Walmart named best place to buy USDA Prime beef by award-winning chef

A James Beard Award-winning chef says Walmart is one of the best places to buy USDA Prime beef in America, praising the retailer for offering high-quality cuts at affordable prices.

This approval comes as consumers continue to seek lower-cost grocery options without sacrificing quality, especially for premium meats that traditionally carry high price tags.

Chris Shepherd, former executive chef and founder of Georgia James steakhouse in Houston, tells Food & Wine that Walmart is an excellent place to buy Prime beef.

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Shepherd says prime beef is prized for its higher level of intramuscular fat, which increases flavor, tenderness and moisture. Food and Wine explained.

Shepherd noted that Walmart’s Prime beef pricing is competitive even with Walmart-owned Costco and Sam’s Club.

Food & Wine highlighted Walmart’s partnership with beef producer McLaren Farms, which supplies beef for the retailer’s “end-to-end Angus beef supply chain program.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to Walmart for comment on Shepherd’s praise and the retailer’s Prime beef program.

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“I love what McLaren Farms and Walmart are doing in select stores… working with small farmers and fantastic Black Angus genetics to deliver this program,” Shepherd said.

Available cuts are aimed at steak and barbecue lovers, Shepherd said, including ribeye, brisket, short ribs and tenderloin, as well as “Thor’s Hammer and burnt ends of brisket.”

Walmart’s Prime beef pricing has been described as competitive with warehouse retailers such as Costco and Sam’s Club. (Robyn Beck/AFP)

“The marbling on these cuts is based on genetics [that] “McLaren Farms has been working on it for years and now consumers have access to some of the best Black Angus cattle in the world at more affordable prices,” he said.

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But Evan Carter, a Washington state-based food expert and host of the Meat Dudes podcast, said the USDA Prime label doesn’t tell the whole story.

Carter told Fox News Digital that, contrary to popular belief, the rating system alone does not always guarantee quality meat.

Food experts say sourcing, cattle genetics and feeding programs can significantly affect beef quality and consistency. (iStock)

“USDA Prime is strictly a grading system based on marbling and the age of the animal,” he said.

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“It doesn’t take into account how the cattle were raised, what they were fed, the genetics behind the animal, or how the beef is ultimately eaten in terms of flavor and tenderness.”

Prime is the highest quality beef in the USDA grading system. (iStock)

He also noted that two Prime steaks can differ significantly depending on sourcing, feeding schedules and processing, adding that Walmart’s scale can make consistency even more challenging.

“After all, great beef isn’t just about quality. It’s about the whole picture.”

“That doesn’t mean the beef is bad, but it does mean there can be variability,” Carter said.

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Carter, who is also a Wagyu expert, recommends customers always look at where their beef comes from and buy from sources that “give you more information about the farm or the program behind it.”

“After all, great beef isn’t just about quality. It’s about the whole picture,” Carter concluded.

Some meat experts say consumers should research where their beef comes from rather than relying solely on USDA grading labels. (iStock)

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“But yes, there is a place in the market for accessible Prime beef, especially at an affordable price point.”