ButcherBox Review: Is This Popular Meat Subscription Service Really a Cut Above?

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I ordered the meat delivery services' popular Custom Box option with six different types of proteins. Here's how it went

We may be experiencing the dog days of summer, where sweat is an unwelcome yet unsurprising byproduct. And at this point, the only type of sweat I can actually tolerate is a meat sweat from an outdoor barbecue.

So when given the opportunity to get my hands on a Custom Box from ButcherBox to satisfy my overwhelming desire for constant protein, it was an offer I couldn't refuse.

The meal kit delivery service specializes in providing premium cuts of meat, from poultry and pork to beef and seafood. You have the option to choose specific box sizes, delivery times and products to satisfy any need, whether you need a last-minute dinner entree or something to bring to a block party.

But did the popular company and its offerings live up to the hype? Check out my ButcherBox review below.

This meat delivery service is as simple as it gets. Choose one of four boxes of meats for delivery at a frequency of your choosing (more on your options below) and ButcherBox ships them express to your doorstep. Meats arrive frozen so you can store them in the freezer or let them thaw in the fridge for cooking.

Be sure to take advantage of on of ButcherBox's excellent new customer promotions.

Plans start at $146 a month for custom and curated boxes. You're able to pause deliveries, skip shipments and change your box type at any time so the commitment is minimal and the service is flexible.

Depending on the promotion the brand is running, ButcherBox also includes a free gift like free bacon, ground beef or sirloin steaks in each shipment for either a full year or for the life of your subscription.

ButcherBox meats arrive frozen.

ButcherBox offers four different boxes (one custom and three curated) to choose from. Here is a breakdown of each type:

Shipment frequency is completely up to you and your family's needs. Every four weeks is the maximum, though the company also offers six- or eight-week options for those who go through meat a little slower.

Shipping is completely free and you can cancel your membership at any time.

ButcherBox prides itself on a commitment to offering humanely raised, antibiotic-free meat including organic chicken and 100% grass-fed beef. It also sustainably harvests and wild-catches all seafood to mitigate environmental impact.

To get a sense of the quality across all types of proteins, I ordered the Custom Box (ButcherBox's most popular option) where I was able to pick six varieties in total. I generally found the products to be tasty and a step up from the packaged stuff in grocery stores, which you have to inspect like crime scene evidence before adding to your shopping cart.

Here's what I thought of each type of ButcherBox meat included in my delivery.

I eat a lot of ground chicken, which typically becomes repulsive after the third day of leftovers. But not in this case. This was the biggest surprise of the bunch with an earthy, almost buttery flavor that didn't acquire the notorious gameyness after being reheated in the microwave (and doused with hot sauce, of course). If I were to buy another Custom Box, this is the first thing I'd add to it.

I cooked these down in a slow cooker, which resulted in oh-so-tender bites that soaked up the bone broth I rested them in. Sirloin tips can be on the fattier, sinewy side, but these were rich, not chewy and ultimately dangerous because they made me realize just how much I was missing red meat in my life.

This tasted the most decadent of the bunch with a fennel-forward blend of ground pork, spices and herbs. And while I could have easily housed an entire serving on its own, it made a fantastic base for a sausage-based tomato sauce that simmered for literal hours. My Sicilian great-grandmother would be proud.

I was least enthusiastic about these because let's be entirely honest: No basic chicken tender will taste as good as a breaded one straight out of the fryer. But while my preparation (grain-free breadcrumbs and egg yolk) lacked a crunchy texture, excess oil and all-around inspiration, I will say that the meat held up just fine -- moist and free of the gag-worthy cartilage, fat pockets and blood vessels found in many mainstream brands.

It was solid. Salmon isn't the most exciting fish in the world since it's so readily available, but I had zero complaints after roasting it in the oven with a simple lemon, dill and Dijon mustard marinade. This is a great option if you need a meal in a pinch and don't want to follow a long and arduous recipe.

I seem to always forget that scallops make a wonderful addition to any seafood pasta dish, so that's precisely how I fired up these bad boys, along with shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari. There were a few that tasted a bit rubbery, but that was likely the result of my own cooking skills and adding them to the skillet a touch too early.

If you've taken the time to read this review, it's likely that you're a fellow carnivore who may be looking to expand their meat horizons. And if butcher shops are too expensive or you're tired of the subpar quality of grocery store meats, ButcherBox is absolutely worth a try to see if it will enhance your weekly meals.

The Custom Box not only offers an extensive array of cuts and protein types, but it can also make a great gift for anyone who's one loincloth away from being a certified caveman or woman. (For some reason, I still get the image of our human ancestors gnawing on large chunks of meat.) But if you're indecisive or have a preference for certain products, leave fate in the hands of ButcherBox's experts, who'll curate one of the three preselected boxes so every shipment is a surprise.

Sure, the meat is on the pricier side, but as with all the finer things in life, you get what you pay for. And with the company's commitment to sustainably sourced meat, you're paying for quality that directly benefits smaller farms and fishing companies that share the same vision and values.

I'd recommend buying at least one box to fire up the grill. Give it a shot, and then determine what you think. You're under no obligation to continue if, for some reason, you're not impressed with the outcome -- though my bets are on anyone becoming a certified ButcherBox lover after the first delectably charred bite.