCGrimbo]

I buy about half of my butts from Wally World. I've never had them taste hammy. I did buy a shoulder that I smoked and it tasted very hammy.

[TOPS BBQ]

I don't buy from either. They are the owned by the same company right? For pork butts, I just get those at the local butcher. My butcher has them on sale for $.89/lb occassionally, so I just bulk up at those times.

[RixCue]

Hey Man,

I think I have been there and done that too. If you look at the package label on the butts from Wally you will most likely see they are enhanced. In my experience in a side by side cook with Wally butts and Sams butts I just don’t like the pre enhanced butts from ,ANYWHERE. The butts from Sams are fresh, that to me is the best . Then you can do what you want to them.


Rick

[River City Smokehouse]

I never buy pork from WM. It is all enhanced and from that it'll taste like ham every time.

[Que'inKC]

Check at Sam's... I picked up a case of butt's for $.93 a pound... $63 for 67 pounds....

I did the same thing...Saturday I picked up a case for .92 per lbs...I thought it was a great price...Although i had to buy a freezer to put it all in..

[Divemaster]

I did the same thing...Saturday I picked up a case for .92 per lbs...I thought it was a great price...Although i had to buy a freezer to put it all in..
I'm keeping a lookout for a second freezer... Watch it, once you start they are like smokers, you can never have enough.... lol

[Que'inKC]

I haven't had a freezer for a while, but since I've been doing all this cook'in I've figured out that i probably needed one...it's a small one...Just a 7cu, but will do for now...

[Smokin Gator]

Yep,

All the butts and ribs I see at WM are enhanced. I don't buy them except for in a pinch like Saturday morning when I realized I was short 2 racks of BBs.

[BBQ_Mayor]

Check at Sam's... I picked up a case of butt's for $.93 a pound... $63 for 67 pounds....


Wow! Great price. It'd be good for a party or catering but I never freeze my butts for competition. Alway fresh unfrozen.

I do by all my meat from Sams or Costos. I was just wondering if anybody has ever used WM meat. Sounds like a few have tried it.

[bigmeatbbq]

I would'nt use it. At least here. The meat at our local WM just plain sucks. I think its one grade above "Fit for human consumption." I buy from a local market that has a butcher. He gives me my choice of butts, brisket and ribs.

[tjv]

I try to stay away from walmart for anything. Too much a hassle to get to and get around inside......man, I'm getting more and more like my dad, LOL.

[Neil]

Whole packer brisket is the only cut of meat I buy at Walmart because they are the only store around here that has them. Butts I buy by the case from Sam's and have never had a complaint.

[Bigmista]

I avoid Walmart wheever I can. Just too crowded and unorganized. Never bought meat from there.

[Cabntmkr1]

I buy whole packer briskets at W-M, but nothing else because I don't like the enhanced meats.

[TOPS BBQ]

I avoid Walmart wheever I can. Just too crowded and unorganized. Never bought meat from there.

Finally! Someone who has the same feelings about WM as I do.:eusa_clap

[Divemaster]

Do you really notice the differance when you freeze them? I can't tell the frozen from fresh when they are side by side.

[ipls3355]

The butts at our WM are Tyson. I've used them with no problem. They were out last time and I went to a local grocer on the other side of town and he sold me 2 cryovacced for 0.20 cheaper then walmart. He got a new customer that day.

[jestridge]

I use to buy them from wm they was ok. I buy them from Save-Lot noe they are really good.

[scott millman]

Not sure if Restaurant Depot is nationwide, but if you have means of gaining a membership to the store I recommend their meat....I get all my meat from them or a butcher who supplies my buddies restaurant...fortunate to have both available

[BBQ_Mayor]

Do you really notice the differance when you freeze them? I can't tell the frozen from fresh when they are side by side.


I have never had any luck at a comp when I freeze them. Well, to be honest, I have never had much luck with pork period at any comp.
But the frozen butts did worse. I think it breaks down some of the integrity of the meat and it comes out mushy and stringing. It just doesn't cook the same.
So I stick with fresh.
I'm not saying that freezing your butts won't work, it has just not worked for me.

[MTHank]

Anybody ever see the video/DVD "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?" If not? You need to check it out. I am sure they are not alone in their practices. BUT???
Sorry not trying to hijack here... so I return this to the orginal...

[Divemaster]

I have never had any luck at a comp when I freeze them. Well, to be honest, I have never had much luck with pork period at any comp.
But the frozen butts did worse. I think it breaks down some of the integrity of the meat and it comes out mushy and stringing. It just doesn't cook the same.
So I stick with fresh.
I'm not saying that freezing your butts won't work, it has just not worked for me.
Thanks for the heads up... With this being my first year in comps, I didn't know... I'll have to watch that....

Anyone else notice this????

[G$]

Does anybody use pork from Wal-mart for Comps?

Yes.

[watertowerbbq]

Ray,

I use the pork from Fareway and really like it. When I've asked them to get me a butt, they get a pair of them in a cryo pack from their cooler, open it and give me one (the larger one usually :-D). It appears to be the same cryo packs that you can get at Sams. Good luck in KC this weekend!