There's a Cow in My Freezer: The Complete Guide to Buying, Storing, and Enjoying Pasture-Raised Meat in Bulk

by Maxine Taylor

Overview

Imagine enjoying delicious, nutritious, locally raised, and ethically produced meat whenever you wanted, without the hassle of a trip to the farmers market or the hefty price tag at a high-end grocery store.

That's what buying meat in bulk is all about. Ordering beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and other meats by the quarter, half, or whole animal is an excellent way to save time and money. It also better connects you to your food, the people who produce it, and a more traditional and holistic way of eating. But how do you even buy an entire cow or half a hog? What exactly do you get? Where do you put it all?

Based on years of research and the firsthand experience of a health editor who's been eating this way since 2011, There's a Cow in My Freezer is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide that walks readers through the entire process of buying meat in bulk. You'll discover:

• why local grass-fed and pasture-raised meat is better for you, the animals, the community, and the environment, and how buying meat in bulk can simplify your life
• how to choose what to buy based on your household's budget, space, and eating preferences
• how to find local farmers and pick the one that's the best fit based on the things that matter most to you
• how to choose a freezer, plus creative options if you're short on space
• how the buying process works, including deposits, cut instructions, and replenishing your freezer year after year
• how to keep your freezer organized and keep yourself on track with a freezer inventory and weekly meal plan
• how to take the guesswork out of cooking grass-fed meat, and tips for keeping things fun and stress-free in the kitchen

...plus much, much more.

If you've ever been curious about buying meat in bulk but didn't know where to start, or felt overwhelmed or intimidated by the idea of whole-animal eating, then this book is for you!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780578727967
Publisher:	Maxine Taylor
Publication date:	05/22/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Maxine Taylor is a health and wellness acquisitions editor, freelance content developer, and lover of all things tasty. Since purchasing her first quarter beef in 2011, she's become an outspoken champion of the "whole animal" way of buying and enjoying local, humanely raised meat. Her goal is to show everyone how easy and rewarding this traditional way of eating can be. She holds degrees in literature, history, and professional writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is a certified technical writer and instructional designer. Maxine currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: Why Buy Local, Pasture-Raised Meat?

What Type of Meat Should You Be Eating?

The Benefits

A Final Caveat

Chapter 2: Why Buy Meat in Bulk?

Which Meats Can You Buy in Bulk?

What Does It Mean to Buy Meat in Bulk?

Advantages of Buying Meat in Bulk

Addressing Potential Concerns About Buying Meat in Bulk

Chapter 3: Four Things to Consider

Consideration 1: Quantity - "How Much Meat Should We Buy?"

Consideration 2: Variety - "What Types of Meat Should We Buy?"

Consideration 3: Space - "How Much Room Do We Have?"

Consideration 4: Budget - "How Much Can We Afford?"

Chapter 4: Choosing a Freezer

Decision 1: Chest vs. Upright Freezer

Decision 2: Manual vs. Automatic Defrost

Decision 3: Size

Special Features

What About the Brand?

Where and When to Buy

Placement

Achieving Maximum Efficiency

Upkeep

What If Something Goes Wrong?

Chapter 5: Selecting a Farmer

Where to Look

Selection Criteria

Conducting a Farm Visit

What About Finding Your Own Butcher?

Chapter 6: Paying for and Picking Up Your Meat

Step 1: Putting Down a Deposit

Step 2: Paying the Balance and Providing Cut Instructions

Step 3: Getting Your Meat Home

Making Additional Purchases

Chapter 7: Freezer Organization and the Freezer Inventory

Organizing Your Freezer

Creating and Maintaining a Freezer Inventory

Chapter 8: Meal Planning, Pacing, and Preparation

Meal Planning

Pacing Yourself

Cooking Grass-Fed and Pasture-Raised Meat

Avoiding Burnout

Appendix A: Quick Guide to the Most Common Grass-Fed and Pasture-Raised Animals

Primals, Their Derivative Cuts, and Cut Instructions

A Note on Seasonality

Beef

Pork

Lamb

Chicken

Appendix B: Cooking Grass-Fed and Pasture-Raised Meat

Tough vs. Tender, Moist vs. Dry Heat

Gauging Doneness

Appendix C: Templates

Farmer Comparison Chart

Basic Freezer Inventory

Weekly Meal Plan

Glossary

Resources

Animal Welfare Certifications

Freezers

Farm Directories

Preparing and Cooking Grass-Fed and Pasture-Raised Meat

About the Author