I’m always looking for the cheapest place to buy meat near me since it’s the most expensive food group in my shopping cart. It’s a huge chunk of most weekly grocery budgets. The over 222 pounds of red meat and poultry in 2018.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that as of 2018, each household spent $4,464 on food. If dining out is included, our annual spending exceeds $7,900. For the majority of people, eating is the biggest expense after housing. Because rearing the animals requires a lot of room, food, and water, meat is not inexpensive.
While looking for the cheapest meat to buy at the grocery store, we don’t want you to opt for cheap, fatty cuts of meat to save money. We wish to direct you to the greatest and most affordable meat offers in the area.
You can save thousands of dollars by using the 18 tactics listed below.
1. Meat Coupons
Contents
- 1. Meat Coupons
- 2. Shop at Ethnic Supermarket
- 3. Buy Wholesale Meat
- 4. Buy Meat From Local Farmers
- 5. Exotic Meats For Sale
- 6. Compare Weekly Grocery Ads
- 7. Meat Portion Per Person
- 8. Cheap Filling Foods
- 9. Inexpensive Type Of Cuts Of Meat
- 10. Plant-Based Meat Substitutes
- 11. Discount Meat Market – Expiring Soon
- 12. Avoid Fattier Cuts of Beef
- 13. Learn How To Trim Meat
- 14. Cheaper To Grind Your Own Meat
- 15. Meat on Sale During Holidays
- 16. Grade of Steak from Best to Worst
- 17. Join Wholesale Food Warehouse
- 18. Buy Meat Bundles Online
- Checking for Good Meat
- Summary of 18 Easy Ways to Buy Discount Meat Cheaper Nearby
On their websites, several meat producers offer printable coupons that are updated frequently.
The following is a list of meat producers whose websites feature printable coupons and special offers:
- :offers antibiotic-free, humanely raised, non-GMO, and 100% grass-fed beef meats for sale. Items include bacon, hotdogs, deli meats, sausages, cheese, and frozen food that is natural and organic. Click here to view and print or send Applegate coupons.
- :sells bacon, bratwurst, hamburgers, deli slices, hot dogs, meatballs, turkey wings, turkey breast, and whole turkey. You can print any available Jennie-O coupons by clicking here.
- :offers a range of brats and sausages for sale. For recipes and special content, click here.
- :Spam, sausage, brats, hotdogs, bacon, ham, deli meats, pork, turkey, beef, chicken, and other products are all sold by Hormel. Hormel coupons that can be printed can be found here.
- Laura’s Lean Beef: Believes in selling all-natural raised cattle with no added hormones or antibiotics and vegetarian fed. They sell turkey, beef jerky, organic, and plant-based meat. Receive an instant . Find the .
- :sells a variety of meats, including beef tongue, filet mignon, poultry, bacon, ribeye, New York strip steak, bratwurst, Canadian bacon, pulled pork, and more. Join the email list here to learn about Perdue promotions.
- :sells low-sodium deli meats as well as roast beef, chicken breast, ham, and turkey breast. Here you can find Sara Lee deli coupons, deals, and recipes.
Target Cartwheel Discounts
To view weekly offers from their Cartwheel offers, download the Target app. The app might allow you to purchase some inexpensive meat. A Target Cartwheel meat coupon can be used in addition to current discounts on various items.
Click here to from Apple App Store or Google Play.
2. Shop at Ethnic Supermarket
Nearby ethnic grocery stores offer meats, fruits, and veggies at lower prices than big national corporations. While ethnic stores sell meat from the butcher by the pound or quantity, national grocery chains typically sell more meat packages. Your item will then be wrapped and packaged by the butcher behind the glass.
It costs money for a large chain to get into a long-term contract with a supplier in order to receive regular products throughout the entire year. If you can be a little more flexible with variety, an international grocery shop may be a better option to get meat locally. It will also likely be cheaper per pound.
All year long, the ethnic grocery store near me always sells inexpensive deli meat. At consistently low costs, they provide ham, turkey, chicken, and organic meat. My local grocery store is only competitive when they have deli specials going on.
3. Buy Wholesale Meat
To save money, purchase beef in bulk quantities. Most people purchase meat in quantity to either save money on the cost of the meat or to be certain of its provenance. Finding and supporting regional farms near your location has significance for many.
Wholesale Meat Suppliers Near Me
Input your zip code in the “” to find wholesale meat companies nearby. Find the best place to buy meat in bulk bundles based on their location, prices, sustainability, website, hours, convenience, and appropriate packages and bundles. Buying bulk meat packages will vary based on the cuts and types of protein.
