Sorry if this has been posted before, like my stack of playboys as a teen, I just read the articles. Does anyone out there have a good way to get cheap, decent quality meat? I buy smart at the grocery store, getting whatever relatively lean meats are on sale when I go, but I’d like to see if I can up my protein without busting my budget. No, I am not looking to powders as an alternative, so please don’t make that the point of this thread.
Does anyone have links to online suppliers or happen to live near Pittsburgh, PA and knows a local supplier? Buying in bulk to get lower prices is not an issue as a meat freezer chest is on my xmas list. Thanks.
I definitely check out the “clearance bin” at the grocery store, whatever’s marked down because it’s near expiration. It’s led me to some cuts of meat I wouldn’t normally have bought. And Costco/Sam’s can be fun… just cooked up 4lbs of sirloin last night… that will take a while to work through.
[quote]EasyRhino wrote:
I definitely check out the “clearance bin” at the grocery store, whatever’s marked down because it’s near expiration. It’s led me to some cuts of meat I wouldn’t normally have bought. And Costco/Sam’s can be fun… just cooked up 4lbs of sirloin last night… that will take a while to work through.
[/quote]
I agree with Costco, as you can usually get large portions at a fraction of the price of a regular grocery store (or at least that’s my experience here in Canada)…
If you do shop at a local grocery store, make friends with the guys/girls at the butcher department and don’t be afraid to ask them when they normally mark down their meats. They may tell you that on Thursday mornings at 8:30am they usually mark down their meat - you want to be there that day/time as you can get some killer deals…
I’d also do some research on how much it costs you per pound for the meats you like at Costco, the grocery store and then find a local butcher shop. I know where I live, they bring in grain fed, organic meats of all kinds and the price is sometimes comparable…
The other option of course, is to make friends with someone who hunts… I have a friend down in California that goes away on hunting trips all the time… I would kill to get my hands on some of the stuff he brings home… Too bad he can’t ship me the meat… he he he… But we’re talking bison, elk, deer, etc. and he fills his freezer for a year with the stuff…
Costco + Food Saver = Cheap
Oh no…be careful with Costco. I live in Chicago and have found local store selling beef at atleast half the cost compared to Costco. It is definitely a shop around type problem.
Seriously look for a local butcher and ask for primal cuts. I think it sounds cool and it is usually the best value that you can work with. Primal cuts are the large main cuts that steaks are cut from. You can see these at Costco. Say you buy an entire Rib roast–slice off the Rib Eyes however thick you want them and freeze. This will save you over $2 a pound on premium cuts of meat.
Also, don’t be afraid of the fat content in cheaper cuts of meat. Short ribs, Brisket, Chuck Rost, can be thrown in a slow cooker and have over half the fat render off of them.
[quote]BigJawnMize wrote:
Also, don’t be afraid of the fat content in cheaper cuts of meat. Short ribs, Brisket, Chuck Rost, can be thrown in a slow cooker and have over half the fat render off of them.[/quote]
Not to mention how delicious and easy it is to make stuff in a slow cooker.
A chunk of beef, a can of salsa, and some adoba… 6 hours later throw that shit in a burrito for an awesome, cheap, and tasty (and nutritious, depending on what you put in it.)