My hubby is getting fed up of eating frozen foods like pies, chips and sausage and burgers. I'd start to buy fresh meat but it would cost me a fortune. I had thought of buying stewing beef or a joint but far to expensive.
Meat pricey
1 of 3
Nothing wrong with frozen meat. I buy my chicken breast frozen as so much cheaper than fresh. Also I get frozen beef chunks to make stews and curries etc.
Also you can cook a fresh whole chicken then use the remaining meat to make a proper chicken and mushroom pie, chicken soup (with the carcase), risotto etc. So for a fiver you have 3 plus meals.
Then there's mince. Make real burgers with half and then spag bol with remainder.
How about a lump of smoked gammon? You can get a lump for under 4 quid. roast it and you can use the meat in loads of ways. (gammon and chips, bacon hash, stuff for sarnies)
Chicken thighs, tons of curries and stir fries.
sooo many possibilities out there and you don't have to spend a fortune on fresh meat, just shop around
Also invest in a good old fashioned cooking book.
Also you can cook a fresh whole chicken then use the remaining meat to make a proper chicken and mushroom pie, chicken soup (with the carcase), risotto etc. So for a fiver you have 3 plus meals.
Then there's mince. Make real burgers with half and then spag bol with remainder.
How about a lump of smoked gammon? You can get a lump for under 4 quid. roast it and you can use the meat in loads of ways. (gammon and chips, bacon hash, stuff for sarnies)
Chicken thighs, tons of curries and stir fries.
sooo many possibilities out there and you don't have to spend a fortune on fresh meat, just shop around
Also invest in a good old fashioned cooking book.
A kg of chicken thighs for just over two pounds...
http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/SID-D9...l&id=9453&ar=6
Quick and easy recipe here...
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2...chicken-thighs
http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/SID-D9...l&id=9453&ar=6
Quick and easy recipe here...
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2...chicken-thighs
Dinners based on fresh meat or frozen meat don't have to be any more expensive than dinners based on sausages, pies, burgers etc.
But you and/or your husband need to know what meat to buy and how to cook it and how to make somethind else from the leftovers.
But you and/or your husband need to know what meat to buy and how to cook it and how to make somethind else from the leftovers.
Originally Posted by Espresso:
“Dinners based on fresh meat or frozen meat don't have to be any more expensive than dinners based on sausages, pies, burgers etc.
But you and/or your husband need to know what meat to buy and how to cook it and how to make somethind else from the leftovers.”
“Dinners based on fresh meat or frozen meat don't have to be any more expensive than dinners based on sausages, pies, burgers etc.
But you and/or your husband need to know what meat to buy and how to cook it and how to make somethind else from the leftovers.”
Don't know where to start. Like at Aldi they have a Lamb shoulder joint and that would cost me £5.99 a kg and I'd want 2kg which would be nearly £12. thats what I'm saying meat is very dear.
Originally Posted by beth0o0:
“Don't know where to start. Like at Aldi they have a Lamb shoulder joint and that would cost me £5.99 a kg and I'd want 2kg which would be nearly £12. thats what I'm saying meat is very dear.”
“Don't know where to start. Like at Aldi they have a Lamb shoulder joint and that would cost me £5.99 a kg and I'd want 2kg which would be nearly £12. thats what I'm saying meat is very dear.”
Lamb is one of the more expensive meats. Pork is cheaper, or if you like beef, then stewing steak, or one of the tougher cuts, which are generally cheaper - do you have a slow cooker?
Originally Posted by beth0o0:
“Don't know where to start. Like at Aldi they have a Lamb shoulder joint and that would cost me £5.99 a kg and I'd want 2kg which would be nearly £12. thats what I'm saying meat is very dear.”
“Don't know where to start. Like at Aldi they have a Lamb shoulder joint and that would cost me £5.99 a kg and I'd want 2kg which would be nearly £12. thats what I'm saying meat is very dear.”
