Carnivores, listen up. You likely have heard of Wagyu beef, which is known as the most tender and tasty beef on earth. Traditionally only found in Japan, Snake River Farms brings this delicacy stateside. The online meat delivery brand is one of the few sources of American Wagyu, as well as the equally-revered Kurobuta pork. As a food and recipe writer, as well as a former chef, I needed to know if these cuts were worth the hype and hefty price tag.
What is Snake River Farms?
Snake River Farms is a mail-order meat company that’s most famous for being one of the few companies to raise and sell American Wagyu beef. This breed of cattle is one of the world’s rarest, but also one of the most delicious. (And one of the most expensive!)
To produce true Wagyu beef, Snake River Farms upholds incredibly high standards. Raised humanely with environmentally sound practices, Snake River butchers and ships their meat straight from the farm. It’s pricey when compared to supermarkets, but when compared to steakhouses, it’s a downright bargain. (Not to mention higher quality.) Treat yourself to a Wagyu ribeye filet and you’ll see what we mean.
In addition to the Wagyu that made them famous, Snake River Farms offers another type of premium meat: Kurabuto pork. This breed of Berkshire pig also originates in Japan, where they are fed a controlled diet that’s specifically designed to create juicier, more flavorful meat with unparalleled fat marbling.
Aside from these two ultra-premium meats, Snake River Farms offers less expensive USDA Choice and Prime beef, as well as pricey dry-aged beef and pre-smoked barbecue. They also have several premium seafood items, giving customers a surf and turf option.
Meat and seafood from Snake River Farms come frozen and packaged in vacuum-sealed portions. Cuts arrive packed in a reusable thermal bag with dry ice and eco-friendly insulation in a 100% recyclable box.
VIA MERCHANTWe Tried It
Snake River Farms
The pioneer of American Wagyu beef, Snake River Farms produces world-class beef by staying involved at every step of the way, from ranch to table.
Snake River Farms Features
Meat from Snake River Farms can be purchased a la carte, and there is a $49 minimum. Expect to find:
- American Wagyu: Steaks, roasts, briskets, hot dogs, burgers, specialty butcher’s cuts, sausage, tallow
- Kurobuta Pork: Pork chops, ham, bacon, ribs, roast, salami, shanks, pork belly, sausages
- Wild-Caught Seafood: Alaskan king crab legs, Maine lobster tails, King salmon, Pacific Northwest halibut, sea scallops, shrimp
- Pre-Smoked BBQ: Brisket, pork spare ribs, beef short ribs, pork steaks, burnt pork ends, sausage
The company also offers a wide array of gift sets and sampler boxes.Standard 1-3 day shipping costs $9.99, 2-day shipping is $24.99 and overnight shipping is $49.99.
How We Tested It
To see if Snake River Farms’ premium meats are worth the premium price, I tested the following cuts in my kitchen. Here’s what I thought.
Wagyu Steaks
To test Snake River Farms’ Wagyu filet mignon and ribeye steak, I used the reverse sear method: cooking them in a 200-degree oven until their internal temperature was 120 degrees, then seared each side for 90 seconds in a cast iron skillet slicked with shimmering-hot oil. These steaks were seasoned and served with nothing but salt, which is not only all they need to be cooked with but all they should be served with. The flavor of these steaks was unreal, and to cover it up with a single spice or a drop of sauce is practically sac-religious.
One bite of these steaks is enough to bring a tear to your eye and answer any questions you may have had about Wagyu being worth its insanely high price tag. The meat is fork-tender; you don’t need to chew it as much as you let it melt on your tongue. The flavor is so spectacular, that there are no words in the English language to do it justice. It’s not something most people could afford to eat regularly, nor should they. This steak deserves to be a special occasion occurrence, where it is venerated and appreciated. Wagyu beef is the very definition of a splurge, and you must promise yourself that you’ll eat at least one of these steaks in your lifetime.
