How to Save Money on Fresh Beef

Ribeyes, New York strips, T-bones and tenderloin aren't the only tasty meats in the fresh case. Try these tips for getting the most flavorful beef for your money.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time to browse the meat department of your grocery store
• A decent grip on your food budget

1. Choose a mid-grade steak or roast -- they have all the rich flavor of their high-end counterparts at a fraction of the cost. Try one of the following: top sirloin, sirloin tip, eye of round, flat iron, or hanging tenderloin. Plan to cook these pieces to "medium" doneness (to preserve their natural juices) and slice them thinly -- you'd never know they didn't cost a fortune.

2. Consider the size of any bone in your selected cuts. Bone-in steaks like t-bones are often arguably tastier, but that bone adds to the weight -- and thus the cost -- of your meat. Don't be afraid to ask the meat counter staff to wrap up the steak YOU select, if you see one with a smaller bone.

3. If a cut you like is on special, it's probably nearing the end of its shelf life. Don't be afraid to buy a few packages and freeze them -- if you use the meat promptly upon defrosting, it will be fine.

4. When buying ground products, consider the fat content -- often identified by how "lean" the mix is. Example: "85 percent lean" contains 15 percent fat. Remember, fat contains flavor, but higher percentages (more than 20 percent) mean that you're paying for fat that will likely cook off before you eat the meat.

5. Learn to marinate. Mid-grade cuts -- especially flank steak, flat iron steak, and round steak -- like marinades that tenderize them prior to cooking. Try this: 1 part Italian salad dressing to 1 part soy sauce. Submerge meat in marinade in a shallow dish, cover, refrigerate, and let marinate for 15 minutes to 2 hours.

Tips & Warnings

• To ensure you're getting the freshest product available, always choose meat that is uniformly deep pink in color and avoid any that has a brownish or greenish tinge. Ask meat department or store staff members for assistance in finding the freshest meat.
• If your store carries grass-fed meats, ask for information on how the meat is raised. If produced by a reputable source, grass-fed meats often supply more nutrients per ounce -- and may be a better deal.

Resources

• Learn more about alternative meat cuts

[goldiec]

on 9/10/2009 Thanks so much for the tips on How to save money on fresh beef! I love to cook roasts during the cold weather! 5*

[lordjeffrey]

on 7/22/2009 Good tips, and its making me hungry. Making a skirt steak tonight :) 5 stars, and a recommend.