Meat Prices Gone Wild? Here's Your Survival Guide

Beef | Pork | Poultry | Seafood | Lamb | Shop

Hey there Reader,

Staring at meat prices lately? Us too. After watching prime ribeye prices skyrocket, we spent a week digging into alternative cuts in our kitchen. The results? We're switching up our shopping habits and saving real money without sacrificing quality. Here's exactly what we're doing differently.

Cost Per Pound vs. Actual Yield

A cheaper price per pound doesn’t always mean you’re getting a good deal. Some cuts have more bone, fat, or waste, which means less usable meat. We break it down:

Bone-in vs. Boneless: Bone-in cuts are often cheaper but can yield more flavor and better texture when cooked right.
Trimmed vs. Untrimmed: Buying a whole primal cut and trimming it yourself can save serious money.
Ground Meat Blends: Mixing your own ground beef from chuck, brisket, and short rib can give you steakhouse-level burgers at a fraction of the cost. Try our ultimate burger blend recipe

Lesser-Known Cuts That Outperform Expensive Ones

🥩 Chuck Eye Steak – Often called the "poor man's ribeye," it delivers similar flavor at half the cost. Our sous vide method makes it taste like a premium cut.

🥩 Denver Steak – Tender, marbled, and overlooked. This cut from the chuck has incredible beef flavor and buttery texture when prepared correctly.

🥩 Top Sirloin Cap (Picanha) – A butcher's best-kept secret for grilling. Popular in Brazilian steakhouses, this cut delivers big flavor at a reasonable price. Plus, it's just fun.

🥩 Pork Collar – Rich, juicy, and cheaper than pork shoulder. This underutilized cut is perfect for slow-roasting or smoking.

🥩 Lamb Shoulder Chops – More flavor and less cost than a rack of lamb. We prefer American lamb for better overall flavor and yield.

Batch Cooking & Freezing Techniques

A good freezer strategy keeps quality high and waste low. Here’s how to do it right:

✔ Use a Vacuum Sealer: Prevents freezer burn and extends shelf life. Check out our favorite FoodSaver here. This may secretly be our favorite kitchen tool.

✔ Portion Before Freezing: Saves time when defrosting—no need to thaw the whole batch.

✔ Label & Date Everything: Avoid mystery meats lurking in the freezer. Trust me, don't skip this step.

✔ Slow-Cook & Freeze: Big batch bolognese, chili, and carnitas are on repeat in our kitchen for easy weeknight meals when we're feeling super lazy.

Price Tracking Guide: When to Buy Meat

Meat prices fluctuate throughout the year. Here’s when to stock up:

🔹 Beef: Best deals post-holiday sales (January) and summer grilling season (July). Learn how to identify quality beef with our guide to USDA grades.

🔹 Pork: Look for discounts around Easter and late fall. Ribs go on sale all summer long.

🔹 Chicken: Avoid water-logged grocery store packs—search for air-chilled chicken instead. Though it's more expensive, we love the texture and taste and find it's worth the splurge.

🔹 Lamb: American lamb is our favorite, but it can be harder to find at big-box stores.

Where to Buy: Costco vs. Butcher vs. Grocery Store

💰 Costco: Best for beef cuts like brisket, prime steaks, and pork shoulder (watch for sales). Not our go-to for chicken or lamb.
🔪 Local Butcher or Online Purveyors: Best for specialty cuts and more choices in cut, protein and quality, fresher ground meats (locally), and American lamb.
🛒 Grocery Store: Good for sales on chicken, but always look for air-chilled options and value packs that we break up and freeze for portions.

Budget-Friendly Recipes That Taste Expensive

Make these affordable cuts shine with our test kitchen favorites:

Eating well (despite what the cost of eggs is these days) doesn’t have to break the bank. Knowing what to buy, when to buy it, and how to store it will keep you eating well for less.

Cheers,

Kita GirlCarnivore.com
Making meat more approachable since 2013.

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P.S. What’s your go-to budget-friendly cut? Hit reply and share your favorite!

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