How many people can a cow feed?
A 1,000-pound cow will produce around 430 pounds of usable meat. If each person consumes half a pound, there would be 860 servings. A quarter cow will supply food for a family of four for roughly 13 weeks or three months if they consume a half pound of meat every night.
See the pictures on how much room is required in a .
Reasons not to buy wholesale meat
Here are four justifications for avoiding bulk meat purchases:
- Lack of freezer space It may be challenging to find room in your freezer for a quarter cow. If you don’t have enough freezer space, look for a big sale at your neighborhood appliance store or a used freezer on Craigslist.
- Expense Up Front You must pay for your large purchases of wholesale meat three to twelve months in advance. It’s an upfront, sizable payout. Some homeowners list the purchase on their insurance policy, according to what I’ve read. If your electricity goes out, either buy some coolers with ice and start eating the bulk meat right once, or connect your freezer to a generator. Have a large group of pals over for an unplanned barbecue.
- Unselected Variety Meat purchased in bulk will come in a variety of cuts. You will receive a variety of cuts of meat, including lean, fatty, and tough cuts that are perfect for slow cooking or smoking. If all you want is filet or chops, you’ll either be dissatisfied or you’ll need to get your recipe book out.
- Variable Prices The weight of the animal determines a large portion of the wholesale meat prices. Each animal and each cut will be different, so you might not know your exact price until it is time to ship.
Types of cuts from bulk meat packages
The following cuts of meat should be included in a cow purchase:
- Beef shank
- Brisket
- Burger patties
- Ground beef
- roasts such as chuck and rump
- Short ribs
- Steaks include the following: T-bone, ribeye, skirt, ribeye, filet, flank, and hanger.
- Stew meat
The following cuts of meat should be included in the package when it comes to pork:
- Baby back ribs
- Bacon
- Ham
- Pork including tenderloin, cutlets, chops, and the like
- Roasts
- Sausage
- Spare ribs
4. Buy Meat From Local Farmers
It may be less expensive to buy meat directly from nearby producers. You can purchase the full meat of a pig, cow, turkey, pig, or other exotic species.
The initial cost of purchasing meat in bulk from nearby farmers is higher than the cost of purchasing a few pounds of meat each week from the supermarket. It will often come down to monetary flow and the minimum bundle size demanded by the neighborhood farmer for many folks.
Here is Kendra Less’ advice on where to find local sources of grass-fed cattle meat. She clarifies as follows:
- visiting a nearby farm
- How to purchase a cow for food
- The distinction between hanging weight and meat processing
- Cost of buying cow meat
- How many pounds will be consumed?
- the various cuts of beef
- Number of cuts made
Although though purchasing from a grass-fed cattle farm will probably cost more because the meat is of higher quality, you will still save hundreds of dollars year. In many circumstances, grass-fed beef will also be organic.
It might not be to everyone’s taste to purchase grass-fed beef. The majority of Americans are accustomed to the flavor of corn-fed beef. Grass-fed food is characterized as having a more gamey flavor and texture that is either fishy, mineral-heavy, or grassy.
Grass-fed beef for sale near me
Here is a . You can find grass-fed beef companies that sell beef, chicken, ducks, elk, goat, pork, rabbit, turkeys, veal, venison, yak, and more.
Other inquiries to make before purchasing local farm meat:
- Can you pick the animal out on the farm?
- Do they deliver grass-fed, organic meat?
- Do you need to recruit buddies or can they find consumers to share the cow with?
- Can you make particular cutting requests?
Prior to purchasing farm meat close to your location, always give a call to inquire about hours and any specific questions.
5. Exotic Meats For Sale
Gourmet cuisine is becoming more and more popular in grocery shops, food trucks, and restaurants. The best places to purchase exotic meats are butcher shops and ethnic grocery stores. Surprisingly, many unique varieties of meat are higher in protein, lower in fat, and more flavorful and appetizing. While some of the unusual meats mentioned, such as camel, llama, and kangaroo, are imported, many others, such as an alligator, wild boar, and yak, are farmed in the US.
Exotic meats occasionally remain in the store or butcher refrigerator longer than beef and poultry because they are uncommon. Take advantage of it by purchasing the available exotic meats.
For instance, I noticed organic bison was available at my neighborhood Costco a year ago for 25% less than usual. Due to the fact that it would soon expire, it was less expensive than all of the ground beef in the cooler. I purchased 10 pounds of bison meat and put it in my freezer right away.
