The Best Grass Fed Beef to Order Online
Stroll through the meat section at any grocery store and you’ll see all kinds of meat brands. And while they may look similar, they certainly don’t taste the same or even have equal nutritional value.
Essentially, there are two main types of beef: grass fed and grain fed beef. Grass-fed beef comes from cattle that have only eaten grass and forage for their entire lives.
On the other hand, grain-fed beef comes from cows whose diet consists of supplemental grains such as corn, soy and wheat.
So, what’s the difference between two types of beef and why is grass feed beef considered superior? Let's explore the sustainability, nutrition, and meet some high-quality meat delivery services for ordering grass fed beef online. Plus, a few discount codes for your first grass fed beef orders!
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decide to purchase, however, at no additional cost to you!
Grass Fed Beef vs. Grain Fed Beef
To understand how grain fed and grass fed beef differ in terms of environmental impact, we have to look at how the cows are raised. Technically, most cows are grass-fed up to a certain age. It’s how they are “finished,” that matters – that’s the period before they are sent to slaughter.
Grain-finished cattle are fed with grain for approximately four to six months and are sent for harvest at 14 to 22 months of age.
In contrast, grain-fed cattle gain weight slowly due to a forage-based diet and typically go to harvest at 20 to 26 months of age.
Environment
Some studies associate grass fed beef with higher greenhouse gases than grain fed beef because feedlot cattle have longer lifespans and produce more methane in the form of belches.
However, these studies fail to account for other aspects such as the environmental impact of grain production, particularly soy from Brazil which has led to destruction of trees in the Amazon, intensifying global warming.
The use of toxic chemicals from pharmaceuticals and pesticides such as antibiotics and hormones in grain fed cattle also harms biodiversity and causes birth defects in humans.
Animal welfare
As for animal welfare, grass-fed cattle have better conditions as they have more space to graze which leads to less stress.
They also get to feed on fresh grass which is better for their health and immunity. Grain-fed cattle have less room to roam and have to contend with a grain diet which can cause bloating, acidosis or grain poisoning.
Grass fed vs. Organic vs. Pasture Raised Beef Labels
As with buying any other product, buying grass fed meat requires you to be an informed shopper to make the best choice. Let’s discuss some of the labels out there, and what they really mean when applied to grass fed beef.
USDA Certified Organic Beef
When grass fed beef is USDA Certified Organic, it means that the brand has met the following requirements:
Fed 100% organic feed and forage. This includes no GMO feed (but is not required to be grass fed or grass finished)
Raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors (i.e., the ability or access to graze on pasture)
Never administered antibiotics or hormones.
Pasture Raised Beef
Pasture raised means that the animals have been raised with a significant portion of pasture in their diet. This does not mean that the cows were grass fed, often times they are given supplemental grains.
Grass Fed Beef
This label indicates that the cattle have spent their lives grazing and feeding on pastures with no chemical fertilizers, pesticides and are less likely to have received antibiotics. Currently, there is no governmental standard that defines the term.
Raised without Antibiotics
Certified Humane reports Raised without Antibiotics this means "The animal was not given antibiotics at any point in its life—not in its food, water, or through injections."
Raised without Hormones
While hormones are prohibited in chickens they are still used today to enhance growth of cows. Hormones in our food sources has been linked to a range of health problems.
On top of these labels on beef products consider looking for brands that use regenerative farming practices. Regenerative farming practices look at the whole eco-system of plants, animals, soil quality, water quality, and strives to find the environmental practices.
Is Grass Fed Beef Healthier?
Compared to grain-fed beef, grass-fed beef is more nutritious. It has up to five times as many omega-3 fatty acids as regular beef and has been found to be higher in vitamins A, E, and other antioxidants.
Grass-fed beef also has significantly lower levels of saturated fat compared to grain-fed beef which means that gram for gram, grass-fed beef contains fewer calories.
Appearance: Grass fed beef tends to be significantly leaner and darker in color. It has yellow-colored fat with less marbling, whereas grain feed beef is lighter in color, with white-colored fat and more marbling.
Flavor: Grass feed beef has an earthier flavor which people often compare to game meats like deer and moose. Because of its lower fat content, it becomes tougher more easily and has to be cooked at lower temperatures for less time. Grain fed beef often takes longer to cook.
The Best Online Meat Delivery Service for Grass Fed Beef & Steaks
Ready to eat more sustainably with organic and grass fed beef? Here are 5 brands to get you started. These brands prioritize working with small family farms, avoid growth hormones and antibiotics, and provide some of the highest quality meats. Plus, their home delivery and monthly subscription service options make these brands a great option for families looking to eat responsibly sourced meat.
Crowd Cow's Grass Fed Beef
Crowd Cow is intent on helping you create a meaningful connection with the food you eat. That’s why they partner with small, traceable ethical farms around the world to provide high-quality grass-fed meat to your table.
With Crowd Cow you can shop for different cuts individually from filet mignon, wagyu beef, boneless ribeye to burger patties and they even offer meats other than beef such as free-range organic chicken, sustainable seafood delivery, and more.
