Packaging and Freezing: Meat likes to be able to breathe. The worst kind of packaging for meat happens to be the best kind for small producers to meet food standards requirements - the vacuum pack. The lack of air circulation in a vacuum pack causes the meat to sit in a blood marinade, which can turn it a grey-brown colour and affect its taste. Putting the meat on a polystyrene tray and then wrapping it in clingfilm is marginally better as it keeps the meat relatively dry and therefore in a better condition. If you are buying your beef fresh (as opposed to frozen) and are not going to freeze it, as soon as you can take it out of its packaging, dry it off and then put in on a plate and cover it with a clean tea-towel. If kept somewhere cool it will really benefit the meat and taste much better when cooked.

Lovemycow beef is packaged using a polystyrene tray and clingfilm for the steaks and mince, the burgers are vacuum packed and the larger joints are wrapped in clingfilm. All are labelled to identify the cut, weight and price.

Freezing meat should not adversely affect the quality of the meat if it has been properly hung and well butchered. If you have the space it is a good idea to buy a half or quarter of an animal for your freezer.

We can deliver the meat to you fresh or frozen, whichever you prefer. Fresh meat can obviously only be delivered when we have had a beast back from the abattoir so if you are after a popular joint such as forerib it is worth ringing me as soon as you can so you can hopefully get one booked in. We carry a good stock in the freezer though, so it really is worth giving us a call.

James is happy to deliver within a reasonable distance but equally is more than happy for you to come and pick up your order, and can show you around the cattle if you would like to see how they live for yourself!