How to Order Meat Delivery in Valrico, FL

Why this matters in east Hillsborough

In Valrico, Brandon and FishHawk, the grill runs most of the year. Between football Saturdays, birthday cookouts and Sunday dinner, a lot of families go through a lot of meat. Ordering from a local butcher who delivers is a different experience from the grocery store case, and it helps to know how to do it well.

Here is what to ask and how to plan.

1. Ask what is available right now

A local butcher's stock changes. Instead of assuming a cut is always on hand, tell them what you are cooking and ask what they have. You may end up with a better option than the one you had in mind.

2. Ask about price before you commit

Some local sellers do not post prices because what they have changes. That is normal. Ask for the price of each item before you confirm the order so there are no surprises at the door.

3. Ask how it is packed and when it arrives

Ask whether the order comes fresh or frozen, how it is packed, and what window to expect. If nobody will be home, ask how they handle that. In Florida heat, meat should not sit on a porch.

4. Make room in the freezer first

It is easy to order more than you have space for. Clear room before delivery day, freeze what you will not cook in the next few days, and label each package with the cut and the date. Thaw in the refrigerator, not on the counter.

5. Plan a cookout by the plate

For a party, decide what you are serving and how many people are coming, then ask the butcher how much of each cut to order. Steaks, brisket, burgers and seafood all go differently. Someone who handles meat every day can help you avoid running out or overbuying.

6. Ask how to cook it, and what else they carry

The person who cut it usually knows best how to cook it. If you are trying a cut for the first time, ask how thick it is, whether it suits the grill or the oven, and how long it should rest. That kind of advice is one of the real advantages of buying from a person instead of a case.

Local butchers often carry seafood, appetizers or extras that make a meal easier. Ask what else they have before you finish the order. A tray of appetizers or a dessert can save you a separate trip to the store the day of a party.

Our pick: The #1 Meat Guy of Tampa Bay

Full disclosure: The #1 Meat Guy of Tampa Bay is an East of Tampa advertiser, which is why they are named here and others are not.

The #1 Meat Guy of Tampa Bay is Shawn McCranie, the Official Butcher of East of Tampa. Shawn hand selects premium beef, pork, chicken and seafood, cuts it fresh, packs it and delivers it around Tampa Bay. Prices are not published: you tell him what you want and he comes back with what is available and what it costs. He also carries gourmet appetizers, bakery desserts and Mani D'oro hand-crafted Sicilian pasta.

Tell Shawn what you are cooking, and he will tell you what is in the box.