If you think being a successful butcher is only about chopping meat, you are highly mistaken. There are several aspects that make for a successful butcher. Food preparation is one of the major aspects, but there is no denying that customer interaction as well as presentation skills matter a lot.

You might make the best food but if you can’t present it well, it’s doubtful that anyone will drop by to know more. While many successful butchers already have the required skills, here are some skills that you can hone up on if you still in pursuit to be an expert butcher.

Awareness and Safety Conscious Attitude

When you are dealing with different kinds of meat on a regular basis, it is important to check for any cross contamination. It is also essential to have a safety conscious attitude and maintain essential hygiene and cleanliness in your shop. Such rules and proactive measures should be enforced for your junior staff as well.

Presentation Skills

The customer typically checks out the look of your meat before purchasing it. It serves no purpose if good quality meat is cut well but not presented well. It needs to be arranged and presented in a way that it looks attractive and inviting.

Excellent Hand-Eye Co-ordination

Butchering involves chopping, cutting and slicing different types of meat very frequently. It is essential to have these essential practical butchery skills like hand-eye coordination and spatial judgement. They will keep you safe and free from any injury. There are some people who are definitely better all this quite naturally, but the good news is that this skill can be mastered with time and practice. It is important to use safety hand gloves and gear while at work!

Attention to Detail

What is that one thing that will set you apart from other butchers? Keeping a tab on your butchering equipment like meat mincers, knives and maintaining their sharpness using knife sharpeners is essential.

Aptitude for Math

You don’t need to know details of Algebra or Geometry. But basic arithmetic skill like calculating weights of meat, dividing the slabs and cost and inventory management becomes very simple if you have an aptitude for general math!

Physical Strength

Although butchers’ use machinery like mincers and grinders to assist them, most of the food preparation is still done by hands. You need to have enough stamina to handle loads of meat at once, carting meat back and forth. Alternatively, you might have to stand for a long time tending to your customers.

Customer Service

Your customers will definitely seek your advice and opinion on an everyday basis. You need to have an in-depth knowledge about all kinds of meat. They will look out for your recommendations. Having a friendly attitude with a helping nature can make you excellent at customer service.

Interest in Meat preparation

If food and specifically meat doesn’t interest you, it is likely that you will not be able to make it too far in the butchering occupation. On the other hand, you have an inbuilt interest and passion for food and meat, your job will seem like a dream come true.

All these skills definitely come in handy when becoming an expert in butchering. Besides these good to have skills, some skills that are extremely important are knife skills, efficient handling of machinery like mincers and bandsaws. If you are looking to procure any of these, visit us at Brennan Group and get an idea of the wide range of items we have in stock.