Is bulk meat right for me? Here's what to ask yourself.

So you're thinking about buying a whole or half animal. 

It's a big investment - and for the right customer, it's often a life-changing one. There's a reason that our bulk meat customers usually order a whole or half animal again...and again...and again. Once they source their meat that way, they don't want to do it any differently. 

But how do you know that YOU'LL feel that way? We have a quick checklist we've compiled, with help from our most successful customers, to help you determine if bulk meat is right for you. 

Question 1: Do I like cooking - or already cook regularly? 

Bulk meat is best for customers who already enjoy cooking, or are already committed to cooking at home. 

Cooking (just like purchasing a whole or half animal) is a big investment. If you've already built cooking into your daily routine, then bulk meat can make your life a LOT easier. 

Picture, for example, this scenario: you come home after a long day. Maybe the kids are screaming. Maybe everyone's nerves are a little frazzled. Or maybe you've been working from home and you feel like you've barely looked up from what you're doing. 

And guess what? It's 5 o'clock. And you have no plan and no meat pulled out. 

Do you know what our bulk customers do in this scenario? They don't sweat it. They don't order takeout. They just walk to the freezer, pull out a pound of ground meat, and thaw it in some lukewarm water. Often, they can still get dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less. 

This works because they care deeply about eating home-cooked food. And they want something that's going to make it easy for them to eat the food that they feel is best for them and their family - even on the most chaotic of days. 

Question 2: Do I need (or want) to eat the best animal-raised protein possible - but on a budget that works for me? 

This is one of the biggest concerns our bulk customers have. 

They care about sourcing only 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef and lamb, or non-GMO, woodland-raised pork. 

But regeneratively grown meat from small farms is expensive. They want to eat what they feel is best. But they often have limited budgets. 

It's common for people to balk when they see the price of a bulk animal. Yes, it's a lot of money to spend upfront. 

But do you know what our bulk customers aren't doing for 8, 12, or even 18 months? They're not worrying about the price of meat, and how it's rising. 

Purchasing bulk meat allows you to "lock in" prices as they are right now - not what they'll be in 6 months, or 12 months. And given the state of the beef industry, prices will undoubtedly be higher then. (You can learn more about why that is here.) 

That means they know they'll get the highest-quality meat possible. And that makes it an investment in their health, but also an investment in their peace of mind - because they don't have to worry about the rising cost of meat. 

We also try to make the price tag a bit easier by splitting the payments more equally. The initial deposit is about half the total cost you'll owe (the remainder is paid when you receive your meat). This makes it easier for our customers to plan and budget. 

We also work hard to reward our returning bulk customers, too. All prior bulk customers get a special discounted price and a private window to re-order each year, before we open up orders to the public.  

Question 3: Am I willing to experiment? 

One thing our bulk customers love? The ability to customize exactly what kind of meat they want. Bone-in steaks vs. boneless, ground beef vs. roasts, fajita strips, bone-in vs. boneless chops...customers can pick exactly the kind of meat that they know and love, so that the food they order will work in their home kitchen. 

But they also love to experiment a bit, too. All bulk customers will receive some bones and organs as part of their animal. 

If you've heard about eating organs - and especially the nutritional benefits they bring - then a bulk animal is often a great time to learn and experiment. Try out making bone broth. Chop up beef hearts and livers and mix them with your ground beef to make an "ancestral" blend. 

Ultimately, a bulk animal can help you expand your horizons -- while also still providing you with the majority of cuts that you're already familiar with and skilled at making. 

If you feel like you've answered "yes" to each of these questions, then a whole or half animal is probably an excellent fit for you. The next step? Check out our bulk meat page, where you can find the answers to frequently asked questions and shop either a whole or half cow, or a whole hog or lamb. Or reach out and send us an email - we're happy to answer any questions that you have.