MPmomof3How to Save Money on Meat
February 12th 2010 18:28
Skyrocketing food prices, dwindling incomes and an uncertain economy have us all tightening our belts these days. One of the first places many people look when trying to trim their budgets is food, particularly meat.
Meat is an essential component of many American meals. Saving even a little bit of money on it each week can really add up, but how do you start?
First, become friends with the meat man (or meat woman) at your local grocery store. (The meat person is the guy or girl behind the meat counter that you may find cutting up meat). If he or she is busy, they may have a buzzer beside the door to the back room where they are which you can use to get their attention. I've found the meat man at my favorite grocery store to be extremely helpful in helping me to find good cuts of meat and discover the best values in the meat department each time I shop. They are usually the person who does all the meat markdowns and can be your go-to guy or go-to girl when it comes to how long meat will last and other important meat information.
Next, make and freeze your own hamburger patties. Yes, I know those ones in the box are really convenient, but if you pre-make and freeze your own hamburger patties you can save money and have flexibility in your ingredients. First, find some inexpensive hamburger meat. I have generally found that the ground beef that is packaged inside the plastic packaging is the least expensive. If you're not sure, ask the person behind the meat counter. Next, use a hamburger patty maker or hamburger patty press (available at stores that sell kitchen gadgets or online at stores like amazon.com) to form circular, round patties. Wrap each patty in wax paper and store in a freezer bag (available in your local grocery or dollar store with the sandwich bags, next to aluminum foil and plastic wrap) with as much air squeezed out as possible. This technique is also helpful for chicken breasts. Thaw as many pieces as you need of the chicken or beef one day prior to cooking.
Your new meat friend can also help you find mark-downs on meats that are about to expire. Note expiration dates and plan your meals accordingly. Immediately freeze what you are not going to use prior to the expiration date, allowing at least one to two days prior to the meat expiration for it to thaw. Use a sharpie pen to mark how many days you have prior to the expiration on the meat packaging prior to freezing. If the meat packaging looks like it might contain some meat juice and you don't feel comfortable using a sharpie, try packaging the entire meat and packaging within a gallon size freezer bag and writing on the freezer bag with the sharpie.
Another benefit of speaking to the person behind the meat counter is that you may find that they offer additional services at no cost to you such as cutting larger chunks of meat into the size you want to purchase. It never hurts to ask!
Using a crock pot, dutch oven, or oven bags, turkey fryer, smoker, or a rotisserie oven can be a great way to use the often less expensive full-size chickens, turkeys, hens, etc. provided the meat fits securely inside and you follow the product manufacturer's instructions for cooking.
Remember to use caution in food preparation and thoroughly clean surfaces that come in contact with meat. It may also be wise to invest in a meat thermometer to ensure that the meat has reached a safe temperature. The food network offers a guide for meat and poultry temperatures at this link.
Meat is an essential component of many American meals. Saving even a little bit of money on it each week can really add up, but how do you start?
First, become friends with the meat man (or meat woman) at your local grocery store. (The meat person is the guy or girl behind the meat counter that you may find cutting up meat). If he or she is busy, they may have a buzzer beside the door to the back room where they are which you can use to get their attention. I've found the meat man at my favorite grocery store to be extremely helpful in helping me to find good cuts of meat and discover the best values in the meat department each time I shop. They are usually the person who does all the meat markdowns and can be your go-to guy or go-to girl when it comes to how long meat will last and other important meat information.
Next, make and freeze your own hamburger patties. Yes, I know those ones in the box are really convenient, but if you pre-make and freeze your own hamburger patties you can save money and have flexibility in your ingredients. First, find some inexpensive hamburger meat. I have generally found that the ground beef that is packaged inside the plastic packaging is the least expensive. If you're not sure, ask the person behind the meat counter. Next, use a hamburger patty maker or hamburger patty press (available at stores that sell kitchen gadgets or online at stores like amazon.com) to form circular, round patties. Wrap each patty in wax paper and store in a freezer bag (available in your local grocery or dollar store with the sandwich bags, next to aluminum foil and plastic wrap) with as much air squeezed out as possible. This technique is also helpful for chicken breasts. Thaw as many pieces as you need of the chicken or beef one day prior to cooking.
Your new meat friend can also help you find mark-downs on meats that are about to expire. Note expiration dates and plan your meals accordingly. Immediately freeze what you are not going to use prior to the expiration date, allowing at least one to two days prior to the meat expiration for it to thaw. Use a sharpie pen to mark how many days you have prior to the expiration on the meat packaging prior to freezing. If the meat packaging looks like it might contain some meat juice and you don't feel comfortable using a sharpie, try packaging the entire meat and packaging within a gallon size freezer bag and writing on the freezer bag with the sharpie.
Another benefit of speaking to the person behind the meat counter is that you may find that they offer additional services at no cost to you such as cutting larger chunks of meat into the size you want to purchase. It never hurts to ask!
Using a crock pot, dutch oven, or oven bags, turkey fryer, smoker, or a rotisserie oven can be a great way to use the often less expensive full-size chickens, turkeys, hens, etc. provided the meat fits securely inside and you follow the product manufacturer's instructions for cooking.
Remember to use caution in food preparation and thoroughly clean surfaces that come in contact with meat. It may also be wise to invest in a meat thermometer to ensure that the meat has reached a safe temperature. The food network offers a guide for meat and poultry temperatures at this link.
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