About a month or so ago Costco had 12 ounce bags of biltong on sale for $8.95 (75 cents per ounce). My first thought was, "I can't make it myself for that price." I picked up 8 bags. It was (is) good stuff. BTW, the regular price is $12.95, or $1.08/oz for 12 oz.
So, all that got me thinking, "What does it cost me to make my own jerky on a per ounce comparison?" I decided to only consider the cost of bottom round beef I can get locally to make jerky. Regular price is $5.88/lb; sale price $3.88/lb as of a month ago.
Using shrinkage of 60%, 65%, and 70%, the cost range is as follows for bottom round:
Regular price: $0.92 to $1.23 per ounce.
Sale price: $0.61 to $0.81 per ounce.
None of that includes the cost of my cure ingredients, fuel, or equipment. But, I know exactly what's in it.
Another jerky (Trapper John) available in my area is $1.10/oz. (10 oz for $10.95).
Bottom line? No great savings doing it myself, but how do you put a price on satisfaction?
So, all that got me thinking, "What does it cost me to make my own jerky on a per ounce comparison?" I decided to only consider the cost of bottom round beef I can get locally to make jerky. Regular price is $5.88/lb; sale price $3.88/lb as of a month ago.
Using shrinkage of 60%, 65%, and 70%, the cost range is as follows for bottom round:
Regular price: $0.92 to $1.23 per ounce.
Sale price: $0.61 to $0.81 per ounce.
None of that includes the cost of my cure ingredients, fuel, or equipment. But, I know exactly what's in it.
Another jerky (Trapper John) available in my area is $1.10/oz. (10 oz for $10.95).
Bottom line? No great savings doing it myself, but how do you put a price on satisfaction?