Pork belly?

[BrandNewSmoker]

hello again all.
          I have yet another question(lol i know everyone is shocked)...
                 here goes,
            I called 2 local butcher shops today for a price on pork belly, 1 shop came in like a $1.40 a pound  higher then the other, but shop #1 gets fresh, shop #2 buys in bulk and freezes what they get.  question is once its all said and done and cured and smoked does it make that much of a difference to buy fresh over frozen?

sorry been on night shift or would have gotten back sooner:
       Frozen is $2.49 a lbs  fresh is, well a $ 1.40 more

[Kahunas]

If it's only slightly higher get the fresh. You won't have to thaw it out.

[GusRobin]

If I read it right, the fresh is $1.40 lb higher. What is the total price? I get some good belly from a local farmer for $3.20 a lb and it is a special breed. I buy about 20lbs at a time and freeze about 1/2 before I use it. I can't really taste the difference between the fresh and frozen. While the fresh gives you more options,  the extra $1.40 a lb wouldn't be worth it to me, but that is my personal opinion.

[slowpoke]

I like to use fresh.It depends on what I am going to use the meat for.Bacon I can use frozen,or fresh.As for the price,I deserve the best.
A few bucks isn't going to break the bank,but it may mean the differance between tender or shoe leather.Just a thought.

[Habanero Smoker]

I have used frozen fresh bellies and I can't detect any difference in texture. I have thawed frozen bellies, and grilled them fresh (uncured) and the meat texture was fine. I would take the bargain.

[KyNola]

I have used frozen fresh bellies and I can't detect any difference in texture. I have thawed frozen bellies, and grilled them fresh (uncured) and the meat texture was fine. I would take the bargain.

Ditto!

[rajzer]

Frozen should be fine, just as long it hasn't been forgotten in the freezer for a while.

[3rensho]

Tritto!!  I buy on sale and freeze.  Fat content is so high it protects the meat.

[squirtthecat]

Quatro!

[Piker]

I brought one frozen a while back and did not notice until I got home that it had a bit of freezer burn. I just sliced it off about 1lb. and it was as good as new. Piker

[Kahunas]

I think I read that wrong. $1.40 per lb higher? Hell with that, go frozen.