Tips/Recommendations

One question I get asked frequently is “How can I save money on meat?”

Meat is one of the most expensive items we buy at the grocery store and coupons for meat are rare.  But you can save money on meat and never pay full price for it again!

Here are some tips to help feed your family meat for less:

• Stock up on when meat is on sale – This is no different than any other product.  Meat goes on sale all the time.  When it hits it’s lowest price, go ahead and stock up!  Buy as much as your weekly budget will allow and put it in your freezer.  Most meats will keep in the freezer for 6 months.
• Buy Holiday Meats – Ham at Easter, Hot Dogs for 4th of July, Turkey at Thanksgiving.  Throughout the year meats go on sale around holidays.  Buy extra and take advantage of the low prices.  Who says you can’t bake a turkey in July?  You can also get multiple meals out of large pieces of meat like turkey and ham.
• Add Bulk to Recipes – Mix in beans, rice or oatmeal to bulk up your meatloaf or burgers.  Your family won’t taste the difference, and you’ll be packing in extra nutrients, too.
• Use Meat as an Accent – Instead of meat being the star of the meal, make a pasta dish or salad and add the meat as a topping.
• Thin Slice – Have the deli shave instead of slice your meats.  Add lettuce, tomato onions, etc. to bulk up your sandwich.  Again, you’ll be adding more veggies to your diet!
• Buy Frozen Meats – Don’t forget the freezer case when shopping for meats!  Did you know that most of the “fresh seafood” in the meat department is the same as in the freezer case?  They simply open a bag and thaw it for you.  You can save a lot by thawing your own seafood.  Frozen bagged fish goes on sale almost every week.  You can also get frozen chicken breasts and wings all the time on sale.
• Try Canned Meat – You might not like it straight out of the can, but canned meat is great in casseroles and other recipes.  You can get chicken, tuna, clams, salmon and more.  Plus, having canned meat on hand when you forget to thaw something out for dinner can save you the extra expense of ordering out.
• Get Creative with Leftovers – Keep a resealable plastic bag in your freezer for leftover chicken, pork and beef.  If you have a leftover piece of chicken, cut or shred it and add to the “chicken” bag.  Do the same with leftover pork chops or steak.  When the bag is full enough for a meal you can make a casserole, top a salad or add a sauce (like adding barbecue sauce to the pork) and have hearty sandwiches for a quick dinner.

If you have some meat-saving advice, share it in a comment!

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