Exotic meats list
Although the list of exotic meat may sound unusual to Americans, it is just known as meat elsewhere.
- Alpaca is a relatively new animal that is becoming popular as a beef substitute in the food industry. Alpaca meat has the lowest level of cholesterol of any real meat, is tender, lean, high in protein, and has half the saturated fat of beef.
- Due to its similar texture and flavor to venison, antelope is an alternative. Although it has two-thirds fewer calories than beef, antelope meat has a similar flavor. It has a mild flavor, a rough texture, and is sweet.
- Alligator has a mild flavor and a firm texture that is similar to quail’s. Meat from the body, white tail, or dark tail of an alligator is available. The lighter tail is rough, whereas the darker tail is delicate and tastes like veal. The body is somewhat tough, pink, and flavorful, similar to pork shoulder. It may taste a little fishy depending on how it was prepared. Alligator meat is high in protein and low in fat.
- Buffalo is viewed as a healthier beef substitute. In comparison to beef, buffalo has less fat, cholesterol, and calories while also tasting lighter and being more tender. Compared to beef, pork, skinless chicken, turkey, and even some fish, bison meat has fewer calories. Unlike some other unusual meats, it doesn’t taste gamey or have a strong aftertaste.
- Camel Depending on the cut, many people believe that it has a flavor somewhere between lamb and beef. It usually doesn’t taste gamey unless the camel flesh is really old.
- Crocodile Meat Is Flaky And Easy To Pull Apart With A Fork Like Fish. It has a mild flavor and a firm texture.
- Duck is similar to chicken but is more soft and juicy because it contains more fat. It is delicious and nutrient-rich. Many people view the thick skin as a delicacy since, when cooked properly, it gets rather crispy.
- Elk is a beef substitute with some flavor enhancement. Rarely ever will elk meat taste gamey, especially if it was grown on a farm. Elk ground contains around half the calories and substantially less fat than beef.
- Although being a bird, lean poultry has a texture and flavor akin to lean beef. Less calories, fat, and cholesterol are found in emu meat.
- Frog Due to their mild flavor and resemblance in texture to chicken wings, most people concur that frog legs taste like chicken. The benefits of frog leg meat include that it is high in potassium protein, iron, and vitamin A. Sadly, they have high cholesterol levels as well.
- Goat Chicken, beef, pork, and goat are comparable in protein content but lower in fat and cholesterol. Goat meat is classified as red meat and has a mild flavor and suppleness akin to lamb.
- Lamb A lamb is a sheep that is younger than a year old. Between chicken and beef, lamb has a fattier flavor and a delicate texture.
- Llama’s flavor is comparable to that of lamb and beef. Llama meat is high in protein and low in cholesterol.
- Kangaroo meat typically has a strong beef flavor and is gamey. The flavor of kangaroo meat is a cross between venison and buffalo. The red meat is rich in protein, minerals, vitamin B, iron, and omega 3 and 6 fats and contains less than 2% fat.
- Moose Meat is extremely lean and resembles venison. Be careful not to overcook extremely lean proteins. Its meat is quite thick and gamey. Because it contains less sodium than steak, moose is healthier.
- Ostrich is extremely red like venison and has a flavor similar to prime beef. Ostrich meat is very high in protein and iron but low in calories, cholesterol, and fat. Compared to skinless turkey or white flesh chicken breast, it has fewer fat grams.
- Oxtail is a cow’s tail that tastes strongly of beef. Because it contains a lot of muscular connective tissue, oxtail meat needs to be cooked slowly and for a long time to achieve the optimum flavor and texture. The extra fat and beefy-tasting gelatin in the oxtail contribute to the creation of a luxurious stock.
- Alternative to chicken that tastes gamey is pheasant. If pheasant meat is not cooked correctly, it might become tasteless and dry. Compared to chicken and turkey, it has less total fat, cholesterol, and saturated fat.
- The color, bone structure, protein content, and fat content of a quail are comparable to those of a chicken, however quail meat is more gamey and contains four times as much vitamin C as chicken.
- Rabbit has a flavor that is somewhat akin to chicken but also meaty and earthy. Compared to chicken, hog, turkey, beef, and veal, rabbit meat contains the lowest percentage of fat and calories per pound and the highest amount of protein. A rabbit is frequently cited as having some of the tastiest wild game meat.
- Squab is more tender and moist than chicken. Squab meat is prized for its delicate flavor and sparse amounts of bird meat per bird.
