Is it regional? Hamburger packages come in 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 lbs, etc

[mnrose]

I only buy the stuff with the Styrofoam tray with the plastic over it--for us those are the packs that are done that day in the store. The opaque "chubs" come from those processing plants which kind of skeeve me out a bit, but I assumed those were pretty standard.

The trays that I buy range anywhere from 1.00 to 1.8 or something like that. Rarely can I just get 1 lb, but I have on occasion. Mostly they seem to be in the 1.2 to 1.3 lb range.

Mine come in opaque tubes too. Frozen solid as a rock. Doesn't bother me in the least. LOL. It is the best way to keep meat freezer safe for the long term. I buy once per year, so it better stay good for that year.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I buy the fresh ground, in the store... Usually good ground round.

The trays are in all different weights. Just depending on how much the ginder put out onto the tray.
One pound, two pound, whatever.
I go to one local store, sometimes just for ground beef, because I know they have the best around.

If they only have trays that are more than I need... I make a patty or two, place in a zip-lock, and throw in the freezer.
Then, I always have some for spaghetti and meatballs, chili, whatever. When it doesn't matter as much if it was fresh-ground.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Ours are around a lb (never quite 1 lb). Just go to the butcher.

 

[verleniahall]

I get ours at dillons or our local meat counter - they package it just the way i want it - ours gets made into patties and frozen as soon as we get home from the store or gets browned and frozen in square-rounds/freeze-its from tupperware

 

[cabanafrau]

I tell the butcher how much I want and how I'd like it packaged.

 

[Squirlz]

I tell the butcher how much I want and how I'd like it packaged.

Same here. Haven't bought pre-packaged for years.

 

[Tozzie]

The reason that the weights are not uniform in stores that package their own meat is the butcher grinds it and puts it on the tray and then someone else wraps it and puts the stickers on it with the price.

 

[tvguy]

I only buy the stuff with the Styrofoam tray with the plastic over it--for us those are the packs that are done that day in the store. The opaque "chubs" come from those processing plants which kind of skeeve me out a bit, but I assumed those were pretty standard..

I certainly don't know what your store does, but very few grocery stores here actually pack ground beef in story anymore. Even the styrofoam trays of ground beef are done at a big processing plant and shipped to the stores pre-packaged.

 

[Christine]

I certainly don't know what your store does, but very few grocery stores here actually pack ground beef in story anymore. Even the styrofoam trays of ground beef are done at a big processing plant and shipped to the stores pre-packaged.

Ours is still doing it in store and wrapping.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I haven't noticed anything other than 1 lb, 2 lb, etc., in the grocery store. We buy ours from a local butcher. He packages it however we ask for it; he does have some prepackaged in the bag/tube things, those are by the pound. I am in Ohio, fwiw.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Back when I was making burgers more often, I would have actually preferred 1.5 pounds.

 

[tvguy]

I tell the butcher how much I want and how I'd like it packaged.

I haven't seen a stand alone butcher shop in years. Just searched, and all the suggested places are either in another city or have gone out of business.

 

[Pamlur]

You don't have butcher counters in your grocery stores?

 

[MIGrandma]

We don't use much hamburger, as we prefer ground venison. But when we do buy it, it can be anywhere from just under a pound to maybe a pound and a half for the smaller packages. Before we started using ground venison I would usually buy the larger packages of hamburger and then separate it into 1-lb. pkgs. myself.

 

[tvguy]

You don't have butcher counters in your grocery stores?

Yes, the grocery store has a self service section and butcher counter. But they don't carry ground beef at the butcher counter, that was stopped about six months ago. The vast majority of items in the full service butcher counter are seafood, where they just measure out and wrap up the expensive seafood, and the more expensive cuts of meat. More a shoplifting control for the lobster tails, crab, $16 a pound shrimp , $19 a pound dover sole and $24 a pound beef filet than. My wife wanted half a turkey breast and the "butcher" said they aren't allowed to do that unless we bought both halves. They do some traditional butchering, like around the holidays with prime ribs, but they need 24 hours notice.

 

[Tozzie]

I haven't seen a stand alone butcher shop in years. Just searched, and all the suggested places are either in another city or have gone out of business.

I have 5 that are between 5 and 20 minutes from my house. I am spoiled and I only buy meat at the butcher.

None of the supermarkets have a custom butcher, they have separate seafood counters but no butcher.

 

[North of Mouse]

Me getting old and crabby some more.

Why can't the butcher put them in packages that are at least close to pound measurements? What recipe wants 1.5 pounds of hamburger? Well, there could be a few I guess, but I'm willing to bet most call for pounds. Is it just Ohio?

Have never seen it like that - mostly random weights, usually starting about 1#.

 

[cybrkitn]

At my Publix, the lean hamburger I buy comes in crazy increments as well. I just bought a packages yesterday and they ranged from 1.22 to 1.38 pounds. Very random.

We have the same thing here in NY. Once I get home I take out our digital scale, put wax paper down on it and measure out the ground beef to 1 pound increments then put them into slide lock bags before putting them in the freezer. I'll usually add the .22 or.38 to one of the bags and mark it as such.

 

[cabanafrau]

I haven't seen a stand alone butcher shop in years. Just searched, and all the suggested places are either in another city or have gone out of business.

One of my favorites has closed about two years ago, but at this point my other favorite shop is still going strong. I'm relieved because I can buy things there I can't find anywhere else. As it is I've lost a source for many of the things I used to buy at my now closed favorite shop. Even the meat counter at the local gourmet markets don't carry the quality of meats I get from the butcher shop, and it is noticeable.

 

[WVMomof3]

Ours no longer vary. Everything is packaged in 1 pound packages. I think they also sell 3 pound packages. The price is no longer on the meat, but on a shelf tag since everything is the same.