DS Forums

 
 

Meat pricey


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 29-01-2014, 18:25
beth0o0
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 466

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.
beth0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 29-01-2014, 18:44
Peter_CJ
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,199
Chicken thighs are very good value, especially from Lidl or Aldi.
Peter_CJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 18:45
Badcat
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,275
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.
Badcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 18:55
LaceyLouelle3
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,104
Morrisons quite often have good offers on joints. I like Aldi/Lidl for meat too.
LaceyLouelle3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 18:56
Peter_CJ
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,199
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
Peter_CJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 20:01
Espresso
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,127
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.
Espresso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 20:15
beth0o0
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 466
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.
beth0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 21:17
Peter_CJ
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,199
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?
Peter_CJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 21:21
barbeler
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,708
They can treble the price of meat for all I care
barbeler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 21:25
Peter_CJ
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,199
They can treble the price of meat for all I care
Veggie?
Peter_CJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 21:47
Badcat
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,275
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.
Badcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-01-2014, 22:29
Espresso
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,127
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.
Espresso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 01:04
beth0o0
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 466
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
beth0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 01:05
beth0o0
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 466
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
beth0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 08:52
walterwhite
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 21,738
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.
walterwhite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 08:53
walterwhite
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 21,738
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.
walterwhite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 09:29
BlueEyedMrsP
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,527
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.
BlueEyedMrsP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 09:31
molliepops
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: woking
Posts: 21,684
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.
molliepops is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 11:08
malpasc
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,354
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.
malpasc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 11:09
Porcupine
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 21,393
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.
Porcupine is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 11:26
stud u like
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street
Posts: 40,106
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.
stud u like is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 11:27
stud u like
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street
Posts: 40,106
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.
stud u like is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 12:38
rancidbeings
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,788
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.
rancidbeings is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 13:02
Peter_CJ
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,199
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?
Peter_CJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-01-2014, 13:30
molliepops
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: woking
Posts: 21,684
Mince has actually got quite expensive looking at Tesco you can get for the same per kg price a joint !
molliepops is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 17:48.