Due to the overwhelming response to my suggestion of carpooling to BuyLow once a month... (NOT!) I have not ventured down there on my own, so I can't give feedback on what's available through that avenue.
(It seems that my suggestions are lame-o... so I'm not making any more 'group efforts' to support each other)
The thing is, it seems like in order to get the best price, you should by in bulk. I like to freeze meat and use it later. But here are some of MY obstacles in this particular area...
1. Freezer space
Which we were able to solve this issue with an extra freezer I found on KSL.com. I highly recommend looking there before buying new... but I believe that with EVERYTHING! KSL.com is my best friend!
2. Rotating
I get so mad when I find meat at the bottom of my freezer covered in 'freezer burn'. I feel like I'm literally throwing my money in the trash... and I am! What good is saving money if I'm throwing it away in 8-10 months? Argh!
3. I need it when I need it
So I'm not the biggest 'planner'. I really try... and I go through times when I'm better. BUT... sometimes I want to make dinner and there is "no way in hell" the meat in my freezer will thaw in time for me to use it... probably not even for tomorrow. So unless it's Sunday (when I know I'll use a roast) I almost always forget to pull meat out of my freezer. I hate defrosting things in my microwave, I always get nasty edges.
4. Freezer Burn
Now I know that there are ways to avoid it. I use the name brand freezer bags, I even have a vacuum system. I'm just too lazy to open up the meat (which makes me gag) make the little sealed pouches, then re-seal them and label them. I'll be honest... unless I need to divide it up, (hamburger) then I want to throw it in the freezer and be done with it. I'm sure I could fix that if I would just not be lazy.
So those are my gripes about storing meat. Here are my positive thoughts on it...
1. Convenience
It is so nice to have meat on hand for Sunday. I'm married to a 'meat-n-potatoes' man, and he appreciates a roast. If I pull it out of the freezer in time, roasts are easy to throw in a crockpot and not think about. Also, if we go a week without shopping, or times get lean... having meat in the freezer is a nice security blanket.
2. The bigger, the cheaper
Buying meat in bulk significantly lowers the cost of it! Growing up, Mike's family would buy a slaughtered cow every year... someplace in So. Utah... and drive down to pick up the meat. Every night, Mike's Mom would pull a pound or two of hamburger from the freezer and make dinner out of it. Sometimes it was a simple dinner, other times there were more trimmings... but that was dinner.
We bought 1/2 and elk last year (farm-raised, corn fed) and it fed us for months and months. Much longer than I expected.
3. The meat from the co-op is great!
I have been impressed with the quality of meat we have gotten from the food co-op. I can plan on using that each month, and it really supplements our food budget.
So... there's my beef! (hee, hee) Smith's and Albertson's have good specials about once a month. They advertise specials every week, but be careful... they aren't always good sales. Macey's is usually the best place for meat sales.
I personally load up on the drumsticks when they go on sale. I bought two packages last week... they run about 3 dollars a package when they are on sale for $0.99 (or less) a pound. Kraft bbq sauces go on sale for 10/$10 at Albertson's all the time. Here's my recipe for drumsticks... (my kids LOVE these)
Drumsticks!
pkg. of drumsticks, 1 or 2
water
4 cloves garlic, mashed (or garlic powder)
2 Tbsp. salt (or use garlic salt and forget the garlic)
bbq sauce
defrost meat. fill stock pot with water, salt and garlic. put in your meat, and let boil for about 15 minutes. drain and place meat in the crockpot. cover in bbq sauce and turn to low. let them cook for at least 1 hour. they will fall off the bone, and the skins are easy to pull off. (you can pull off the skins before you boil them, but it's harder, and takes more time)
That feeds my family of 6 with leftovers for Mike's lunch the next day. Combine it with some potato pearls and a canned veggie... that's a good meal for about $1 per person.pkg. of drumsticks, 1 or 2
water
4 cloves garlic, mashed (or garlic powder)
2 Tbsp. salt (or use garlic salt and forget the garlic)
bbq sauce
defrost meat. fill stock pot with water, salt and garlic. put in your meat, and let boil for about 15 minutes. drain and place meat in the crockpot. cover in bbq sauce and turn to low. let them cook for at least 1 hour. they will fall off the bone, and the skins are easy to pull off. (you can pull off the skins before you boil them, but it's harder, and takes more time)
So what are your thoughts, advise, or questions on freezing and storing meat? Have you got any recipes to share? (If you're Mormon... I know you've at least attempted to make a roast one Sunday!)
1 comment:
I never really know what is a good sale on beef I always buy it at Costco then divide it up and freeze it. Costco has also started selling packaged fresh meat so you buy say 5 or 6 lbs of boneless chicken thighs but they are already divided into 1 lb vacuumed sealed portions. Also when bone in breasts and thighs are on sale I stock up big time. I'll season and bake and we have that for dinner one night. then with the leftovers I take all meat of the bones cut it into chunks and freeze that into meal portions, to put into soup or casseroles chicken quesadillas, pasta ex,,, makes for a pretty fast dinner because the chicken is already cooked. I’ll cook 10 lbs at a time works great.
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