On each product page you’ll discover the precise farm where the meat came from as well as the farming practices. If you wish to have an unlimited supply of stock in your fridge, you can sign up for one of Crowd Cow’s subscription plan.
The Custom Box costs $99 or more, the steak lover's subscription costs $159 while the Japanese Wagyu subscription costs $24. If you use my referral link you’ll also get $25 off your first order!
Good Chop’s Grass Fed steaks, ground beef, & more
Good Chop is on a mission to bring people an online butcher they can trust. They pledge to bring customers quality meat and seafood.
Good Chop partners with family farmers and independent ranchers who share our concern for animal welfare and sustainable practices. They handle their animals compassionately and humanely, with sufficient space, shelter, water, and a diet free of antibiotics and added hormones.
Good Chop’s beef is 100% grass-fed, Born and raised in the US, free from antibiotics or added hormones, and is Responsibly raised.
Good Chop has a range of grass fed beef products including steaks, ground beef, and more.
Good Chop’s medium sized box starts at $149.
Rastellis Grass Fed & Pasture Raised Beef
Rastelli’s is a family business that started in 1976 as a local New Jersey butcher shop. It supplied quality meat to the deli community before distributing its products worldwide.
Rastelli gets their grass fed beef from Uruguay, which has been at the forefront of sustainable cattle ranching.
All the animals are responsibly raised, antibiotic-free, and hormone-free resulting in grass fed beef that is juicy, exceptionally tender and delicious.
Conscious consumers will discover grass fed sirloin steak, grass fed ribeyes, pasture raised burgers, pasture raised New York strip steak, and more.
You can make a one-time purchase or sign up for a weekly subscription for curated boxes or a la carte meats. Rastelli's online shop features premium beef options ranging from $16-$160.
ButcherBox Grass Fed & Finished Beef Subscription
You can immediately taste the difference when you take a bite of ButcherBox’s 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef.
ButcherBox sources the majority of their beef from Australia where the cattle are humanely raised, 100% grass-fed, and free to roam on grassy pastures throughout their entire lives. ButcherBox cattle also never receives antibiotics or added hormones.
The subscription service offers a range of high-quality cuts, from ground beef to filet mignon, at amazing value. Along with beef products consumers can shop organic free-range chicken, wild caught seafood, pork chops, and more.
ButcherBox has two subscription plans; a curated box which contains a special selection of high quality and a custom box which allows you to choose from 25+ cuts. ButcherBox delivers every month or every two months and you can switch up the assortment in every order.
You’ll find a large collection of recipes on their website to help you make the most of your premium meats. Their subscription boxes range from $160-$306. Plus if you use my affiliate link you will get one FREE pack of 100% grass fed ground beef in your orders for the life of your membership.
Misfits Market: More Affordable Grass-fed Beef & Reducing Food Waste
Misfits Market is dedicated to making affordable, high-quality food more accessible while helping break the cycle of food waste.
Misfits Market partners with grocery stores and farmers to save surplus or “misfit” food from ending up in landfills. The food is then available for conscious consumers to purchase at a reduced price.
Misfits Market primarily focuses on organic food, but does have some conventional foods too. Discover more affordable grass fed beef options. Every Misfits Market box benefits farmers and helps prevent food waste.
Sunday Farms Beyond Organic Meat Delivery Services
Sunday Farms knows good meat is hard to find. That’s why they want to make it easier for you to buy pasture-raised meat from local farms right to your door.
Sunday Farms takes a "Beyond Certified Organic Practice" approach as they work with small farms that aren't all able to pay for the organic certification, but do ensure that all their farms raise their animals outdoors in their natural environments on chemical-free fields. Animals never receive GMO feed, antibiotics or hormones, and cattle are 100% grass-fed.
Sunday Farms provides curated and fully customizable plans that start at $75 a month and $5 per serving. Each plan can be tailored to your needs with the option of delivery once every four weeks or once every eight weeks.
Curated plans are carefully chosen and may include some ground beef, burgers, a variety of steaks, as well as roasting, braising, or stewing cuts. All products come frozen and individually vacuum-sealed for optimal quality and nutrition.
Thrive Market's Affordable Grass Fed Beef Ordered Online
Thrive Market is an online grocery story focused on organic & sustainable products. Their model is to offer customers premium meat products that can be purchase in bulk at a more affordable price point. Prices are 20% to 40% less than competing retailers. Their grass fed beef is from Osorno, Chile, one of the few places in the world where cattle can graze on lush grass 365 days a year.
Rather than buying from meat brokers, Thrive Market sources directly to farmers or farmers’ collectives, empowering them to switch to more sustainable agriculture. Conscious consumers will find grass fed beef products such as burgers, skirt steak, chuck roast, flank steak, and more.
Customers can buy mixed bundles or kits with several types of meat which are flash-frozen to preserve freshness as they’re shipped directly to your door. Thrive Market's beef products are range in price from $12-$182. If you use my referral link you will receive $40 off your first order. Be sure to read my full Thrive Market review too!
Hopefully this guide helped you discover some beef raised with more sustainable practices and explore some of the best meat delivery services that support ethical farms.
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