The Smart Butcher Counter Trick We Wish We'd Known About Sooner

Cooking can be fun but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Figuring out what to eat day after day can sometimes feel more like a chore than a creative endeavor—and then there's the grocery shopping . And while takeout is always an option, it's hard to beat a home-cooked dinner . When your cooking creativity is running low, did you know that inspiration could come from behind the grocery store butcher counter? The folks that work there are full of knowledge and there are so many services they offer that we bet you've never heard about.

Many grocery stores, like Whole Foods and Kroger , have full-service butcher and seafood counters with folks just waiting to help you out. These people are there to help you make those important (and often expensive!) decisions, but they can also help you make your dinner more creative and more delicious and help you get dinner on the table a whole lot faster. We talked to the pros to get all of the tasty details.

Related: How Much Fish You Should Buy Per Person for Dinner?

What Services Do Grocery Stores Offer at the Meat and Seafood Counter?

While offerings at seafood and meat counters vary by grocery store chain, we talked to a few that have some seriously cool perks. Almost every Whole Foods Market location has a full-service meat and seafood counter, and those counters offer more than just filets. According to Wes Rose , the vice president of Perishable Merchandising overseeing meat and seafood at WFM, butchers and fishmongers not only custom cut your meat and seafood but can also season and marinate your meat and fish, help estimate how much you need for that big party, talk portion size and even clean and break down your purchases (including peeling and deveining shrimp, something nobody likes to do).

"[We can also] special order things that you don’t see available," Rose says. "If we can get it and it meets our quality standards, we’ll order [it] for you." For example, let's say your local Midwest Whole Foods doesn't carry a certain kind of fish you need for a recipe, like rockfish, Dungeness crab or sablefish, which are available in their California, Oregon and Washington stores. Whole Foods will work to special order it for you.

At Kroger stores, which include Ralphs, Dillons, King Soopers and Harris Teeter, the meat and seafood departments offer ‘Easy 4 You’ oven and grill-ready seafood packs. "Our seafood department is happy to package customer choices in an ‘Easy 4 You’ bag, complete with complementary butter, herbs and seasoning, making seafood easy, accessible and delicious," said a Kroger spokesperson. Additionally, butchers and fishmongers will custom cut or portion your meat or seafood.

Cathy East , the vice president of merchandising for meat and seafood at Albertsons Companies , which include Safeway, ACME, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Vons says that butcher counters at these stores offer up their "seasoned and marinated program" where customers can ask for their meat and fish to be seasoned behind the counter (many of which are also for sale), like savory steak and garlic pepper for beef, Cajun seasoning for pork and lemon pepper for seafood. Their butchers and fishmongers can also assist with recipe ideas, cooking instructions and recommend recipes. "We also provide prepared items like kabobs, skewers, burger patties and sausages. This makes meal planning quick, convenient and virtually seamless for busy consumers," she says.

Jeff Earl , merchandising director of meat and seafood at The Fresh Market , which operates 160 stores in 22 states, says that while they do not offer seasoned or marinating meats on request, they do offer their “made in-store value-added items,” like marinated and breaded cutlets, kabobs, and seafood steam bags, plus their Market Meal Kits, which are one-pan meals for two.

What Questions Should You Ask Your Grocery Store Butcher or Fishmonger?

"Ask them those burning questions you’ve always wanted to know," Rose says. "Where’s the product from? What’s the best way to prepare it? What’s their favorite product? What’s in season or limited availability that you should not miss? Our butchers and fishmongers are passionate about their craft and are eager to help make sure customers have a great experience." And rest assured that you're getting the very best advice at the counter since Whole Foods requires their butchers to go through a 12-month butcher apprentice training program to learn the art and science of butchery.

East says Albertson Company butchers also go through an extensive apprenticeship program. "[It] involves hands-on training with experienced meat cutters and managers," she says. "This program helps apprentices refine their cutting skills while also learning about product knowledge and customer service."

When you ask them about their favorite products you might find something fun and new to try. Rose says some of his favorites include Iberian Duroc Long Bone Pork Chops (where the pork is raised to increase the marbling, which in turn, increases the flavor and juiciness), their in-house 21+ day dry aged beef, which Rose says will "melt in your mouth," and the sablefish, which customers can buy a bit cheaper instead of Chilean Sea Bass. "I love to marinate my sablefish for two to three days in miso and then cook it under the broiler to caramelize the top," he says.

And don't forget to ask about sales. Whole Foods offers buy one get one 50% off their 365 by Whole Foods Market ground beef every Tuesday and 12 for $12 oysters every Friday.

On Saturdays, The Fresh Market does a “cut-to-order” event with a rotating selection of a different cut of meat (New York strip, tenderloins and more) where shoppers can choose from a half or whole roast and the butcher cuts it fresh to their preferences while they wait. These sales and services vary by grocery store brand and location, but you'll be surprised what's available to you if you just ask.

Up Next:

Related: The Genius Reusable Grocery Bag Trick We Wish We Knew About Sooner