14 Things You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Ask for at the Grocery Store

How did she do it? She just asked.

You can get celebrity treatment at your local grocery store too (within reason). Though it may seem unreasonable to ask for something that you don’t see at a big box store, the people working there are happy to help. I reached out to supermarkets across the country to find out what you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for at the grocery store.

These requests may not apply to every grocery store as it depends on their vendors, staffing, and general stocking capabilities at a given time. But remember: It never hurts to ask.

Though some managers met more technical or time-consuming requests like pin bone removal from a side of salmon with caveats on staffing or other constraints, employees behind the counter (as well as those you see stocking items in that department) were eager to help overall. If you get a no, it doesn’t mean your request is outlandish. They simply may not have the right person to do it.

If a grocery store sells fresh lobsters, they will most likely steam them for you. There’s usually an on-site kitchen behind the meat counter, and they can steam a lobster in 12-15 minutes while you shop.

If you call ahead, a grocery store can order most things with a few days’ notice. (And that goes for more than just meat.) The larger the chain, the sooner you can have it. Try to place special orders during business hours and on the earlier side in the day; most managers are around at that time. If you’re not sure which department it falls under, ask for the store manager. 

Several meat department managers confirmed items like uncommon in-season fish such as flounder and grouper, crown roasts, and porchetta can be prepared and ready for pick-up. If you're lucky, you’ll get someone like Lee Hurn, the meat and seafood manager of Highland Park Market in Hartford, Conn. “There’s no such thing as no in my department,” he told me. Bottom line? It’s always worth it to ask. 

“We get these sorts of requests all the time,” says Mike Desmarais, a five-year meat department assistant manager of Market Basket in Johnston, Rhode Island. A typical meat counter can slice, cube, or grind most cuts of meat on the spot. Loins and roasts can be butterflied to a desired thickness, though it may take a few extra minutes if they’re busy.

Maureen Sikie, the longtime meat department manager at Market Basket in Johnston, Rhode Island, notes that small birds like chicken can be cut into parts of your choosing, whether it’s the whole bird, wings to party wings, or even de-boning. You can even take the gizzards to make a flavorful chicken stock.

Spatchcocking (or butterflying) takes a little longer than a simple de-boning, but it may be an option if the butcher has the skills and time. Note: Poultry has to be fresh or thawed in order to spatchcock. For a large bird such as a turkey, give more notice.

Large grocery stores may have beef or pork bones prepackaged and available for sale. Depending on the store, some offal bits (such as liver or giblets) only come frozen or prepackaged as they only carry select options, an employee at a Kroger grocery store in Atlanta confirmed. But if you see them for sale in the store, you can always ask at the counter if they have more.

If you’re looking to break up a larger amount of prepackaged meat into a smaller amount than you see available, just ask. (For example, you see a 4-pound package of chicken thighs and only need 2 pounds.)

Chances are, they will package your desired amount for you or make a new package entirely. “If you see something specific you want that’s already packaged or portioned, [we can] cut you a fresh one, no need to ask for something pre-cut to be adjusted,” says Desmarais.

A sheet cake on display can be decorated in the form of a simple message or pre-made flowers/swirls in a few minutes. Just ask the baker. Looking for more complex requests and custom cakes? Bakeries usually need 24-48 hours advance notice, so it’s worth it to call ahead to give them more time. 

Any loaf of bread sold in a grocery store bakery can be cut into slices, confirmed five bakery departments. One longtime baker from Stop & Shop in Providence, Rhode Island, added that they will even slice pies if you ask nicely.

While shredded and presliced cheese is fine, sometimes it’s better to do it yourself. Our Simple Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese recommends a 4-ounce block of American cheese from the deli counter rather than the packaged stuff for its premium meltability. A seasoned employee from Stop & Shop’s deli counter says, “Yes, you can buy an entire block of cheese. We’ll even cut it up for you. Just tell me where the party is.” 

Even if your local grocery store doesn’t sell fresh, custom sandwiches (though stores like Sprouts and Publix do!), you can get deli meats and cheeses sliced to your desired thickness. When you place your deli meat order, ask to sample the first slice. If you want it to be thicker (or thinner), just say so. 

If you’re doing some large-scale baking, you may need more than just a few apples or bananas. For large amounts of produce, some stores such as Smart & Final and Costco have cases available at a discount without the need to place a special order. Call ahead to make sure the store has the stock.

Sometimes they haven’t had a chance to stock a new shipment on the shelves. If you see a less-than-stellar selection of any produce, often they’re happy to check in the back; they’re likely going to be refilling that shelf soon anyway.