- Venison has a richer, more complex flavor than beef and can sometimes have a gamey aftertaste. Deer meat can occasionally be a little rough and is 50% leaner than beef.
- Wild boar has a flavor similar to beef and pork and has flavorful fluids. Wild boar has a nutty flavor and a high protein and iron content.
- Yak Many people think of it as an improved version of bison. Yak meat offers twice as much protein and half as much fat as skinless chicken breasts. Red meat has a pleasant, juicy flavor.
6. Compare Weekly Grocery Ads
Every Wednesday, weekly food sales start over. Perhaps Tuesday or Wednesday will see the adverts in your mailbox. An alternative is to view the weekly ad online or sign up for the weekly sales at all of your neighborhood grocery stores.
To find the cheapest meat to purchase at the supermarket, check the weekly sales. I base my weekly meat purchases on what’s on offer. We occasionally offer skirt steak for $4.99 per pound and occasionally offer chicken breasts for 99 cents per pound. I stock up and freeze about 20 pounds of chicken at a time whenever I see it for less than a dollar.
Personally, I cut the fat from the chicken breasts when I get home, split them, and prepare them in Ziplock bags. When I need to thaw for dinner, I’ll take out one or two Ziplock bundles from my freezer. Before the fresh chicken meat on the Styrofoam tray freezes into a single large clump, it is much simpler to separate it beforehand.
The where I can get the cheapest meat nearby is either a large ethnic grocery store or Aldi.
How is Aldi so cheap?
- Less than 1,000 essential products are offered with fewer SKUs, giving consumers more purchasing power.
- Customers must pay for each cart individually and are reimbursed for their deposits when the carts are returned, so there is no need to pay for an employee to collect all the carts from the parking lot. It is a strategy for renting carts that benefits Aldi and lowers overhead expenses.
- Each retailer has to pay for fewer personnel since there are fewer things to replenish and fewer people returning their own shopping carts.
- Clients bring their own bags; the cashier does not inquire whether each one is made of paper or plastic. Customers at Aldi shop for groceries with their own bags. For those like me who overestimate their shopping needs, they now have the opportunity to purchase bags at the point of sale. From 8 cents to under $2, shoppers can pay for paper, plastic, or reusable bags at the register. Sometimes when I don’t buy enough food, I’ll take a free empty food box from the display.
- Each store includes simple shelves, walls, and flooring to keep costs down.
- Aldi only engages in a small amount of television advertising and sends out a weekly grocery advertisement. Compared to many of its rival national grocery stores, it advertises very little.
- Shorter hours Most Aldi stores are open for little more than 11 hours a day, which keeps costs down. The majority of such supermarkets are open 18 to 24 hours a day.
7. Meat Portion Per Person
Yet though most people consume meat every day, the cheapest grocery will never include it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that in 2018, the average American consumed approximately 222 pounds of red and poultry meat.
American portion sizes continue to grow. Since 1985, the .
American’s eat and buy more meat per person than any other country worldwide. Even though the in the world, American portion sizes are the largest.
A survey done by , on behalf of Bosch, says the average American throws out an average of $53.81 worth of food waste per week. That’s over $2,700 per year! 43% of spoiled food is meat. That’s over $1,200 of spoiled meat wasted per person.
73% of those polled expressed guilt over food waste.
More money can be saved at the grocery store if there is no food waste and proper portion sizes are used. Not wasting meat is the most economical method to purchase it.
There is no ideal quantity of meat to offer because it depends on each person’s age, gender, and appetite. Less than a half-pound (eight ounces) per person is the standard guideline. For someone with a larger appetite, you might want to aim for more than half a pound. Children’s portions of meat and those who don’t consume leftovers will both be considerably under a half pound.
Hand Portion Guide
For easy reference, check out this infographic from VeryWellFit that uses hand cues for portion control.
Try to split up the meat in advance if you are purchasing it in bulk or from a nearby farmer. As opposed to the normal big American quantities, request from the farmer smaller portions of meat each person.
8. Cheap Filling Foods
A replacement is the cheapest meat you can purchase at a grocery shop. Vegetables, which are an alternative to meat, can be more cheap and filling than meat but cannot replace it. Eat fewer servings of meat and more of certain healthful and nourishing meals to reduce your grocery bill.
9 Meat alternatives
- Potatoes
- Beans
- Beets
- Tofu
- Portobello mushrooms are a meaty type of mushroom.
- Lentils
- Cauliflower
- Eggplant
- Sweet potatoes
Here’s a for filling meals made without meat.