But a leg of lamb is normally eaten on special occasions, not as an everyday meal. (unless you like lamb and are loaded)
It's like saying sirloin steak is pricey. It's more expensive than cheaper cuts but you don't buy sirloin every day.
If you fancy lamb, buy smaller cuts rather than a huge hunk of it.
Originally Posted by beth0o0:
“Don't know where to start. Like at Aldi they have a Lamb shoulder joint and that would cost me £5.99 a kg and I'd want 2kg which would be nearly £12. thats what I'm saying meat is very dear.”
“Don't know where to start. Like at Aldi they have a Lamb shoulder joint and that would cost me £5.99 a kg and I'd want 2kg which would be nearly £12. thats what I'm saying meat is very dear.”
How many dinners are you planning for how many people for this two kilos of lamb shoulder? Because that's a lot of meat for twelve quid.
Originally Posted by Peter_CJ:
“Lamb is one of the more expensive meats. Pork is cheaper, or if you like beef, then stewing steak, or one of the tougher cuts, which are generally cheaper - do you have a slow cooker?”
“Lamb is one of the more expensive meats. Pork is cheaper, or if you like beef, then stewing steak, or one of the tougher cuts, which are generally cheaper - do you have a slow cooker?”
Yeah I do have a slow cooker
Originally Posted by Espresso:
“How many dinners are you planning for how many people for this two kilos of lamb shoulder? Because that's a lot of meat for twelve quid.”
“How many dinners are you planning for how many people for this two kilos of lamb shoulder? Because that's a lot of meat for twelve quid.”
Would be for 3 to 4 people
Originally Posted by beth0o0:
“My hubby is getting fed up of eating frozen foods like pies, chips and sausage and burgers. I'd start to buy fresh meat but it would cost me a fortune. I had thought of buying stewing beef or a joint but far to expensive.”
“My hubby is getting fed up of eating frozen foods like pies, chips and sausage and burgers. I'd start to buy fresh meat but it would cost me a fortune. I had thought of buying stewing beef or a joint but far to expensive.”
I'd worry about how much you want to pay for your food if you find fresh meat expensive.
Originally Posted by beth0o0:
“Don't know where to start. Like at Aldi they have a Lamb shoulder joint and that would cost me £5.99 a kg and I'd want 2kg which would be nearly £12. thats what I'm saying meat is very dear.”
“Don't know where to start. Like at Aldi they have a Lamb shoulder joint and that would cost me £5.99 a kg and I'd want 2kg which would be nearly £12. thats what I'm saying meat is very dear.”
Don't go to Aldi then and don't buy lamb which is hugely expensive. I go to the butchers and can get 4 steaks for £10 or they do mixed packs of meat for very cheap.
As others have said, you can buy frozen chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, breasts) and use a few to make a stew, or bake them with some spices (cajun seasoning or curry spices work well) and a few chopped veggies in the oven. Serve with rice or potatoes.
Tesco do frozen chicken breasts £3.99 a kg we use them a lot for both human meat eater and the dogs. No waste with bones and skin etc so seems good value to me.
But meat generally is very expensive these days.
But meat generally is very expensive these days.
I go to Sainsbury's about an hour before they close and loads of the fresh meat is reduced for quick sale by ridiculous amounts - like up to 90% off the original price.
I buy loads of meat that way and bung it in the freezer when I get home. We've had things like 21 day matured joints of top-side beef originally £11-£12 for about £1! Well worth a look.
As someone else said, things like chicken thighs are much cheaper than chicken breast fillets, and I think have more flavour.
I buy loads of meat that way and bung it in the freezer when I get home. We've had things like 21 day matured joints of top-side beef originally £11-£12 for about £1! Well worth a look.
As someone else said, things like chicken thighs are much cheaper than chicken breast fillets, and I think have more flavour.
I find Tesco very expensive for meat, and its also fatty and horrid. I am a firm believer in the butcher. If you have a slow cooker you can buy cheaper cuts and slow cook it. It will be delicious. At our butchers and chicken breasts are huge, so one breast is cut in half which makes it very reasonable. I also buy their braising steak and slow cook it all day so it melts in your mouth.
