How To Buy The Best Meat For Your Family

When you buy meat, you're not just choosing a cut. You're choosing the way that animal was raised.

At Brook Green Market, our farmers believe great meat starts long before it reaches your plate.

Grass-fed: cattle that spend their lives grazing on grass produce beef with a different flavour and fat profile from grain-fed cattle. Grass-fed beef often contains higher levels of omega-3 fats, and many people appreciate its rich, distinctive taste.

Free-range: animals with access to the outdoors have more opportunity to move around and express natural behaviours. Meat from animals that have had the opportunity to graze, roam and behave naturally develop their muscles in a way that gives excellent texture and flavour.

Slow-reared: Good farming takes time. Slower rearing allows animals to mature naturally. Many specialist farmers believe this patience produces meat with deeper flavour and a better eating experience.

It's not all about fillet and sirloin... Some of the most delicious cuts are often the least expensive. Brisket, shin, featherblade, cheeks, shoulder and skirt all reward slow cooking, becoming beautifully tender and packed with flavour. A slow-cooked stew, braise or ragu can be every bit as satisfying as a prime steak, often at a fraction of the cost. It's one of the best ways to eat well while getting great value.

Most supermarkets stock the same familiar cuts, but buying directly from farmers gives you access to a much wider variety. Alongside favourites like ribeye, sirloin and chicken breasts, you'll often find cuts such as bavette, featherblade, onglet, skirt, shin, cheeks, oxtail, beef short ribs, lamb shoulder and other lesser-known cuts that are packed with flavour.

Our farmers are always happy to recommend something new and explain exactly how to cook it, helping you discover meals you may never have thought to make before.

Respect the whole animal: For generations, people practised ‘nose-to-tail’ eating, making good use of every part of the animal. It's a tradition that's making a welcome return. Have you ever tried Thor's Hammer, flat iron steak, featherblade or beef short ribs?

Choosing a wider range of cuts helps reduce waste, supports the farmer who has carefully reared the animal and opens the door to some truly outstanding meals you may never have tried before.

You’ll always find exceptional meat producers at Brook Green Market.

Picks Organic Farm bring an incredible range of certified organic, grass-fed beef, all cut to order every Saturday. The team at Picks are passionate about nose-to-tail eating and are always happy to explain the different cuts, recommend the best value and tell you exactly how to cook them.

Follow Picks Organics on Instagram.

Great meat doesn't begin at the butcher's counter, it begins on the farm. Come and meet the people who produce your meat - see you on Saturday!

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