With the substitution of inexpensive filling foods, it is possible to prepare meals that are very filling while using less meat per person. The cheapest strategy to buy food is to get more vegetables and other components to complement the recipe.
You can buy food using this strategy while maintaining a more sensible spending plan.
9. Inexpensive Type Of Cuts Of Meat
You could experiment with cheaper cuts of meat to save money at the grocery store. Locate a reliable butcher who can advise you on cost-effective cuts. The following eight beef cuts from your butcher are inexpensive:
- Whole chicken – A whole chicken is much cheaper than buying pre-cut chicken like skinless, boneless, or prepared. Also, bone-in chicken thighs and legs are cheap cuts of poultry. Here’s a video on into eight pieces in less than a minute.
- Hamburger meat Over the past ten years, both at home and in restaurants, hamburgers have become incredibly popular. Making your own burger patties is significantly less expensive than purchasing pre-made patties from the butcher or grocery store. When there is more fat, burger meat will be less expensive. A burger with 30% fat and 70% lean ground beef will taste fantastic. Yet, many cooks choose an 80/20 burger that is still flavorful and juicy while being slightly healthier. The ideal burger should have an 80-20 meat to fat ratio, according to even Bobby Flay.
- Ribs Both pork and beef rib meat benefit greatly from slow, low cooking to enhance taste. Because it is a fatty cut of meat, it is moist. Because ribs are a bone-in beef cut and account for a significant amount of the weight, they are less expensive. Although some fat is to be expected, you don’t want to overpay for it on your rib meat.
- These three low-cost steak cuts—flank, hanger, and skirt—are often crushed into hamburger by butchers. The lower chest or abdominal muscle of a cow is where the flank steak is taken from. The majority of chefs like to marinade these harder beef steaks in order to break up the fibers. You’ll grill it and slice it thinly after it has marinated for some time. Around Cinco de Mayo, skirt steak often goes on sale for tacos and fajitas. For fajitas, it is the ideal cut of meat.
- Turkey – Other than Thanksgiving, most people don’t consider buying it. A turkey is one of the cheapest white meats in the cooler. Like a whole chicken, you’ll want to follow this link on .
- Chuck steaks A chuck steak is a less expensive steak option than a porterhouse or New York strip. The chuck needs to be marinated because it is less tender than other meat cuts. Although it is a tough cut of meat if you prefer your steak well done, it is soft when cooked medium-rare. If you prefer your meat more rare, you should look for something else.
- One of the least expensive beef cuts is brisket. Because the beef brisket loses nearly half its weight by the time it is cooked, the price is rather deceptive. One of the fatty pieces of beef is the brisket. During the slow cook, the substantial layer of fat melts away and imparts flavor. One of the best meats to smoke is brisket.
- One of the cheapest cuts of pork is the shoulder. It is advised to slowly roast or smoke pork shoulder meat for several hours at a low temperature. It’s a great cut for pulled pork from the barbecue.
The majority of them are cuts of meat suited for braising and roasting rather than rapid grilling and cooking.
Meat Alternatives
List of alternate, less expensive meat cuts to purchase from your butcher:
- Chuck eye is an alternative of ribeye steak.
- Beef flanken is an alternative to skirt steak.
- Sierra or merlot steak are substitutes for flank steak.
- Country-style ribs are an alternative to boneless short ribs.
- Pork top sirloin is an alternative to pork rib chops.
- An alternative to lamb rib chops is a shoulder or blade chop.
- Sirloin roast is an alternative to leg of lamb.
- Lamb neck is an alternative to lamb shank.
10. Plant-Based Meat Substitutes
The public’s attention was drawn to plant-based meat substitutes at COVID-19.
Beef prices skyrocketed over 40% in just a month at grocers nationally. The wholesale price of a USDA Choice Box of beef went from $2.05 a pound to $4.10 in a month to your butcher. Even with price inflation, major grocers struggled to keep beef and poultry in-stock because the processing plants were shutting down and liming production. of three packages of beef, pork, and poultry for its wholesale members.
In an effort to gain market share, Beyond Meat started giving substantial value bundles and discounts on plant-based meat to some American stores in the summer of 2020. The cost difference between cattle and plant-based meat has been closing.
Some people believe .
Even more quickly than some had anticipated appears to be happening.
The two leaders in plant-based meat substitutes are Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger. Read the of the best plant-based burgers you can buy at your local retail store or grocer.
According to a Harvard Study, plant-based burgers are a good source of vitamins, protein, and minerals. Unfortunately, like 85% lean ground beef meat, and much higher than ground turkey.
