How to Save Money on Meat (2024)

FAQs

What is the cheapest meat to buy? ›

The answer is the low cost of feed. 60% of crops and 30% of fish catches end up as animal feed. Because crops are heavily subsidized, livestock farmers can buy animal feed at extremely low prices which in turn lowers the cost of meat production.

Beef is so expensive right now because drought, high grain prices and rising interest rates have made cattle farming a costly endeavor in recent years. To deal with rising operating costs, many U.S. cattle farmers reduced the size of their herds — and some got out of the business altogether.

Cereals and grains. Wholegrain breads, rice and pasta have more protein, fibre and iron than white versions. Brown rice with beans, or bread with hummus or nut butter, can give you as much protein as a piece of meat.

When purchasing meat and poultry, it's important to use your senses of touch, smell and sight. Always make sure the meat is firm to the touch, and check that they packaging doesn't have any tears, holes or excessive amounts of liquid. It should also be cold to the touch and have no odor.

A 2021 study from Oxford University found that vegan diets reduced food costs by as much as one-third. When you think about it, it makes sense: The average cost of a pound of ground beef was $5.23 in October 2023. If you replace that meat with chickpeas, you can expect to pay around a dollar for a 15.5-ounce can.

And people who don't eat meat, called vegetarians, generally eat fewer calories and less fat. They also tend to weigh less. And they have a lower risk of heart disease than nonvegetarians do. Research shows that people who eat red meat are at a higher risk of death from heart disease, stroke or diabetes.

Is a vegan diet really expensive? Honestly, it doesn't have to be. A study by Oxford University discovered that plant-based eating is actually the most affordable diet. It also found that a vegan diet reduced food costs by up to one-third due to the use of whole foods over meat and meat replacements.

Chicken Legs, Thighs & Drumsticks

Chicken on the bone is always cheaper. Buying meat on the bone also means that it is as minimally processed as possible. As well as being cheaper and as close to nature as possible, cooking chicken on the bone makes for tastier and juicier meat.

In this report, we will examine three major areas that are part of the hidden costs of beef: health costs to the consumer, environmental costs to our natural resources, and welfare costs to the animals themselves.

Will meat prices go down in 2024? ›

(NEXSTAR) — After the last few years, it may not be surprising to hear about rising costs at the grocery store (remember when egg prices skyrocketed during the pandemic?). Now, experts are warning another grocery item could reach record prices: beef.

Beef. According to the Food Price Outlook report by the USDA, beef prices are expected to rise by 2.2% in 2024, largely due to rising feed costs and water scarcity.

The fact is that eating healthy is affordable. Now, this study by the USDA reaffirms it. Whole, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products are less expensive than processed, convenient food and animal protein. The message is clear: you don't have to pay anything more to eat better.

Chicken breast skinless fillets and ground beef - there is a relationship between them in price which they are expecting. While chicken is relatively less expensive than beef, they are going to buy more chicken.

Japanese Kobe beef, Japanese Wagyu beef, American Wagyu beef, filet mignon, and beef tenderloin are some of the best steaks in the world based on overall quality.