ButcherBox is a meat delivery service that ships grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, and heritage breed pork to your doorstep each month. Each shipment includes your customized section of meats in an insulated box. Savings vary based on local meat costs. Orders ship three to five days after your billing date, which varies based on when you subscribe.
If you like meat but want high-quality and organic options in a convenient package, this food subscription box might be for you. You can choose from a selection of 100 percent grass-fed beef, free-range and organic chicken, heritage breed pork, and even fresh salmon for each box.
Either choose a curated box or create your own, then include a selection of add-ons or monthly specials from the options available to suit your needs. Your order will ship each month with dry ice to keep the meat frozen.
Every shipment comes with upwards of eight pounds of meat, and selections vary based on availability and the options you pick. To get started with the subscription service, click “CHOOSE YOUR PLAN” from the How it Works or home page.
First, you’ll enter your email address and zip code. Then you will click “VIEW OUR BOXES” to make your selections. Shipping is free, and you will enter your billing and shipping information as you create your account.
The subscription box is unique because it centers on high-quality meat only. All meat from the company is humanely raised and antibiotic- and hormone-free.
While other subscription boxes may include meat as part of their meals, this box is meat-only and concentrates on maintaining quality over anything else. You may not find the prices lower than supermarket options, but the value you get out of each box is incomparable.
Even in areas where high-quality meats aren’t readily available, you can have fresh meat delivered each month for a decent price.
The meat subscription box comes in five options, and each of those five come in either Classic or Big size. The options include CustomBox, The Mixed Box, The Beef & Pork Box, The Beef & Chicken Box, and The All Beef Box.
Each curated Classic Box starts at $129 per month while the CustomBox begins at $149. Each curated Big Box starts at $238 per month while the CustomBox Big Box starts at $270 per month. There are also add-ons available with each box selection.
Though most boxes span beef, pork, and chicken, salmon, lamb, and turkey are often available options as well. Specific cuts rotate throughout the year, plus some items come up as specials for certain seasons.
With each box subscription, you also have the choice to add up to 12 add-on items. Add-ons renew automatically each month and ship with your existing order. Monthly specials are also available, and those vary based on the season and stock.
ButcherBox reviews on the company’s Google page average under four stars out of five, giving the subscription service a balanced average score. Positive ButcherBox reviews center on the high quality of the meat as well as the helpful packing practices, which keep the meat fresh.
Negative ButcherBox reviews highlighted issues with shipping and fulfillment, namely the inability to decide exactly what pieces of meat go into your box. Subscribers with negative feedback also disliked the company’s adherence to their no-return and other policies.
Better Business Bureau reviews were also mixed, with many positive reviews complimenting the quality of the meat and negative reviews centered on items missing from shipments or difficulties with cancellations and billing.
Here is a recent unboxing from April's Beautiful Mess:
Here are a few frequently asked questions about ButcherBox.
To cancel a subscription, navigate to your account dashboard. Then,
You can reach the subscription company’s customer service via phone or email.
Your ship date depends on the original signup date. Each month on the day of your original subscription date, the billing process begins. The billing process takes three to five days, after which your order will ship. Deliveries span Tuesday through Saturday, but for now, you cannot customize your delivery date or day.
Some of the meat options in this box are organic. For example, chicken is always organic. Salmon is wild caught, and while the beef is grass-fed, neither of those options are organic. The pork is not organic either, though it is antibiotic- and hormone-free without nitrates.
In short, yes, grass-fed beef is better than regular grain-fed meat. Grass-fed beef is leaner and has more omega-3s. The meat from this subscription box is also humanely raised and antibiotic free, which is not always true of supermarket meat options.
ButcherBox began with founder Mike Salguero, who found his inspiration for providing quality meat to consumers when he bought a share of grass-fed beef years ago. Mike and his wife were heading down the paleo path and were really interested in better tasting and healthier meat.
In 2015, Mike launched the company out of Boston, Massachusetts, and he’s also gone on to launch SmoothieBox, a similarly health- and quality-minded subscription service. For more on Mike and the company’s commitment to grass-fed beef, see the video below from the brand’s YouTube channel.
