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

Got this book as a couple of friends have gone this route; interestingly, one of them is the regional manager of a large supermarket chain, but he chooses to buy his meat in bulk from a local farmer. Also, having been under covid quarantine and stocking up anyway, this seemed like the next logical step, especially given the sketchy news from large commercial meatpacking plants.It's going to take some convincing to get my husband to commit to this size purchase, but in the meantime I feel like this book has provided a wealth of information and a solid knowledge base for when we're ready. It contains so much info on every step of planning, and the explanations are clear and anticipated my questions in the form of troubleshooting tips. The author highlights the benefits of buying meat this way (without being preachy or too "granola" about it), and admittedly has gotten me pretty excited about it, lol.The information caters to all kinds of families, not just large ones, and even for a family like ours that is still warming to the idea, it contains a lot of useful information about meal planning, organizing (our very messy) freezer, and keeping an inventory that is easily manageable. I'm looking forward to using the reference guide at the end that names all the different cuts of meat of beef, pork, lamb, chicken and suggestions on how they should be cooked (quick, dry, slow, moist, etc.). My knowledge in regard to that is woefully lacking and I think this'll help bolster my confidence in being able to replace one cut with another in certain recipes when the cut called for is unavailable. Great resource!

I was already pretty sold on pasture-raised meat (and if you’re not, read the intro of this). We also recently got an extra freezer to stockpile for the end of days. But still, we’ve always bought one-off packages.I’ve aspirationally thought I might get larger cuts of meat from a farmer at some point. But the complexity of budgeting, scheduling, and effectively using the meat from a half cow (or other animals) has put me off. This book brings me several steps closer to actually taking the plunge by pulling all the prep together in a comprehensive reference.It contains a lot of valuable considerations I never would have thought of… from calculating exact freezer space to seasonal availability of the meat to transporting it from a farmer. For people who don’t already have one, there’s also info about buying an extra freezer. It takes the mystery out of the process, all the way to how to avoid meat “burnout”, haha! I feel like I can actually get started.With all the uncertainty of the meat industry right now, knowing this stuff feels like a survival skill. If you’re considering getting bulk meat from an indie farmer, I don’t think you can go wrong picking this up.

I loved this book! I was not even looking for a book on this subject matter. Happened to stumble across it and for some reason it caught my attention. I am so glad I did. The author is able to write a book about buying and storing wholesome meats and turns it into a true pleasure to read. She is knowledgeable, very witty, and has a way with words that simply captivated me.And, I must say, that she has made a believer out of me. I am now looking at freezers and options of where and how much meat product I want to store. This book explains it all, in a very easy and fun to read way. I never knew there were options such as those that the author elaborates on in this book.Highly recommend to everyone. If you are not aware of the many positive effects that buying wholesome, locally sourced meat products are, you will be after reading this book.The author has made a believer out of me.

A few times in the past I've purchased meat for my freezer, but I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't get the right cuts, and I didn't get good quality meat, and ended up wasting a lot. The author provides plenty of advice on how to avoid mistakes like that. I now am confident that I won't waste money and food the next time I want to stock the freezer. And I like the idea of buying directly from local ranchers -- it cuts out the middle men and gets money in the hands of the people doing the work. Taylor takes you step by step through the process so that you can be sure that you're not making mistakes.

I'm very excited to have found this book. Taylor presents an in-depth, yet accessible, guide to buying ethically produced meat. The prospect of finding options that suit both my ideals and budget has always seemed daunting. Taylor shows how such a big change can be both manageable and rewarding. This book has clear language and practical considerations that will help me make impactful changes to the way I eat.

I found this book to be inspiring and helpful to spur me into action surrounding my meat, specifically my beef, consumption.It help answered my "I don't know how to cook all the cuts of meat I would get" excuse straight on. And includes detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to tackle such an important task.Great quick read!

Since 2005, my husband and I have been providing grassfed beef to the greater Portland, Oregon, area. EVERY day, customers call or email with questions that are beautifully and accurately answered in Maxine's terrific book. I read the entire book and couldn't find a single inaccurate detail (except that her prices quoted for the late twenty-teens may become dated fairly quickly). If you're considering buying a freezer, buying a pork share or beef share, or have ordered one but begun fretting about how you'll manage your freezer inventory and meal planning, this is exactly the resource you've been looking for! I ordered 20 copies directly from the author to stock in our farmstore! The book is so affordable, and we think it will be so valuable to our customers (especially new customers!) that we'll be _giving the book away_ to anyone who asks for it!-- Chrissie Manion Zaerpoor, Kookoolan Farms, Yamhill, Oregon