The cost of vegan meat alternatives can currently be found at your neighborhood grocery store. Over time, the cooler’s plant-based section may turn out to be the cheapest place to purchase meat.
11. Discount Meat Market – Expiring Soon
If you notice the meat is about to expire, ask for a discount. If the meat from the grocery store spoils before it is sold, it has no value. Instead of receiving nothing, the grocer or butcher should offer a discount on the meat.
Never purchase meat after the sell-by date. If you notice a color change, it’s slimy, or you detect an odor, stay away from it.
Freeze the meat unless you plan on eating the meat immediately. When you are ready to eat it, defrost it and eat the meat the same day. The USDA recommends freezing uncooked meat for up to four months and cooked meat for up to three months. It will lose its freshness and quality if left in the freezer for too long. Here is the .
Asking for discounts on meat or soon-to-expire items at the grocery store is acceptable. My neighborhood supermarket has a sizable rack of merchandise. Due to the products’ impending expiration, they are offering steep discounts.
12. Avoid Fattier Cuts of Beef
If a consumer is seeking for the best deal on meat, they must take the net cook weight into account. If you pay more for beef that melts away or needs to be trimmed when you reach home, you are squandering more money. Additionally, avoiding beef with more fat will help you lower your cholesterol.
Packages of 70% ground beef for burgers are significantly less expensive than 90% ground beef. However, a lot of the fat will be cooked off, giving you a smaller burger. When you take into account the weight, price, and cost of the fat and bones, you will frequently save money on meat.
13. Learn How To Trim Meat
Because you have to trim the fat yourself, untrimmed meat is less expensive than trimmed meat. By not paying the processing facility or their butchers to remove the fat from the meat, the retailer can save both time and money.
Steps to trim meat
- Knife sharpening If your knife isn’t sharp, make it so. A razor-sharp knife will prevent ripping of the challenging fatty tissue. The ideal meat trimming knife should cut through meat effortlessly and easily remove fat.
- Trimming the outer fat is made simpler by freezing the meat for 15–30 minutes.
- Choose a cutting board that won’t slip off the counter when chopping dry meat. Additionally, pat the meat dry with a towel to prevent sliding while trimming the fat from it.
- Trimming tiny portions of meat at a time will help you conserve both flesh and meat. Cutting the expensive meat is not desired; only the fat is desired.
How to trim flank steak
Flank steak is one of the greatest inexpensive steak cuts, although it can be purchased either trimmed or untrimmed. Additionally, I purchase untrimmed hanger, flank, and skirt steak and prepare it at home. I spend about five minutes on it, but I end up saving a lot of money. I will cut and divide it into two servings, depending on size, and freeze the other half for another time.
This video shows how to easily trim flank steak.
Ask the butcher to trim the fat
I ask the grocery store’s butcher to remove the fat for me. He weighs the untrimmed meat before taking his time to trim the fat for me. Given his expertise and superior meat-trimming knives, it is far simpler for him to do it than it would be for me. The knife he uses to trim the meat is much sharper than mine.!
Best meat trimming knife
Using the right knife, removing the fat will result in reduced meat waste. Here are our top two choices, ranging from premium to affordable.
Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Slicing Knife It is made of high-quality materials and has a non-slip ergonomic handle for a secure grip.
$51.90
The Rada Cutlery Slicer Knife is our budget option because of its high-carbon stainless steel, long blade, American-made construction, and low price.
$13.49
14. Cheaper To Grind Your Own Meat
Instead of purchasing the cheapest ground beef, start purchasing cheaper cuts of beef to grind yourself. By grinding the meat yourself, you can obtain high-quality ground beef at a far lower cost.
You are basically paying a premium for the chuck roast to be ground at the supermarket for you. It’s cheaper to grind your own meat. It’s no different than you trimming your own fat to save money fast.
When you grind your own beef, the meat to fat ratio will be ideal. The meat will also taste more recent.
Types of meat grinders
- Meat grinder with a manual A meat grinder without a motor is the most affordable model you can purchase. However, since there is no engine, using it can be more difficult, especially for bigger chores.
- Attachment for a meat grinder The attachment is made to attach to a KitchenAid mixer. For many upcoming brides, the KitchenAid mixer is a standard present. It is made to last. Over a century ago, in 1919, a functional mixer was created! In conclusion, there is a good likelihood that you either own a KitchenAid mixer or know someone who does.
- Meat processor A reliable food processor is a great substitute for a meat grinder. To grind beef, pork, poultry, lean animal protein, and fat, you need a food processor with a powerful motor. Interestingly, a leaner protein can be easier to ground than a fattier cut of beef.
