Question for saavy food shoppers

This may be a dumb question but how do you know what a good price of meat or chicken is?

I want to be able to stock up when meats are on sale but don't know if its a good deal
What do you consider a good price per pound of chicken, pork and beef? Fish?

Thanks

Re: Question for saavy food shoppers

Depends on the cut and type.

Chicken cutlets.. I like at 1.99 a lb. I'll go up to 2.49 for the thin cut and trimmed (because I'm a lazy heifer sometimes).

Porterhouse is $4.99/lb on sale - but I refuse to pay more than 2.50/lb on London Broil. I won't buy ground turkey for more than 1.99/lb.

The challenge is that I've committed to buying better meats... less mass produced. Grass fed beef, free range chickens. And that changes everything because the prices are WAY more. I"m relearning my prices because of that and changing my frame of reference.

Re: Question for saavy food shoppers

oops posted twice.

Message edited 4/25/2010 1:56:59 PM.

Re: Question for saavy food shoppers

I actually get my meat at the local Italian market from their butcher.

I get I think 6 different cuts and types of meat (ground beef, chicken cutlets, 1 cut up whole chicken, sausage (hot or sweet), eye round of beef, ribs) for $40.00.

They also have other deals going up from there in price.

To me, it seems so much cheaper than the grocery store and I am supporting a local merchant. For DH and I that believe it or not can usually last us a good month.

I may pick up some shrimp and fish or extra ground beef during the month at the grocery store if they are on sale.

I think the new Target fresh market by me has ground beef for around $3.00 per package which is so much cheaper than the grocery store.

I don't know how much these meats "weigh" per pound, but they are the average size package.

Re: Question for saavy food shoppers

The challenge is that I've committed to buying better meats... less mass produced. Grass fed beef, free range chickens. And that changes everything because the prices are WAY more. I"m relearning my prices because of that and changing my frame of reference.


This is the challenge that we're facing. We started incorporating organic dairy, fruits and veggies. I started buying organic chicken at BJ's and will start buying organic meats. I just didn't know how much more organic meat was than regular

Re: Question for saavy food shoppers

not counting organics - since we don't do that yet.

boneless chicken cutlets 1.99 or lower. best price i have found is $1.59

chicken cutlets with bone 1.19 per pound - dh is a trained chef sorta so he can cut all the food

ground beef between 1.59 and 1.99 per pound

ground turkey breast $1.99 per pound

london broil $1.99 per pound

chicken quarters and chicken drumsticks $.99 per pound or less ... i go crazy when they are $.59 per pound

pork chops $.99 per pound.

italian sausage sweet and hot $1.99 per pound or less

most of these prices are because i buy in bulk and store in the freezer.

eta: more meat

Message edited 4/26/2010 2:23:59 PM.

Re: Question for saavy food shoppers

Ground Beef:
90%+: $3.49/lb or lower
85%: Lower than $2.99/lb
80%: $1.99/lb or lower

Skirt Steak: lower than $6/lb

Re: Question for saavy food shoppers

this weekend, chicken thighs, drumsticks, and bone-in breasts were on sale at our supermarket - $.99/lb that's the best price I've seen!

I've seen whole chickens on sale for that price too which is good and same as the Costco price.

Ground sirloin or chuck was $1.99/lb which I think is good too.

For ground chicken/turkey... sometimes it will be $1.99/lb or buy one get one free for $4.99 (Jennie-O brand... which is 1.25 lbs)

For Italian sausage... $3.49/lb - although sometimes you can get "manager's special" for $1.99.

This week there was also pork spareribs for $1.99/lb

(I'm in California though, so this is all at Ralphs)

Re: Question for saavy food shoppers

At Whole Foods grass fed organic ground beef is $5.99 a pound...and it makes the best burger you've ever had