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It's no wonder that meat delivery services like ButcherBox have skyrocketed in popularity over the years — it saves you a trip to the butcher or grocery store and conveniently delivers meats directly to your door. But not all of these services offer high-quality cuts, and you may be wondering whether or not ButcherBox is worth giving a go. I tried the service out myself for three months and also sent boxes to a panel of GH+ testers for real-life feedback on how the service fared for them and their families. Read on for our full honest review of the ButcherBox, including information on pricing and whether or not it's worth the pricepoint.
Pros
- High-quality cuts and sourcing standards
- Wide selection of beef, chicken, pork and seafood
- Plans include a customizable box or a curated selection
- Gift boxes also available
- Free shipping
- Recyclable but durable packaging
- Delay or cancel your order anytime
Cons
- Proteins come frozen
- Higher sourcing standards drives up cost
How does Butcherbox work?
Start by choosing from two types of subscription plans: Custom or Curated. Think of the Custom box as an option for personalization — you get to choose exactly which cuts from any type of protein you would like, including everything from beef, chicken and pork to seafood. It's available in two sizes: Classic size is great for feeding just yourself or a small family and offers 9 to 14 pounds of meat, while the big size box is ideal for mid-size families and large freezers with 18 to 26 pounds of meat.
But if you'd rather ButcherBox pick your specific cuts, you can opt for the Curated plan and simply just choose which protein categories you want to receive (beef, pork and/or chicken). The Curated boxes are also available in two sizes: Classic size includes 8 to 11 pounds of meat and the big size includes 16 to 22 pounds of meat.
You can choose to have a box sent to you every two weeks, four weeks, six weeks or every other month. You'll also have the opportunity to take advantage of member deals before check-out, which include specialty items like wild-caught sea scallops, St. Louis ribs, fully cooked meatballs and more that only ship once and are available for a limited time.
After you check out, your box will be shipped directly to your doorstep (shipping is free). Cuts arrive frozen for peak freshness and are packaged in a 100% recyclable, insulated box. Once your box comes in, place the meats in the fridge or freezer depending on how soon you plan to use them. ButcherBox's website has a great assortment of recipes, tips and tricks curated by the brand's chefs to help you properly prepare the proteins too.
How much does Butcherbox cost?
For custom boxes, the classic size which includes 9 to 14 pounds of meat costs $169, while the big box that includes 18 to 26 pounds of meat costs $306. For curated boxes, the classic size includes 8 to 11 pounds of meat at $146 per box, while the big box offers 16 to 22 pounds of meat and comes in at $269. Shipping is always free.
Is ButcherBox meat high quality?
You can't talk about quality in regards to meat without talking about sourcing, and I appreciated that ButcherBox places an emphasis on this. The beef is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished, humanely raised, pasture-raised and never given antibiotics or added hormones ever, all important factors I look for as a registered dietitian when purchasing meat. The meat is sourced from both Australia and the U.S.
Their free-range chicken is certified organic, and both the organic chicken and the crate-free pork are humanely raised as well and come from the US and Canada. The wild-caught seafood is sustainably harvested with no artificial coloring or additives either, and the wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon, wild-caught cod, bison and turkey all come from the U.S.
The brand claims to carefully vet all of their suppliers and that they rely on third-party audits from organizations like Certified Humane and Global Animal Partnership (GAP). Another thing that really impressed me was ButcherBox's status as a Certified B Corporation. In November 2020, the brand became the largest meat brand to be named a certified B Corp, which means it underwent a rigorous evaluation that verified the social and environmental performance of the company, showcasing their commitment to a focus on animal welfare — this is no small feat.
Our ButcherBox Review
I personally tested ButcherBox out for three months, and we also had a panel of five GH+ testers try out the service for a month each for additional feedback on how the service fared in their homes.
Ordering
I found ordering on the website very straightforward. It was easy to navigate the platform and I was impressed that the service didn't just offer meat but also seafood, so it saved me trips to both the butcher and fish market. My husband is particular with his meats, so it was nice to have the option of a custom box where he could select exactly what he wanted for his order. But I was able to add some family-friendly items for our toddler like the organic chicken nuggets, and the bone broth was a go-to for myself.
Delivery
Deliveries were always timely and I received great communication from the brand via email. Even after sitting out all day, the box was still cold and the contents frozen. Testers had similar positive experiences with delivery. "The meat and seafood arrived frozen to my door. This was a great way to get meat in the blazing heat of summer without worrying how to get it home cold," one tester said.
