Question 1

What is hanging weight?

Accepted Answer

Hanging weight (also called carcass or rail weight) is what the side weighs after the animal is harvested and dressed, before the butcher removes bone and trim. You pay by hanging weight, and you take home roughly 60–70% of it as packaged meat.

Question 2

How much freezer space do I need?

Accepted Answer

Allow about 1 cubic foot per 30–35 lb of packaged beef: roughly 8 cu ft for a side (half the animal), 4 cu ft for a quarter, about 2–3 cu ft for a quarter-share and 1–1.5 cu ft for an eighth-share.

Question 3

How long does the whole process take?

Accepted Answer

About four to six weeks from reserving. The animal is harvested on the scheduled date, hangs and dry-ages 14–21 days, then your cut sheet goes to the butcher and we deliver within a week of cutting.

Question 4

Can I split a side with a friend?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that's what Share a Side pools are for. A side (half the animal) is split into 4 quarter-shares or 8 eighth-shares. Claim a share in an open pool, or start your own pool and send the link to friends. Once every share is claimed, the side goes to the butcher. You can also book a Split Quarter, or two friends can each take a Front and Hind Quarter.

Question 5

What happens if a pool doesn't fill by its deadline?

Accepted Answer

Each pool has a fill deadline (usually 14 days). When you claim, you choose what happens if it doesn't fill: we refund your deposit automatically, move you to the next open pool, or you buy the remaining shares.

Question 6

How do refunds work for share deposits?

Accepted Answer

If a pool closes unfilled and you chose a refund, your deposit goes back to the card you paid with automatically — it usually shows up within 5–10 business days. Once a pool is full and going to the butcher, deposits are non-refundable.

Question 7

What's in a share box?

Accepted Answer

A standard, proportional mix of steaks, roasts, stewing beef and ground beef from the side. You choose steak thickness (1", 1¼" or 1½"), whether you'd like more ground or more roasts, and 1 lb or 2 lb ground packs. A full custom cut sheet is a perk of ordering a whole side or quarter.

Question 8

What if I don't know what cuts to choose?

Accepted Answer

Choose Butcher's Choice in the order builder. It applies our standard family cut sheet — a balanced mix of steaks, roasts, stew and ground beef — in one click.

Question 9

How is the beef packaged?

Accepted Answer

Vacuum-sealed by default at no extra cost, or traditional butcher paper if you prefer. Every package is labelled with the cut name and pack date.

Question 10

How long does it keep frozen?

Accepted Answer

Vacuum-sealed beef keeps 12–18 months at -18°C without noticeable quality loss. Butcher paper is best used within 6–9 months.

Question 11

Where do you deliver, and is there a fee?

Accepted Answer

We deliver across Toronto and most of the GTA for a flat $30 per address, or you can pick up free at St. Lawrence Market in a booked time window. Check your postal code on the Delivery Area page.

Question 12

What is the deposit and cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

A deposit reserves your portion and is applied to your final invoice. Deposits are refundable until 14 days before the harvest date and non-refundable after the harvest date, since the animal has been committed to your order.

Question 13

Is the beef inspected?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our cattle come from a network of Ontario farms, are harvested at a provincially inspected abattoir, and are cut at our butcher's stall in St. Lawrence Market.

Question 14

How do I pay the balance?

Accepted Answer

Once the actual hanging weight is confirmed we email you the exact final amount. The balance is then charged to the card you saved at checkout, after a grace period, so there is nothing else for you to do.

Questions about buying a side