Originally Posted by beth0o0:
“My hubby is getting fed up of eating frozen foods like pies, chips and sausage and burgers. I'd start to buy fresh meat but it would cost me a fortune. I had thought of buying stewing beef or a joint but far to expensive.”
“My hubby is getting fed up of eating frozen foods like pies, chips and sausage and burgers. I'd start to buy fresh meat but it would cost me a fortune. I had thought of buying stewing beef or a joint but far to expensive.”
Fresh meat is incredibly cheap if you use the offers. Morrisons has some very good cuts cheap.
I bought stewing steak the other day for £4 and it made four portions. £1 a portion is a good economy.
Originally Posted by malpasc:
“I go to Sainsbury's about an hour before they close and loads of the fresh meat is reduced for quick sale by ridiculous amounts - like up to 90% off the original price.
I buy loads of meat that way and bung it in the freezer when I get home. We've had things like 21 day matured joints of top-side beef originally £11-£12 for about £1! Well worth a look.
As someone else said, things like chicken thighs are much cheaper than chicken breast fillets, and I think have more flavour.”
“I go to Sainsbury's about an hour before they close and loads of the fresh meat is reduced for quick sale by ridiculous amounts - like up to 90% off the original price.
I buy loads of meat that way and bung it in the freezer when I get home. We've had things like 21 day matured joints of top-side beef originally £11-£12 for about £1! Well worth a look.
As someone else said, things like chicken thighs are much cheaper than chicken breast fillets, and I think have more flavour.”
Very true. Thighs are tastier and cheaper. I buy them once a week.
OP, can I ask what kinds of meals he wants then? Is the issue frozen food, processed food, or that he wants lumps of meat?
What about things like Cottage Pies and Spag Bol where you don't need so much meat, and it's minced so usually a fair bit cheaper?
As others have pointed out, you need to get savvy with knowing what to look for. Lamb tends to be much pricier, pork cheaper. Pork fillet will be more expensive than shoulder. Mince is generally cheaper than steaks. That sort of thing.
Also, assuming you're cooking for two adults and 2 kids, why on earth would you need 2kg of meat for one meal? That's over a pound of meat each?! A very decent 'normal' portion would be around 150-200g per person, bit more for a man, bit less for little ones.
You can get 18 pork loin steaks at Tesco for £10, for example. At 100g each one does me for dinner with spuds and veg, and I've a good appetite! And only 55p per steak that's a good, cheap meal with fresh steak meat.
What about things like Cottage Pies and Spag Bol where you don't need so much meat, and it's minced so usually a fair bit cheaper?
As others have pointed out, you need to get savvy with knowing what to look for. Lamb tends to be much pricier, pork cheaper. Pork fillet will be more expensive than shoulder. Mince is generally cheaper than steaks. That sort of thing.
Also, assuming you're cooking for two adults and 2 kids, why on earth would you need 2kg of meat for one meal? That's over a pound of meat each?!
A very decent 'normal' portion would be around 150-200g per person, bit more for a man, bit less for little ones. You can get 18 pork loin steaks at Tesco for £10, for example. At 100g each one does me for dinner with spuds and veg, and I've a good appetite! And only 55p per steak that's a good, cheap meal with fresh steak meat.
Meat isn't cheap, but some meats are cheaper than others. Gammon steaks are another example of good value - nice with mash, or chips, peas and pineapple. 4 all-in servings for under ten pounds should be possible.
Tougher cuts are usually cheaper, but will usually tenderise with slow cooking, and are often tastier than lean cuts.
Mince is likely to be the cheapest option, but then you probably know all this already?
Just wondering what kind of advice / info you are looking for?
Tougher cuts are usually cheaper, but will usually tenderise with slow cooking, and are often tastier than lean cuts.
Mince is likely to be the cheapest option, but then you probably know all this already?
Just wondering what kind of advice / info you are looking for?
Mince has actually got quite expensive looking at Tesco you can get for the same per kg price a joint !
1 of 3