Another person did have an issue with a bag of dry ice, but this did not impact the quality of the food: "They did a great job keeping it cold in the packaging. I will admit that the dry ice bag was ripped and there was dry ice spilled in the box, but that did not affect the food at all. Everything was still frozen when I unpacked it," they said. The biggest struggle for me was trying to fit everything in our tiny freezer, so take note of this when ordering from any meat delivery service since you'll need adequate room for food storage.
Protein Quality
I was honestly very impressed with the quality of the meats — everything is top notch in regards to sourcing standards. You will pay a premium for this, but it can be very hard to find some of these comparable proteins at the grocery store or even at your local butcher. "The quality really stood out to me. Everything was so delicious and their high standards to be humane stands out," one tester said.
The beef was quite delicious and worked with a variety of beef recipes and you can tell it's high quality — it's not just grass-fed but also grass-finished, meaning that it comes from cattle that has eaten nothing but grass and forage for its entire life, resulting in a more nutritious cut that is naturally packed with omega-3 fatty acids and other key vitamins. Even the chicken was juicy and tender, and I loved the option of a slow-growth bird, a much healthier and flavorful chicken that can be hard to find at a standard grocery store. Surprisingly, my family particularly enjoyed the seafood, saying that the salmon, for instance, tasted very fresh and had a beautiful hue to it.
Testers were all impressed by the quality of the meats and the convenience of the service delivering everything right to your door. "The meat was more flavorful than the meat I usually buy in the local grocery store. I absolutely loved the variety that I was sent," one tester commented. "The quality was exceptional. No gristle or unnecessary fat in the steaks, ground beef was not greasy, the bacon was perfectly seasoned and not too salty, the seafood was not sandy or gritty. All of the products were very flavorful," another tester said.
Is it hard to cancel ButcherBox?
The cancellation process is relatively straightforward. You'll visit your account page and can select to either delay your next delivery or stop the membership altogether. After answering a few questions, the delay or cancellation will be in effect but you must do this before your next billing date.
Can you get ButcherBox without a subscription?
Yes and no. Technically, ButcherBox is based on a subscription model at its core. And you can choose from a variety of delivery timing intervals so if you don't want to receive a box every month for instance, you can opt for every six weeks or even ever other month. But you can order gift boxes on the website which are a one-time order. Some of our favorites included the Steak Lover's Box and the Freezer Fillers Favorites Box, but you'll also find seasonal options like their Valentine's Day box. "Anyone that values high-quality meat and seafood would definitely enjoy this service. It would also be a great gift for someone that is hard to buy for," one tester said.
Where does ButcherBox deliver?
ButcherBox delivers to all 48 contiguous states — they currently do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii or Canada. When it comes to shipping materials, the brand has sustainability top of mind — the box is 100% recyclable and also made from recycled ingredients. The meats are vacuum packed in sturdy, food-safe and freezer-friendly BPA-free plastic too. As of December 2022, Butcherbox order shipments are carbon neutral as well.
Is ButcherBox worth it?
If you don't have a quality butcher or fish market nearby, ButcherBox is definitely worth trying out. The service offers some of the highest quality sourcing for proteins we have seen in this space, and everything is conveniently shipped to your doorstep. We liked the option to either customize your box or receive one that is already curated by the brand, and the fact that they not only offer great meats but also seafood is a huge bonus.
You'll pay a premium for good sourcing, but the quality is undeniable. Just make sure to have ample space in your freezer for the large shipment. All testers said they would use the service again too and truly gave it rave reviews. "I would order it again because of the quality of the meat and because it is healthier than a lot of what is normally sold in the store. I like that it is grass fed, free range, etc.," one person commented.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
As a dietitian and working mother, Nutrition Lab Director Stefani Sassos is passionate about putting balanced meals on the table for her and her family. She started eating more meat after her iron levels fell dangerously low during pregnancy with her first daughter. She continues to incorporate high-quality lean cuts into her diet in moderation and looks for meats that are raised responsibly. She loves that meat delivery services like Butcherbox offer both convenience and quality to any home cook.
Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, where she handles all nutrition-related content, testing and evaluation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from NYU. She is also Good Housekeeping’s on-staff fitness and exercise expert. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family.
