Charny
Knows what a fatty is.
I have had a hankerin' for some winter ribs and headed out to Costco and Sams yesterday to resolve my craving. Sam's Club had back ribs for $2.99 but the cryo 3 packs are completely unmarked. Just a USDA approval, and a couple numbers (bag dimension, and I think the other may be bag part number), plus the usual Sams label.
The meat guys checked the case and they said they are Smithfield. They also said they are a bit smaller than normal, which I noticed. I'd say the distance between ribs is smaller than normal (I can't get a finger between the bones at the end), the bones are shorter, and they have a bit more meat above the rack (though not excessive).
The lack of branding seemed very odd for ribs and put me on alert. I guess the size is indicative of smaller, younger hogs, which might be a good thing. I had already stopped at Costco, and they had IBP, but only four back rib cryos ro choose from ($2.89). Sams normally has a larger selection of ribs, and I didn't really want to go back to Costco.
I bought a pack, but overnight had second thoughts - I need to make my winter smoking count, and can't experiment. Smithfield is normally pretty proud about their branding and labeling on the cryos. It just seems odd to me that these are plain.
Costco is new to this area, and opened about a year ago. They are putting pressure on Sams and business is starting to shift over (though that has nothing to do with this). A couple months ago I did have some sulfury IBPs from Costco but I know that was just a fluke, and returned them (I bought a premium brisket instead).
Anyone else seen this unbranded packaging at Sams or from Smithfield? I am now even a bit more leery after I saw the China connection when looking into Smithfield products.
The meat guys checked the case and they said they are Smithfield. They also said they are a bit smaller than normal, which I noticed. I'd say the distance between ribs is smaller than normal (I can't get a finger between the bones at the end), the bones are shorter, and they have a bit more meat above the rack (though not excessive).
The lack of branding seemed very odd for ribs and put me on alert. I guess the size is indicative of smaller, younger hogs, which might be a good thing. I had already stopped at Costco, and they had IBP, but only four back rib cryos ro choose from ($2.89). Sams normally has a larger selection of ribs, and I didn't really want to go back to Costco.
I bought a pack, but overnight had second thoughts - I need to make my winter smoking count, and can't experiment. Smithfield is normally pretty proud about their branding and labeling on the cryos. It just seems odd to me that these are plain.
Costco is new to this area, and opened about a year ago. They are putting pressure on Sams and business is starting to shift over (though that has nothing to do with this). A couple months ago I did have some sulfury IBPs from Costco but I know that was just a fluke, and returned them (I bought a premium brisket instead).
Anyone else seen this unbranded packaging at Sams or from Smithfield? I am now even a bit more leery after I saw the China connection when looking into Smithfield products.