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Best place to buy ribs?

OhioEgger
OhioEgger Posts: 994
in EggHead Forum
I've been getting my ribs (normally baby backs) all over the place and I wonder if anyone has an opinion on the best options.

What I've found is:
Kroger: decent ribs at a reasonable price
Costco: decent ribs at a good price, but always in packs of three slabs and I normally cook two
Aldi's: extremely meaty ribs at a great price, but not always in stock
Local butcher shops: scrawny ribs at a high price

Is this typical?
Cincinnati, Ohio. Large BGE since 2011. Still learning.
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Comments

  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,528
    Costco Cash-andCarry have similar rib qualities, IMO. BBs from Costco and StLouis from C&C. 
    I like the three pack, but then I freeze all three racks anyway. If you like to cook fresh, just freeze one rack, next time you visit Costco, cook two and freeze the other one - now you have a whole 2 rack cook in the freezer. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • EggMcMic
    EggMcMic Posts: 340
    I used to do the same as @Skiddymarker , cooking two and freezing the third. Once I got better at ribs my kids would complain there were not enough! Any extras go into the fridge for leftover lunches! My son leaves for college this fall...so I will be back to freezing a rack.
    EggMcMcc
    Central Illinois
    First L BGE July 2016, RecTec, Traeger, Weber, Campchef
    Second BGE, a MMX, February 2017
    Third BGE, another large, May, 2017
    Added another griddle (BassPro) December 2017
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  • YEMTrey
    YEMTrey Posts: 6,835

    I’m in Cincinnati as well.  I used to buy my ribs from a local butcher and occasionally from The Fresh Market when they would run BOGO deals.

    While the ribs from both of these places were great and very meaty, they were pricey.  The regular price at my local butcher is $4.99/lb.

    I’ve had really good luck catching them on sale at Krogers and stocking up the freezer with about six slabs at a time.  I’m like you and only cook two slabs at a time.

    I’ve been to Restaurant Depot a couple of times, but never to buy baby back’s so can’t speak to their quality.

    Another place I’ve had good luck getting meat at a decent price locally is GFS.  I’ve even bought packer briskets there.

    I haven’t bought any from Aldi’s, though I’ll check them out when I can find them, thanks.

    Steve 
    XL, Mini Max, and a 22" Blackstone in Cincinnati, Ohio
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  • Legume
    Legume Posts: 15,936
    costco ribs have the membrane removed already which is helpful.  if I don't cook all three, I'll vacuum seal and freeze one, I usually shake some rub on before I freeze them.  I hardly ever buy them anywhere else, once in a while I'll grab a rack at the grocery, but that's rare.
    THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
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  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
    Our Kroger BBs are phenomenal. Hate to say it, but walmarts are not bad either. 
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  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,796
    Of late the Kroger BB's are quite meaty (as mentioned above).  I have gone back to BB's from St Louis cut based on their quality.  Costco are worth it as well.  Don't let the Costco volume impact your buy-freeze what you don't you use right out of the gate.
    All above said, should you land some beef ribs, then your worries about the pork cousins are over.  Can't beat any cut of beef ribs.  Just an opinion...
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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  • blasting
    blasting Posts: 6,262

    I normally pick them up from Restaurant depot. 

    Phoenix 
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  • Wolfpack
    Wolfpack Posts: 3,552
    Where ever they are on sale- I don't find the difference in ribs like I do steaks. Usually this means I get them from Costco. 
    Greensboro, NC
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    I like Costco for the reasons stated above.  I foodsaver whatever I'm not cooking.  Kroger ribs a fine too.  You get to remove the membrane if you prefer that.  They all turn out good.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • GregW
    GregW Posts: 2,678
    I bought a 3 pack from Sam's last week. They were Smithfield meaty loin ribs I think.
    They were exceptionally thick on one end. I trimmed off the thick end for uniformity in cooking.
    They were excellent. They run about $30 for a 3 slab pack.
    I will buy them again.
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  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 9,867
    The best place for me is the ones that have them on sale that week.  
    ------------------------------
    Thomasville, NC
    My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
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  • Legume
    Legume Posts: 15,936
    GregW said:

    They were exceptionally thick on one end. I trimmed off the thick end for uniformity in cooking.
    I do this too.
    THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    tarheelmatt said:
    The best place for me is the ones that have them on sale that week.  
    So says sister tilapia.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,455
    EggMcMic said:
    I used to do the same as @Skiddymarker , cooking two and freezing the third. Once I got better at ribs my kids would complain there were not enough! Any extras go into the fridge for leftover lunches! My son leaves for college this fall...so I will be back to freezing a rack.
    PM just sent - hope you get it! 
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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  • GrillSgt
    GrillSgt Posts: 2,507
    Absolutely not Krogers. Their pork is all "enhanced". I picked up a couple of racks of great looking St. Lou's at Meiers tonight. 2.89/lb. I had to after that Chinese rib recipe today. 
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  • Hans61
    Hans61 Posts: 3,901
    another vote for Costco 
    “There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body.”
    Coach Finstock Teen Wolf
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  • OmahaOne
    OmahaOne Posts: 154
    OhioEgger said:
    I've been getting my ribs (normally baby backs) all over the place and I wonder if anyone has an opinion on the best options.

    What I've found is:
    Kroger: decent ribs at a reasonable price
    Costco: decent ribs at a good price, but always in packs of three slabs and I normally cook two
    Aldi's: extremely meaty ribs at a great price, but not always in stock
    Local butcher shops: scrawny ribs at a high price

    Is this typical?
    I have found ribs at Costco in two packs in store rapped packs. 
    XL BGE - Indianapolis, IN
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  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,261
    Kroger's or Costco. Best quality for a very good price. I prefer Kroger BBs first, costco second.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
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  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    GregW said:
    I bought a 3 pack from Sam's last week. They were Smithfield meaty loin ribs I think.
    They were exceptionally thick on one end. I trimmed off the thick end for uniformity in cooking.
    They were excellent. They run about $30 for a 3 slab pack.
    I will buy them again.
    My Sam's has the "Smithfield Prime Reserve" for all of their pork products. I haven't tried cooking them yet but the ribs looked really good. Typically ribs all look about the same but these had some nice looking marbeling.

    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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  • Wolfie51sb
    Wolfie51sb Posts: 267
    Not sure whether they have Giant Eagles in your part of the state, but that's my go-to place for every day ribs, roasts, pork butts, etc. I stopped buying meat from Kroger years ago, but obviously others here have had success there. The other nice thing about our Giant Eagle is they actually have butchers who know what they are doing and are more than willing to fill special orders. My experience at Kroger is the guys behind the counter do little more than unpack the boxes.

    Rob

    Columbus, Ohio

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