Best meat grinder tips with an attachment
- Clean the workspace, including the tools.
- The meat should be cut into cubes.
- Prior to grinding, place your meat in the freezer for at least 15 minutes.
- Freeze blade and attachment: Prior to beginning to grind, freeze the blade and attachment for at least 30 minutes.
- The beef should be ground twice.
- To remove some of the remaining cheap meat and fat, run a few pieces of bread through the grinder.
Best meat grinder tips for a food processor
- Clean the workspace, the processor, and the relevant kitchen appliances.
- One-inch pieces of beef should be cut into.
- Freeze Meat: Freeze the meat for approximately 15 minutes, or until the edges are stiff.
- Blade freezing: For 15 to 30 minutes, freeze the processor blade.
- Minimal quantities: Avoid overfilling. Per batch, only about half the food processor should be filled.
- You want coarse ground beef, not food paste, so just chop.
- Dishwasher cleaning is an option for both the container and the blade.
Don’t overprocess the meat by grinding it. Once cooked, over-grinding makes it tough.
List of top rated meat grinders
The Weston 10-0801-W 0.75 HP Pro Series #8 Meat Grinder is the best meat grinder for venison and deer.
$424.95
The STX Turboforce Classic 3000 Series is the best meat grinder for bones.
LEM Products #10 Stainless Steel Clamp-on Hand Grinder is the best manual meat grinder.
$159.99
Gourmia GMG525 Electric Meat Grinder with Stainless Steel Grinding Plates is the best meat grinder for home usage.
$59.99
The Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor is the best food processor for grinding meat.
$249.95
KitchenAid KSMMGA Metal Food Grinder Attachment is the best food grinder attachment.
Products not found.
6 pieces of meat grinder plates with a mixer attachment
If you purchase bone-in check meat, a pro tip is to boil the bones for a homemade broth.
Can dogs eat cooked bones?
Don’t give cooked bones to your dog. Cooked bones are overly tough and can harm a dog’s mouth, teeth, esophagus, intestines, and digestive system. Every bone poses a choking risk.
15. Meat on Sale During Holidays
Over the holidays, purchase meat in large quantities to freeze. The lowest price of the year will be offered on a lot of the meats on sale. Get inexpensive meats like ham or turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
The least expensive option to get meat is to wait until after the holiday to look at the remaining stock for an even better offer. Before purchasing any food specials, always check the expiration date.
List of meats on sale during the holidays:
Here’s the complete list of grocery sales cycles from .
- Ham for Easter in April
- Flank steak for Cinco de Mayo in May
- Memorial Day foods include hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled meats.
- 4th of July: Hamburgers, hot dogs, grilling and barbeque meats
- Lunchmeat for Back to School
- More grilling and barbecuing, hot dogs, and hamburger meat on Memorial Day
- Thanksgiving dinner: Turkey.
- Christmas: Ham
16. Grade of Steak from Best to Worst
You can save money at the grocery store or butcher by being aware of the steak grades, from best to worst. The following criteria determine the quality of meats sold in the US:
- Color
- Firmness and tenderness
- Marbling
- Maturity
- Texture
Difference between USA Prime, Choice, and Select steak:
- US Premier is the highest meat grade available, measured by quality. Only 2.9% of students are prime candidates.
- High-quality American Choice is widely accessible at butchers and retail markets. 53.7% of steak is graded as US Choice.
- The lowest grade offered in retail is US Select. Despite being acceptable, the meat is less juicy and tender because of the leanness and lack of fat.
Purchasing lower-grade beef will help you save a lot of money.
An infographic showing the grade of steak from best to worst:
How does the USDA grade poultry?
The highest grade of meat is Grade A, and you almost never see it in grocery shops. Grade A poultry has nearly no visible flaws, such as feathers, bruises, or discolouration. If the chicken has bones, they shouldn’t be shattered.
Meat in grades B and C typically requires additional processing and is ground, chopped, or sliced.
17. Join Wholesale Food Warehouse
You can save money on meat if you have a membership to Costco Wholesale, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s Wholesale Club. When compared to many supermarkets, the warehouses offer fresher and meat of higher quality.
It’s a myth that while shopping at a warehouse club, meat must always be purchased in large quantities. Upon request, the on-site butcher will assist you with resizing a package of meat. Only four bone-in steaks were what I was looking to purchase, but every box in the cooler contained five or six. The butcher took it in the back and put it in a four-pack as a courtesy.
