Where to Buy a Side of Beef Near Me

Buying a side of beef can be a great way to stock up your freezer with high-quality meat at a reasonable price. But finding a trusted local source to purchase a side of beef is key. I’ve done the research to find the best places to buy a side of beef near me, so you have a go-to guide.

What is a Side of Beef?

A side of beef refers to half a cow that has been professionally butchered and cut into typical meat cuts. This includes roasts, steaks, ribs, brisket, short ribs, stew meat, and ground beef. On average, a side of beef weighs between 300 to 400 pounds.

When you buy a whole side of beef, you can specify how you want it cut and processed. This allows you to customize your order based on how your household prefers to cook different beef cuts. It’s a great way to buy meat in bulk quantity at a price per pound that is often cheaper than buying individual retail cuts.

Benefits of Buying a Side of Beef

Here are some of the biggest benefits of purchasing a side of beef for your family

• Cost savings – Buying a side of beef in bulk is almost always cheaper per pound compared to buying packaged supermarket meat You can expect to save at least $2 per pound

• Custom cutting – You can request specific cuts and thicknesses tailored to your family’s needs. Get roasts boneless, steaks cut extra thick, etc.

• Quality – Sides of beef often come from local farms where the cattle are humanely raised on pasture. This results in better marbling and flavor.

• Variety – One side of beef will give you a wide assortment of cuts to stock your freezer. From ground beef to T-bones, one purchase has everything you need.

• Food sourcing – Knowing exactly where your beef comes from gives you food sourcing transparency. This appeals to many consumers today.

Where to Buy a Side of Beef Near Me

I researched the best places near me to purchase a locally raised side of beef. Here are the top retailers I recommend:

Local Butcher Shops

For fresh, custom-cut sides of beef, your neighborhood butcher shop is a top choice. I found great options with stellar reputations.

• Joe’s Meat Market – family-owned for 30+ years, offers premium beef sides from Midwest farms. Also does professional custom cutting in-house.

• Steve’s Meat Market – specializes in high-quality local sides of beef aged for 14+ days. Third-party animal welfare approved.

• John’s Butcher Block – cuts each side on-premises after ordering. Sources top graded Angus beef from regional farms.

The knowledgeable butchers at shops like these can advise you on the hanging weight, cutting instructions, and total yield you can expect from your beef side. Plan to pay a deposit.

Direct from Local Farms

Another option is to buy beef directly from a local cattle farm. Look for ones that sell beef by the side in your area.

Advantages are knowing exactly which farm your beef is from and building a relationship directly with the rancher. However, you may need to transport the meat to a butcher for cutting.

I found a few recommended farms that sell sides of beef within 50 miles from me:

• Fairfield Family Farm – grass-fed Herefords raised sustainably. Quarter, half, and whole sides available.

• Winding River Ranch – seventh generation farm selling hormone and antibiotic-free beef sides.

• Green Hill Meats – pasture-raised, grain-finished Angus sides with no added hormones or antibiotics.

Buying directly from a farm usually means visiting the ranch to select your beef ahead of time. This allows you to see the source firsthand.

Online Meat Delivery

Ordering beef online and having it shipped to your door is easier than ever. These services deliver quality pre-cut sides nationwide:

• Crowd Cow – works with independent farms and ranchers to deliver beef, poultry, and seafood.

• Porter Road – sources beef from Kentucky and Tennessee and dry ages each side for 21 days.

• Snake River Farms – this ranch in Idaho offers American Wagyu beef sides with extensive marbling.

I would order a small sampler box first to taste the quality before purchasing a whole side of beef online. Shipping costs need to be accounted for as well.

What to Look for When Buying a Side of Beef

To find the best side of beef, keep these tips in mind:

• Grading – Look for USDA Choice or Prime grade to ensure good marbling and tenderness.

• Breed – Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Limousin, and Simmental are recommended beef breeds.

• Feed – Pasture-raised and grass-fed is preferred by many. Or find local grain-finished beef.

• Hormones & Antibiotics – Choose beef raised without added growth hormones or antibiotics for a more natural option.

• Aging – Well-aged beef for at least 14 days improves flavor and tenderness.

• Humane Certifications – Look for Animal Welfare Approved or Certified Humane designations.

• Cutting – Ask if the retailer does their own in-house custom cutting to your order specifications.

• Price – Expect to pay $3 to $6 per pound hanging weight. Additional cutting and wrapping fees apply.

How Much Meat Will a Side of Beef Yield?

Once processing is complete, you can expect a beef side to yield between 60% to 75% of the original hanging weight in packaged meat for your freezer.

For example, a 400 lb hanging weight side of beef will yield approximately 240 to 300 lbs of cuts and ground beef after processing.

Here’s a typical breakdown of what you can expect from a single beef side:

• 25-30 lbs ground beef
• 3-5 lbs soup bones
• 5-8 lbs short ribs
• 8-12 lbs stew meat
• 10-14 lbs rump roast, chuck roast
• 12-18 lbs sirloin steaks, round steaks
• 6-10 lbs tenderloin steaks
• 8-12 lbs ribeye steaks
• 6-10 lbs T-bone/Porterhouse steaks

Keep in mind every beef side is slightly different based on the cattle breed, feed, and thickness of cuts. Your butcher can give you a more precise expected yield.

Average Cost of a Side of Beef

On average, expect to pay:

• $3 to $6 per pound hanging weight
• Plus approximately $100 to $150 processing fees

So a 350 lb hanging weight beef side at $5 per pound will be about $1,750 + $125 processing = $1,875 total

Compared to paying $7 to $12 per pound for packaged beef at the grocery store, that puts the total savings at $875 for a 350 lb side.

As you can see, buying a whole side of beef can make economic sense for many households who have the large freezer space needed to store a bulk meat purchase.

Where to Store a Side of Beef

A key question many people have is where to store an entire side of beef. Here are a few options:

• Chest freezer – A large upright deep freezer is ideal. Look for at least 15 cubic feet of capacity.

• Garage freezer – Another option is a standalone freezer in the garage to dedicate to meat storage.

• Borrow a freezer – Ask family or friends if you can store meat in their extra freezers short term.

• Renting a freezer – Some butcher shops and storage facilities rent out freezer space monthly.

Ideally, you’ll want an empty freezer that maintains 0°F temperature for optimal beef preservation. Carefully wrap and label each cut.

Is Buying a Side of Beef Worth It?

At the end of the day, is purchasing an entire side of beef really worth the upfront investment? For many households, the answer is a resounding yes!

You get incredible variety and volume of meat for much cheaper than retail costs. Just be sure you have storage capacity and the motivation to cook beef often.

The bottom line is buying a locally raised side of beef gives you quality, customized cuts at an affordable price per pound. With proper storage in a large freezer, it can stock your family’s meat needs for months to come.

So check around with local butchers, farms, and specialty meat markets to find the best beef side for your needs and budget. Happy grilling!