For many years, the big store has been known for its low prices, which usually meant selling only select-grade beef. However, recent changes have been made to offer customers more options.
Here, we’ll talk about the different types of beef that Walmart sells and what kind of quality you can expect. Let’s take a closer look at what’s available at Walmart’s 3,800 U.S. stores, from everyday items to high-end brands. S. locations.
As one of the largest grocery retailers in America, Walmart sells a massive quantity of beef – over 500,000 tons in 2022 alone! With so much beef moving through their supply chain annually, it’s only natural for customers to wonder – what grades of beef does Walmart actually sell?
In this complete guide we’ll give you the inside scoop on the quality standards grade requirements, and inspection processes that dictate the grades of beef offered at Walmart stores across the country. You’ll learn how Walmart beef compares to competitors, what terminology like “Angus” really means, and how to select high-quality cuts for your family.
Let’s start with a quick primer on USDA beef grading so you understand the system behind the grades at Walmart:
Overview of USDA Beef Grading
The USDA grades all commercial beef according to a quality classification system. Only the top grades are approved for retail sale at grocery stores. The three prime categories are:
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USDA Prime The highest rating, Prime beef is abundantly marbled, with ample fat streaking that makes the meat exceptionally tender and flavorful About 2-3% of beef achieves Prime grade
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USDA Choice: The most common grade sold at retail. Choice has less marbling than Prime but still has good marbling. Makes up over 50% of graded beef.
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USDA Select Leaner with less marbling than higher grades but still tender and juicy Approximately 20% of graded beef
Now that you understand the beef quality tiers, let’s look at how Walmart’s beef aligns:
Walmart Sets a Minimum Standard of USDA Select
According to Walmart’s own specifications, all fresh beef sold in their stores must meet USDA Select grade or higher. This ensures a baseline level of quality – you’ll never find ungraded beef at Walmart.
Specifically, here is how Walmart’s beef breaks down by USDA grade:
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Select: The vast majority of Walmart’s beef carries the Select rating. Offers decent marbling at an affordable price point.
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Choice: More premium cuts like ribeyes and filet mignon are typically Choice grade for better marbling.
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Prime: Only available at some stores, usually limited to luxury cuts. Provides the ultimate tasting experience.
So while Prime is still minimal, Walmart does aim to carry more Choice grade beef to offer customers better quality options.
How Walmart Beef Compares to Other Grocery Chains
Independent beef quality surveys of grocery stores show how Walmart’s everyday beef compares:
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Costco: Earns top marks for abundant Prime and Choice. Provides premium quality but requires membership.
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Kroger: Sells mostly Select and some Choice like Walmart. Priced slightly higher than Walmart on comparable cuts.
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Albertsons: Has Choice but minimal Prime. Does offer boutique dry-aged beef at higher price points.
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Whole Foods: Leads in Prime and grass-fed selection but at 50% higher prices than Walmart.
As you can see, Walmart competes well for providing everyday quality beef at affordable pricing for most families. While beef aficionados pay more for Prime, Walmart offers good value on Select and Choice.
Don’t Be Misled By Angus or Natural Labels
When browsing the meat department, you’ll see labels like “Angus” and “All-Natural” used to market certain beef cuts. But don’t be fooled – these don’t automatically mean Prime. Here’s what they actually indicate:
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Angus: Simply means the cattle breed – doesn’t denote higher quality grade.
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Natural: Signifies no artificial ingredients added but doesn’t indicate better beef grade.
Always check for an explicit USDA grade stamp to know the actual quality level.
Rigorous Processes Ensure Consistent, Fresh Beef
Maintaining consistency and quality across thousands of stores requires Walmart to implement tight supply chain oversight. Here are some of the processes used:
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On-site beef processing plants oversee standards firsthand.
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Detailed protocols govern all handling, transport, and storage – beef must stay between 32-40°F.
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Packages are marked with pack dates and use-by dates for freshness.
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Blockchain tracing tracks each cut back to the source farm.
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Daily audits at the store level inspect for proper temps, freshness, and packaging.
While problems can rarely occur in a system this large, these controls ensure consistently sound, fresh beef.
Tips for Finding Choice Grade Beef
If you want to find Choice grade beef rather than basic Select, here are some tips:
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Seek out thicker, premium steak cuts like ribeyes.
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Check for an abundance of white marbling streaks throughout the red meat.
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Meat should feel slightly soft and tender when gently pressed.
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Choice beef has a brighter red tone versus darker Select.
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Ask the butcher for suggestions on current Choice offerings.
With a little extra effort, you can source excellent, tender Choice beef for your next special meal.
Walmart Beef Offers Quality and Variety for Everyday Needs
What key takeaways should beef-loving customers remember from this comprehensive guide to Walmart’s beef program?
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All beef meets a minimum of USDA Select, with increasing Choice availability.
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Walmart competes well for everyday quality and freshness at budget-friendly pricing.
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Consistent standards and rigorous processes ensure reliable beef nationwide.
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Shoppers will find a vast selection of cuts, from ground beef to exotic ribs and brisket.
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Convenience of online ordering makes shopping for family staples even easier.
Next time your crew gets a hankering for hearty steaks or juicy burgers, head to Walmart to find the beef your home cooks will love. With a bit of know-how, you can serve up serious steakhouse flavor at savings that can’t be beat!
