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Diced meat packages - rip off?


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Old 03-12-2008, 23:04
not_orange
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Was in the supermarket this afternoon and fancied some diced pork to make a spicy casserole with. Saw a pack which looked enough for 4 priced £3-99.

Mmmmm ...... looks a bit pricy I thought to myself?

Then I saw a largish joint of pork reduced to £5-25 and thought, hang on if I cut that up I'll have more than enough for two meals at near half the price of the pack.

It took about 5 mins with a sharp knife.

Me reckons those packs are a major rip off!

AND I've just realised I threw all the rind away - we could have had some crackling as a late night snack as an extra!

Anyone else agree that a bit of home butchery saves a fair amount of money?
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Old 03-12-2008, 23:26
whoever,hey
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dont forget you've got chunks of fat on that joint. But yes your right you are better cutting up yourself. much cheaper. depends on your cuts of meat youv'e got.
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Old 03-12-2008, 23:30
fannyadams
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Same with chicken, buy a whole one and joint it yourself, and then you have bones for either white or brown chicken stock, and plenty of meat for 4-5 people for one meal and the basis of a tasty soup for another
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Old 04-12-2008, 01:31
Swarfega
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Hell, to a lesser degree it's true with tinned tomatoes. Chopped are a few pence more expensive than whole plum tomatoes and it hardly takes a lot of effort to chop them up.
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Old 04-12-2008, 01:48
Gogfumble
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It's the same with everything though you pay for the convenience of getting it pre-prepared.
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Old 04-12-2008, 03:31
degsyhufc
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It's the same with everything though you pay for the convenience of getting it pre-prepared.
There was a report on The One Show about pre-bagged salad. Apparently it costs more per kilo than beef.
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Old 04-12-2008, 08:25
sebright
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What about the poor souls who are too busy to grate a bit of cheese?
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Old 04-12-2008, 08:38
Smokeychan1
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Hell, to a lesser degree it's true with tinned tomatoes. Chopped are a few pence more expensive than whole plum tomatoes and it hardly takes a lot of effort to chop them up.
Fine if you dont need them skinned
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Old 04-12-2008, 09:28
Porcupine
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I never buy ready chopped meat. I will always buy a slab and cut it myself.

I like diced turkey in a curry, and you can get some great turkey steaks for A LOT cheaper than the diced stuff. You get an awful lot more for your money.
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Old 04-12-2008, 12:33
Poppy Seed
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In Waitrose yesterday I noticed that they sold ready diced raw onion. For goodness' sake! I could dice an onion in the time it takes to unpack the pre-packaged one!
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Old 04-12-2008, 12:43
kingjeremy
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Not really sure how a pack of pork that would feed 4 people is that pricey at £3.99. I see your point though that you could get a bit more for your money if you cut your own up. Personally some times I just want to whip something up and get it in quick though, don't want to faff about with having to cut up a joint of meat.
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Old 04-12-2008, 14:43
Judo
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Hell, to a lesser degree it's true with tinned tomatoes. Chopped are a few pence more expensive than whole plum tomatoes and it hardly takes a lot of effort to chop them up.
I can't be bothered to chop up the tomatoes myself.. but I do force myself to do it sometimes. It is a lot cheaper but a lot more hassle and you have and extra knife and chopping board to put in the dishwasher.
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Old 04-12-2008, 15:45
Porcupine
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Not really sure how a pack of pork that would feed 4 people is that pricey at £3.99. I see your point though that you could get a bit more for your money if you cut your own up. Personally some times I just want to whip something up and get it in quick though, don't want to faff about with having to cut up a joint of meat.
The thing i find with ready cubed meat is thats often very fatty. Butchers like a bit of fat, so they cube it fat and all. Personally I cant stand fat, so if i get a chunk of meat, i can trim it and cube it. Much nicer.
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Old 04-12-2008, 21:20
MsWalker
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What about the poor souls who are too busy to grate a bit of cheese?
I buy grated cheese because it is cheaper in my local supermarkets than un grated. Check the prices. You might be surprised.
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Old 04-12-2008, 22:38
whoever,hey
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I buy grated cheese because it is cheaper in my local supermarkets than un grated. Check the prices. You might be surprised.
no way, dont believe you.
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Old 04-12-2008, 22:45
not_orange
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I also find that hard to believe When you feel the weight of a bag of grated cheese against a block of equivalent cheese I can't think the price reflects favourably.

(I'll check it out next time I'm in Sainsbury's if I'm not considered to be too much of an anorak)
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Old 04-12-2008, 22:50
maimou
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I buy grated cheese when it's a mix of cheese - my local deli sell a 3 cheese grated combo for 8 euros a kilo which works really well in loads of stuff. (also from a slimming perspective not having block cheese in the house is good for me - don't know if others have the same problem!)

I also buy cubed meat but only if it's on special and usually end up re-sizing it and fat trimming so it's in no way a time saver!

I won't go so far as to buy pomegranate seeds in a tub though - four times the price!!
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Old 05-12-2008, 07:51
Swarfega
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I can't be bothered to chop up the tomatoes myself.. but I do force myself to do it sometimes. It is a lot cheaper but a lot more hassle and you have and extra knife and chopping board to put in the dishwasher.
Nah - just do it in the tin. Ok it's an extra knife to clean. Actually wouldn't like to try and chop tinned plum tomatoes on a board. They'd go everywhere.
Oh the luxury of having a dishwasher. I'm still using the hand and water method.
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Old 05-12-2008, 10:34
fainéant
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Anyone else agree that a bit of home butchery saves a fair amount of money?
Cheapest way of course would be to buy a whole cow from a farmer, walk it home and take things from there.
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Old 05-12-2008, 10:36
stud u like
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What about the poor souls who are too busy to grate a bit of cheese?
I buy grated cheese as I always end up grating my knuckles too with my poor co-ordination.
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Old 05-12-2008, 11:07
Espresso
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Buy one of those graters that have a cylinder and a handle.
If you manage to grate your knuckles then it's not because you have poor co-ordination; it's because you're into pain.
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Old 05-12-2008, 13:00
Clunk
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In Waitrose yesterday I noticed that they sold ready diced raw onion. For goodness' sake! I could dice an onion in the time it takes to unpack the pre-packaged one!
I buy frozen raw onion (ready sliced or diced) not because it is a time saver, but because for me it works out cheaper as there is no wastage as I live alone and unless you eat lots of onion (and I do eat a fair bit) then a fresh onion will go over once it has been cut, or I have to use a disproportionate amount in whatever I am cooking.

Same applies to most veg (frozen is also fresher - curiously enough).

I am as tight as a ducks whatsit, so always make sure that I am paying the lowest price against the least wastage for any food (as long as the taste is ok, of course).
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Old 05-12-2008, 13:00
analogueagent
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Cheapest way of course would be to buy a whole cow from a farmer, walk it home and take things from there.
Cheaper still if you nick it!
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Old 05-12-2008, 13:11
fainéant
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Cheaper still if you nick it!
That would be rustling up a nice meal then.
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Old 05-12-2008, 17:13
indianwells
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Nah - just do it in the tin. Ok it's an extra knife to clean. Actually wouldn't like to try and chop tinned plum tomatoes on a board. They'd go everywhere.
Oh the luxury of having a dishwasher. I'm still using the hand and water method.
Surely you don't need to chop them at all? I just break them up with a wooden spoon in the pan.

After cutting out that bloody horrible hairy core bit of course!

Anyone who pays extra for chopped tomatoes probably has more money than sense. Really, you don't need to.
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