A Sad State of Affairs at Walmart

Bet it wasn't even select. There have been a number of discussion in other forums about this issue.

Yes, it's sad.

What funny is that one Sam's in town will have select briskets and the other will have choice. But I stopped buy at Sam's some time ago, found better sources...finally.

In my area ,upstate NY Walmart beef is clearly marked select.
In my opinion not worth a dam.
ihave never seen a piece of Wlmart beef that my eye told me to buy.
Bright red and no white.
No white,no good.
dick

I saw this sad state first hand. I was a store manager for a large grocery chain in Fla. for close to 30 years. As the older "meat cutters" retired, they were replaced with "market" employees with the most basic in skills. Non of which were capable of breaking down beef, or much else. Not surprising that the grade is unknown. I think many retailers don't want anyone to know what grade they're selling. We were known to only carry choice and we hung it another 30 days. Now, I won't buy anything there. It's not the same any more.

The super wally here has the best ribeyes in town. Everything else is trash.

Well,there is good, and bad ,about having to depend on Superwally.

They might be the only game in town for many folks seeking packers.

Yep,they are usually select,or maybe cutters,or norolls.

The bottom end may have cuts through the flat,and should have been ground for burgers.

If they have them,they often don't sell and can be bought for $0.99,so you can at least practice.

Sometimes they get choice,and they are the same price as all the others.

Sometimes they get the same delivery as Sam's-which can be better quality.

It is typically the only noninjected product in the store.

They know nothing,so the choice cases,and even the occasional CAB s,get mixed together.

Like Smokin says,we don't seek them out-but.

I'm not a fan of Wal-Mart, but earlier today I needed a DV cable (copying old home videos to DVD) so I figured WM was the place to go, and while I was there I wanted to check on price/quality of briskets.

Not only did they have no briskets, they didn't have the DV cable either! Walked out digusted and empty-handed.

I would much rather use choice if price was not an issue but the reality is that select from a commercial stand point is 1) the standard 2) arguable better yield (see commercial) and 3) conformity/quality, I cannot tell the difference...( u competitive smokers/que'ers will disagree, I know so don't bother to rip me...
I have cooked briskets professionally for over 20 years and have never seen a select grade that was trimmed improperly.We just got a super wally in town & saw whole brisket there. I was simply happy to see it available. Before if I was catering and did not need or want my vendor to delivery a full case i was limited to driving to sam's along ways away. Dont knock the convenience factor. Best regard to ALL and keep smokin!

quote:

Originally posted by Infamous David:
I would much rather use choice if price was not an issue but the reality is...........

My issue was not really what grade Walmart was selling. What tends to piss me off is that the grade, no matter what it is, is not clearly (or unclearly for that matter) marked and that nobody in the whole meat department knew or seemed to care.

point well taken.

The Walmart and Sam's here will let you know if it's choice. They put a red, white, and blue sticker marked "Choice" on the package. If they don't mark it, it isn't.