Warehouse clubs also have some great bargains on grass-fed beef due to their large purchasing power.
You can purchase high-quality goods at a lower cost by joining a wholesale food warehouse club.
18. Buy Meat Bundles Online
Many people try to restrict their travels to the grocery store when staying at home alone during COVID-19. Online shoppers can now purchase simple meat bundles from butchers that include bulk, organic, grass-fed, cured, local farmers, and more.
Online meat shopping can be more convenient and affordable than grocery store shopping.
The cheapest option to get local meat online from grocery and retail stores is Shipt. They collaborate with a wide range of physical stores across the nation. Partners in neighborhood grocery stores include Costco, Kroger, Public, Target, and numerous others. They may schedule a delivery for later in the week or deliver food as soon as in an hour.
Open a .
Grass-fed beef online – sells grass-fed bison, beef, lamb, free-range poultry, seafood, raw honey, and hundreds of specialty items. They have a grass-fed standard and get everything from humane and small sustainable family farms.
Pasture-raised meat – sells no hormones and no antibiotic pasture-raised meat. They source from local farms in Kentucky and Tennessee. They sell meat bundles including:
- Beef: Burger patties, bacon, beef bones, sliced liver, marrow bones, ground beef, ground lamb, dry-aged beef, chili grind, and osso buco.
- Pork: Pork tenderloin, pork shank, short ribs, butt, brisket, uncured pork belly, and bacon.
- Leg of lamb, shoulder, T-bones, chops, shanks, ribs, and ground lamb are all examples of lamb.
- Whole chicken, soup bones, bone-in skin-on breasts, stock, and thighs are all types of chicken.
Exotic Meat – , since 1989, has been selling wild game online. The exotic meats you can buy online include kangaroo, elk, alligator, bison, organic lamb, ground boer goat, muskrat, python, rattlesnake sausage, camel steakburgers, emu hot Italian sausage, reindeer sausage, chukar partridge, antelope tenderloin, frog legs, Ayam Cemani chicken, ground turtle, blue foot chicken, llama red wine sausage, wild boar sausage, beaver burgers, alpaca strip loin, and guinea fowl.
Checking for Good Meat
While the aforementioned advice will enable you to locate the cheapest meat in the supermarket’s aisles, there is a slight possibility that it may be approaching its expiration date. This is crucial to remember when purchasing large quantities of food because the meat won’t last very long in the refrigerator. Many health problems can result from consuming rotten meat.
When purchasing meat off the shelf, keep the following things in mind:
Expiry date
Even though it might seem simple, think about how much meat you plan to purchase. There is a good chance that you will cook the food on time if you are only purchasing a few pounds that are a few days away from expiration. Close expiry dates can result in significant wastage if you purchase meat in large quantities.
In this situation, freezing your meat is one option you have. The shelf life of meat in the refrigerator is shorter than that of frozen meat. When you’re ready to cook it, take it out of the freezer and thaw it the night before in the refrigerator.
Look
The color of the meat will reveal whether it has been ruined and is over its sell-by date. Good meat has a faint pink tint when it comes to chicken and other white meat. Meat begins to turn browner and lose some of its color when it begins to deteriorate. It is recommended to search elsewhere if the beef on the shelves is not entirely pink.
You can start noticing some varied colors with other meat types. When red meat begins to go bad, it will start to turn a little green. The loss of the meat’s pink or red color indicates that it has gone rotten.
Texture
It is best to avoid eating meat that does not have the proper texture, even though it might be too late by the time you check the texture of the meat. The texture of spoiled meat is slimier and stickier than that of fresh meat. If you’re using ground meat, you’ll be able to see this more clearly.
Smell
Try to smell the meat before purchasing it if you can. Meat that has been refrigerated won’t smell in particular, however rotting meat will have an overpowering odor that you can smell right away. The meat may be on the verge of deteriorating in a day or two if it even slightly smells.
By keeping these things in mind, you can save money on meat while simultaneously maintaining good digestive health. Purchasing fresh meat will benefit both your health and your wallet because it is typically the most expensive component of your meal.
Summary of 18 Easy Ways to Buy Discount Meat Cheaper Nearby
As you’ve read, the store’s cheapest meat isn’t usually the greatest in terms of taste and cost. You’ll want to learn how to roast and braise meat, such as brisket, drumsticks, and shanks, for several of the recommendations. Meat typically makes up the largest percentage of a supermarket budget, so maybe these 18 tips can help you save money right away.
If you know of any other ways to cut costs on your groceries, kindly let us know.