Any good meat sales?

[SmokinVOLfan]

When my freezer is getting low, I'll use my phone's calendar to make note of "sell or freeze by" dates on the packaging of meats I want to restock. It doesn't always work due to product turnover, but stopping in a day or two before that date I've seen amazing "Price Reduction" price tags that are often 60-80% off the regular price or sale price. I've only passed on one deal because the meat looked sketchy.

Great tip thanks for the idea!

 

[Preacher Man]

I don’t buy much select meat only one store around here sells it. How big a difference in select and choice? Only reason I ask is I scored about a 12 pound whole NY strip roast a couple months ago on a crazy good deal and froze it but it’s select and didn’t even realize till I had gotten it home.

I think you get more juiciness when using higher grade meat, as well as a little more tenderness. I also find that it takes less time to cook, which I wonder if this is all in response to better fat marbling with less collagen that has to be broken down. I'm no butcher or meat-science guy, but this is just me thinking out loud.

With that being said, I'm not going to pass up a crazy good deal because it says Select on the package.

Way back when, BBQ was about taking the less desired pieces of meat and making a dang good meal out of them that people kept coming back for. I sometimes hearken back to those primitive roots every now and then and see what I can do with these lesser grades of meat.

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

I think you get more juiciness when using higher grade meat, as well as a little more tenderness. I also find that it takes less time to cook, which I wonder if this is all in response to better fat marbling with less collagen that has to be broken down. I'm no butcher or meat-science guy, but this is just me thinking out loud.

With that being said, I'm not going to pass up a crazy good deal because it says Select on the package.

Way back when, BBQ was about taking the less desired pieces of meat and making a dang good meal out of them that people kept coming back for. I sometimes hearken back to those primitive roots every now and then and see what I can do with these lesser grades of meat.

Thanks for the input. I agree with you for sure. Saving that giant strip roast for a special occasion. Got plenty of other stuff to smoke up for super bowl weekend! Got any tips on store bought bologna chubs?

 

[DustyJoe84]

I'm still learning what the real good deals are. I know Price Chopper here in Kansas City has baby backs on sale for 1.99/lb right now. Is that a decent price?

 

[WaterRat]

I'm still learning what the real good deals are. I know Price Chopper here in Kansas City has baby backs on sale for 1.99/lb right now. Is that a decent price?

Can't comment for the KC area but that's the lowest I've seen BBs for. Scored some for that this summer myself and thought it was a killer deal even though I prefer spares. I'd jump all over it if you want BBs.

 

[Preacher Man]

I'm still learning what the real good deals are. I know Price Chopper here in Kansas City has baby backs on sale for 1.99/lb right now. Is that a decent price?

I'd buy em. Lowest I've seen spares is $1.29.

Meat prices are regional, I guess. I shop sales A LOT, so I've gotten pretty familiar with what's a good deal.

I shoot for less than a dollar per pound on pork (a really good deal), with a dollar and a half being my max price. Pork belly is the exception. I found it for $1.88 once, and that spoiled me. I refuse to pay over 3 bucks for it, but it looks like I'm going to buy some $2.99 belly for this weekend.

Chicken must be less than a dollar, and I often find it for less than 80¢ per pound.

Beef is different.
- Brisket: I shoot for less than 3 bucks for choice and prime, less than 2 bucks for select
- Chuck: less than 2 bucks
- After that, it's just a willingness on what cut you really want to eat and whether it's worth it to you.

Starting out, I kept a notebook of all my purchases that I could go back and compare prices with.

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

I'd buy em. Lowest I've seen spares is $1.29.

Meat prices are regional, I guess. I shop sales A LOT, so I've gotten pretty familiar with what's a good deal.

I shoot for less than a dollar per pound on pork (a really good deal), with a dollar and a half being my max price. Pork belly is the exception. I found it for $1.88 once, and that spoiled me. I refuse to pay over 3 bucks for it, but it looks like I'm going to buy some $2.99 belly for this weekend.

Chicken must be less than a dollar, and I often find it for less than 80¢ per pound.

Beef is different.
- Brisket: I shoot for less than 3 bucks for choice and prime, less than 2 bucks for select
- Chuck: less than 2 bucks
- After that, it's just a willingness on what cut you really want to eat and whether it's worth it to you.

Starting out, I kept a notebook of all my purchases that I could go back and compare prices with.

Only place I can even find belly around here is Costco and it’s always $2.99 lb. Would love to find a better deal...id stock up

 

[DustyJoe84]

I'd buy em. Lowest I've seen spares is $1.29.

Meat prices are regional, I guess. I shop sales A LOT, so I've gotten pretty familiar with what's a good deal.

I shoot for less than a dollar per pound on pork (a really good deal), with a dollar and a half being my max price. Pork belly is the exception. I found it for $1.88 once, and that spoiled me. I refuse to pay over 3 bucks for it, but it looks like I'm going to buy some $2.99 belly for this weekend.

Chicken must be less than a dollar, and I often find it for less than 80¢ per pound.

Beef is different.
- Brisket: I shoot for less than 3 bucks for choice and prime, less than 2 bucks for select
- Chuck: less than 2 bucks
- After that, it's just a willingness on what cut you really want to eat and whether it's worth it to you.

Starting out, I kept a notebook of all my purchases that I could go back and compare prices with.

What do pork butts usually run in your region? My local Walmart has them for $1.97/lb and my local grocery has them at around $2.97. These are just regular prices, not on sale.

 

[Preacher Man]

What do pork butts usually run in your region? My local Walmart has them for $1.97/lb and my local grocery has them at around $2.97. These are just regular prices, not on sale.

Lucky.

Only two places here carry them: Cash N Carry and Costco. They're $3.79/lb at CnC and $2.99/lb at Costco.

 

[bowdiddley]

Food Lion has Butts for $0.99/lb

 

[Enis Simon]

Krogers in my area has butts boneless on sale for .99 lb

 

[mike243]

I'm thinking some CSR for Sunday,did a small test recently and going to pu a 4-6lbs family pack if I can find 1

 

[noboundaries]

Saw Select grade tri tips at Winco Thursday for $2.98/lb. They looked good, but I need to thin out the freezer.

I found it interesting that they jacked the price up on untrimmed spares to $2.28/lb prior to the Super Bowl. BBs were $2.98/lb, which is low for my area. For that small a price difference, I was tempted to get the BBs, but kept on walking.

 

[WaterRat]

I picked up SLC spares for $1.99/lb at Aldi, not too shabby :) On the smoker now with two 8.5lb Butts that ran me $1.99/#, not so great but gotta do whatcha gotta do

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

I ended up picking up an 8 pound butt for $.99 lb and 3 racks of spares for $1.99 lb. Got 2 yard birds thawing too. Gonna be a good super bowl! Oh and a couple cases of beer can’t forget that!

 

[gmc2003]

Ummmmm Beeeeer.

Chris

 

[jokensmoken]

I was hoping for a brisket sale this week, too. I saw Costco has some Prime for $3.29/lbs.

I really like Costco prime brisket...the price for prime is the best around and, occasionally as low as $2.69/lb and

I was hoping for a brisket sale this week, too. I saw Costco has some Prime for $3.29/lbs.

I have yet to get a bad one.
The only problem is avalibility...
Sometimes they just dont have a good selection.
I made a concerted effort to talk to the same meat cutter every time I visit...
I wouldn't call him a friend exactly but did delelope a rapport and he now calls me when they have a good selection...

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

I’ve got a Costco prime brisket in my freezer right now. Bought it for $2.99 lb a couple months ago. They usually run $3.99 lb most of the year