Kurobuta Pork Chop
I’d never tasted Kurobuta pork before eating this pork chop, and I’m afraid it may have ruined all other pork chops for me. Conventional pork features a mild flavor (there’s a reason it’s called “the other white meat”). And in comparison to this pork chop, it may very well taste like nothing at all. Kurobuta has perfect pork flavorjust like the steaks, Snake River Farms’ Kurobuta pork needs to be tasted to be believed. The meat is so tender, you can delicately nibble it directly from the bone.
Wagyu Hot Dogs and Hamburgers
Even though Wagyu is worth the price, you might not be ready to do some heavy-duty splurging on a few steaks. That’s why I was so keen to test Snake River Farms’ burgers and hot dogs. At $7 per burger patty and $12 for five jumbo hot dogs, these all-American favorites seem like the best entry point to the world of Wagyu. And they were!
The hot dogs were plump and juicy and tasted more expensive than the price tag lets on. I usually take my hot dogs with mustard and sauerkraut, but declined both after first tasting these plain. If you know someone who loves hot dogs, order these for their next special occasion dinner. They will be astounded, and you will forever be a hero.
Like the steaks, the burgers I reverse-seared to a brilliantly red medium-rare. Served with cheddar and onions on a toasted brioche bun, they were heavenly. Eaten plain with a fork and a sprinkling of flaky sea salt, they were better than any steak you can find in the supermarket.
Pre-Smoked Pork Spare Ribs and Spicy Beef Sausages
Snake River Farms’ meat is raised in the Pacific Northwest. But when it comes time to smoke it into world-class barbecue, it’s sent south to the Lone Star State. Founded in 1882 in Elgin, Texas, Southside Market and Barbeque smokes a variety of beef and pork cuts for you to finish cooking on the grill or in the oven, including brisket, ribs and sausages. Unsurprisingly, the pork spare ribs were the best mail-order barbecue I’ve ever tasted, delivering a true taste of Texas to my tiny Baltimore kitchen on a cold December day.
The spicy beef sausages were tasty but true to their name. I have a high tolerance for heat, so when I say these sausages are spicy spicy, I mean it. If you like your sausages on the milder side, order Southside’s original smoked sausage recipe instead.
Pros
- Phenomenal flavor
- Highest possible quality
- Meat comes packaged in individual portions
- Delivered frozen solid
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Company has strict sustainability standards
- Good selection
Cons
- Pricey (though worth it)
FAQ
Where is Snake River Farms located?
Snake River Farms’ headquarters is in Boise, Idaho. The company’s ranches and processing facilities are spread out across Idaho, Oregon and Washington state.
Is Snake River Farms meat shipped frozen?
Yes, Snake River Farms meat ships frozen. It comes in eco-friendly packaging, with a recyclable box and compostable/biodegradable insulation material. To keep everything ice-cold, Snake River Farms ships its meat frozen rock solid, along with dry ice to make sure it stays that way.
Product Comparison
I spent over two months testing and reviewing the best mail-order meat. While I also loved (and highly recommend) services like ButcherBox and Good Chop, it was abundantly clear that there’s not a single mail-order meat service that compares to the luxury that is Snake River Farms. This is not a place you order from casually, because everything it sells deserves to be eaten deliberately. Savor every single bite and enjoy each cut to its fullest, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply celebrating yourself. If you’re looking for poultry, be sure to check out the best spots to order chicken online, too.
Final Verdict
If this review hasn’t already made it abundantly clear, the answer to whether or not Snake River Farms is worth the price is a resounding “yes.” Few things in the world manage to exceed the hype surrounding them, and Wagyu beef and Kurobuta pork are two of them. The flavor of Snake River Farms’ meats is otherworldly. You have to taste it to believe it. Snake River Farms offers a wide array of meat and seafood at varying price points, and regardless of your budget, whatever you buy will taste like a splurge.
Where to Order Snake River Farms
VIA MERCHANTWe Tried It
Snake River Farms
Snake River Farms is committed to delivering high-quality American Wagyu beef and an exceptional experience to your doorstep.
The only way to try Snake River Farms’ American Wagyu beef and Kurobuta pork is to order directly from the company’s website. Prices range from $12 for a one-pound package of Wagyu hot dogs, to $799.99 for a Wagyu Tomakawk Roast.
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