Meat prices and how to save money on meat? I don’t need to remind you just how expensive meat is at the moment. I swear, I grew up with Mum and Dad buying a whole side of lamb which would last for ages. Now it’s like you need to sell an arm or a leg to buy a few lamb chops!
There was no such thing as just buying chicken breasts either when I was growing up. You bought the whole chicken and that was it. If you wanted the breasts, you cut them off yourself.
Supermarkets are capitilising on people wanting to save money on groceries and are making the cheaper cuts more expensive. I do sometimes buy my meat from a local butcher but I really don’t like shopping around. I want to order everything online, pick it up and pack it away.
How to save money buying meat
In a typical fortnight, I’ll buy one pack of 4 (there’s pretty much for in every pack) chicken breasts, one 1 kg beef mince, one 2kg pack sausages and one 1kg pack of frozen white fish fillets. (I do also buy ham, bacon and salami and tinned fish when the budget allows but I always like to have those in the freezer.) That does my family of four for more than two weeks.
Here are some more ways I save money on meat.
Use half or less of what’s in the recipe
If a recipe calls for a certain amount of meat, use at least half (or go even lower). I use one chicken breast for the four of us for stir fries, pasta bakes and have been even known to slice one large breast horizontally into four then flatten out for schnitzels.
I use a handful of beef mince in all pasta dishes. I very rarely add lentils, for example, to increase the protein. I believe the pasta sauce should be exactly that, a sauce.
Two fish fillets can easily feed a family of four (or more) by cutting them into smaller pieces for sweet and sour, a curry, or even crumbing or battering to have enough for everyone.
About 250gm of beef mince can be made into meatballs that have had soft or dry breadcrumbs added. Add grated or blitzed onion, herbs and an egg then roll into small balls. Hamburgers can be made the same.
Use cheaper cuts of meat
If you do feel like a roast, for example chicken, buy just the legs. My supermarket has 2kg of chicken drumsticks for about $6.50. They are also good in a Chicken Chasseur, Chicken Cacciatore, curry or any of your favourite sauces.
Shoulder cuts are often cheaper than legs for pork or lamb.
Whole blade roasts are also cheaper than some of the prime rib cuts.
Cut meat into small sizes
Four sausages is enough to feed a family of four if they are cut into small pieces for a curry, sweet and sour or sausage casserole. I like to portion two sausages per person but sometimes if we have a sausage sizzle dinner, there might be just two sausages left so I’ll make that up into a dish and cut the sausage into small pieces. There’s always enough for everyone.
Use deli style meats like bacon or ham
Don’t forget about bacon. A couple slices of bacon can be turned into fried rice as a meal, cooked and crumbled onto a baked potato for a meal, used in a Carbonara. I buy a kilo of bacon for $9 and it’s very lean and I can usually get four to six portions from a kilo. Same goes for using ham this way.
Tinned fish is an substitute for meat prices
A large 425gm can of homebrand tuna costs around $3 and it can be turned into anything. Pasta sauces, pasta bake, tuna patties, Tuna Casserole or Tuna Mornay. Canned salmon is a little more expensive but is a good way to get your protein for a lot cheaper than meat.
Eggs are a cost effective solution to meat prices
Eggs are a great substitute for meat. Frittatas, omelettes, quiche, and so many other dishes are a great alternative to meat. At around $5 for a dozen free range eggs is a great way to feed your family for less.
Vegetarian is always an option when trying to save money on meat
Dried or tins pulses like lentils and chickpeas are an excellent source of protein and can be added to a meat dish or served on their own. I know they’re not to everyone’s tastes but there are some excellent recipes on line. With the addition of fresh or dried herbs and spices, you can make some delicious vegetarian meals.
Even going meatless one day a week can certainly help reduce your grocery spend.
You can run around to all the stores or individual stores to find the best prices on meat. Or you can use some lower priced alternatives to ensure you are getting the protein you need.
How much are you spending on meat per week? Find our more ways to save money on all of your groceries here.
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