The Different Grades Of Beef
The USDA recognizes eight grades of beef, from the best to the worst. These grades are based on two main things: the amount of marbling, or fat inside the muscle, in the beef, and how old the animal was when it was killed. The first three grades—Prime, Choice, and Select—are the ones that most people recognize, and the USDA considers them to be food-grade labels.
Prime beef comes from young, well-fed cows with lots of marbling. It’s usually sold in restaurants and hotels. Choice beef is high quality, but has less marbling than Prime. Select beef is very uniform in quality and normally leaner than higher grades. It is pretty tender, but because it has less marbling, it may not be as juicy or flavorful as the higher grades.
Standard and Commercial grades of beef are frequently sold as ungraded or as store-brand meat. Utility, Cutter, and Canner grades of beef are almost never sold in stores. Instead, they are used to make ground beef and processed foods like soup in a can or frozen meals.
While Walmart traditionally sold only select-grade beef, they have recently introduced choice-grade beef at all their U. S. locations. They also have a premium line of Angus beef called McClaren Farms that is sold in almost 500 stores in the Southeast. It includes filet mignon, T-bone, porterhouse, ribeye, short ribs, and chuck roast, among other cuts. It’s important to know that all of the meat sold at Walmart is case-ready, which means that it has been treated with carbon dioxide and saline solution, which may change the way it tastes and feels.
Walmart has historically sold select-grade beef, which is considered to be of a lower quality than other grades. Select-grade beef has less internal marbling and fat, which can make the meat tougher and less flavorful. However, Walmart’s focus on low prices has made select-grade beef a staple in its meat offerings.
Select-grade beef might not be as juicy or flavorful as other grades, but it can still be a good choice for shoppers on a budget. It’s also a good choice for recipes that need more time to cook or for marinades that make the meat better.
It’s important to remember that just because Walmart is selling choice-grade beef now, select-grade beef will still be available. There are instead different grades of beef for customers to choose from based on their tastes and budgets.
Walmart’s premium selections of beef are a recent addition to their meat offerings. The retail giant has introduced choice-grade beef at all of its U. S. locations, which is a higher quality grade than the select-grade beef it traditionally sold. Walmart’s choice-grade beef selection includes popular cuts such as T-bone, NY Strip, Filet, Ribeye, and Top Sirloin.
Walmart only buys the best USDA Choice cuts of beef and lets them age just right to make sure the quality of their beef. The steaks also undergo rigorous USDA inspections for quality and safety. In fact, only 1 in 5 steaks are good enough to be called Walmart Choice Premium Beef.
Walmart has added a premium line of Angus beef under the McClaren Farms label to their choice-grade beef. This beef is now sold in almost 500 stores in the Southeast. There are different kinds of beef in this line, like filet mignon, T-bone, porterhouse, ribeye, short ribs, and chuck roast. All of these products are U. S. rancher-raised with no hormones added.
Walmart’s premium selections offer customers a wide assortment of top quality beef at a great price. Customers who have never bought steaks from Walmart before are encouraged to give their new USDA Choice steaks a try. Walmart is so sure of their new steak that they will give you a full refund if you’re not happy with it.
What Grade Of Beef Does Walmart Sell?
Select-grade beef is thought to be of lower quality than other grades, but Walmart has only sold it in the past. But the big store has recently changed what it sells. For example, it now has choice-grade beef at all of its U.S. S. locations.
You should know that all of the meat sold at Walmart is “case-ready,” which means it was prepared and packed at a meat packing plant instead of by a butcher in the store. Case-ready meat may last longer than meat that is cooked on-site, but it can also be treated with carbon dioxide and saline solution, which can change how it tastes and feels.
Walmart now has a premium line of Angus beef under the McClaren Farms label in almost 500 stores in the Southeast. This is in addition to its regular goods. There are different kinds of beef in this line, like filet mignon, T-bone, porterhouse, ribeye, short ribs, and chuck roast. All of these products are U. S. rancher-raised with no hormones added.
Beef Grades Explained – Select vs Choice vs Prime Steaks
FAQ
Why not buy ground beef at Walmart?
Where does Walmart beef come from?
What is the most common grade of beef sold in grocery stores?
What is the difference between AA and AAA grade beef?
What kind of beef does Walmart sell?
Lower grade beef – Most beef at Walmart is USDA Select grade, which is the lowest quality grade that USDA will still approve for sale. Select beef tends to have less marbling, which makes it less flavorful and more prone to drying out when cooking. For comparison, higher-end grocery stores often sell more Choice or Prime graded beef:
Does Walmart have a beef standard?
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, raised its house beef standard from “Select” to “Choice”—the second best of all eight USDA beef grades—which is nothing to sneeze at. (Besides the three well-known retail grades—Prime, Choice, and Select—the USDA identifies five more: “Standard,” “Commercial,” “Cutter,” “Utility,” and “Canner.”
Should you buy beef from Walmart?
Walmart beef tends to be lower quality with more risks around freshness and taste. Buying it comes with the biggest gamble. Frozen poultry and meat, canned meats, and plant-based alternatives are safer best. Always thoroughly inspect, properly handle, and fully cook any meat from Walmart as a precaution.
Does Walmart sell Angus beef?
First in 2021, Walmart gained publicity after it launched McClaren Farms, an original brand sourcing Angus beef from a Texas rancher named Bob McClaren. However, McClaren Farms beef makes up for just a small percentage of the beef sold in Walmart stores.