Our hobby-obsession was born from the need to make truly affordable protein delicious. We’re planning an outing to stock up the freezers later next week. I went on line to check out what I could get a good deal on. Good grief, bacon is up, spare ribs are up, boneless chicken thighs aren’t a bargain. I didn’t check the beef because we have a beef being processed right now. I look forward to seeing that meat because the steer is 1/2 Wagyu. Anyway the cheapest thing I could find that we enjoy was the bone in, skin on chicken thighs at Sam’s club in Waco TX. They are $1.28 a pound by the case. If you want them without the skin and bone it’ll cost you just over a dollar a pound more. Affordable protein is getting harder to find. We are partly to blame for the popularity of smoking and grilling stuff that just a generation ago was cheap. I read a story that claimed that long ago lobster were so plentiful in New England that they were what they fed their servants. That’s not the case now! What’s the most reasonable protein in your area?
-
-
I smoked 4 Beef Chuck Roasts Yesterday to have some pulled Beef for the freezer. They were on sale at our local grocery which usually does a nice job cutting beef and pork IMO. I ordered them cut to about 4# each so they'd cook evenly. There was about 17# total for a total cost of about $163. Holy Cow...no pun intended. Next time I'll do Arm Roasts which aren't quite as fatty and a couple dollars/pound cheaper. I'm not complaining because I was raised on a Dairy Farm and have worked in Farm Machinery my entire career so I've seen the other side of the Ag Industry. -
Our cost on the beef we’re processing now is $5.77 per pound whole hanging carcass weight. That includes the processing. There’ll be considerable waste from there but we keep the soup bones and tallow to try to recover as much as we can. If you get artsy on your cut up sheet the price will go up also.Comment
-
Couple things.
First, we got those skin on, bone in thighs as well, $1.29/lb here. I’ve gotten really good at deboning them. It takes about half a dozen to get the hang of it.
Second, don’t forget turkey season is coming up! I was just at our Shur-Save market; with 400 “points”, we can get a store brand turkey for free, or a Butterball for 99¢/lb. I expect similar deals nationwide. Aldi’s has Jennie-O turkeys for 77¢/lb (limit 1 per cart) from now until the end of November.Comment
-
You are absolutely right! I plan on getting 4 of the larger turkeys when we’re out and 1 in the 12 pound range for Thanksgiving. I’m going to try the smoked turkey legs cook with the legs from the large birds. I’ll freeze the thighs and wings separately also for use later. The breast will be cooked, deboned and frozen in 2 pound packages for use in enchiladas, soups, turkey salad, and fajitas. Those are most likely the best bargain of the season.
-
-
It is all really getting out of hand. We also try and stay stocked but man it’s not about how much money you have. It comes right down to being ridiculous.Comment
-
We still regularly get boneless skinless chicken thighs on sale at Albertsons for $1.99 a pound and St Louis Ribs go on sale periodically for $1.99 a pound. Prices are up for sure, but those are two of my regular on sale go tos. I just read that seafood is up even more than meats. Catfish is ridiculous.Comment
-
Even ground beef is getting to be a luxury item here. 70/30 is almost $6 per pound. We are eating a lot of chicken and more fish when I can get it on sale. I'm also getting more creative with the meals. More rice, beans, and potatoes are getting used to bulk up the meats.Comment
-
Unfortunately, fixing the cost problems (food, transportation, housing, education, skilled labor rates) will take years, if not decades. My dad was able to raise 5 kids on his Electrician salary. We were by no means rich, but we had a comfortable home.
I am not sure it’s possible to get back there b/c I have never seen prices go down significantly in my lifetime. I guess there is always a first time. Hopefully I live long enough.Comment
-
The wifey got a whole turkey for 99 cents per pound recently. It’s now defrosted and I plan to spin it on the Weber kettle rotisserie tomorrow. Everything else lately has been more expensive for a while. Wild Fork Foos continues to be my best source.Comment
-
OK turkey is the most affordable protein right now. What can we do with it to make it absolutely incredible. Inject with phosphates, butter, wrap in bacon, wet brine with spices, or rub with some awesome rub before smoking it. What is your go to way to make great turkey. I’m not just talking about Thanksgiving I mean using it often as a main dish. At our house it’s going in several good Mexican dishes.Comment
-
I bought two boneless turkey breasts at HEB Thursday. I haven’t cooked one in a while and was looking for some. Pleasantly surprised to find they were in stock despite the HEB app saying not in stock. One for the freezer and one to cook today. Also picked up big package of chicken thighs (skin on and bone in) for .99/lb.Last edited by jayjordan; October 26, 2025, 11:01 AM.
-
-
My modus operendi is to check what’s going on sale every Wednesday, and buy what is and skip what isn’t. Generally use some of it that week, and often buy more for the freezer. I’m not much of a beef eater, partly for health reasons, so pretty much looking at pork and chicken, and some turkey. One of the local chains here is Food Lion, they frequently have bone in / skin on thighs, drums, or whole birds, for $0.99/lb. Also frequently have 10 lb bags of fresh chicken quarters for $0.69/ lb, perfect for a PBC cook. Can often pick up pork butts for $0.99/lb as well. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I bought a package of meat that wasn’t on sale that week. I’m cheap, but sure I’ve saved a lot of $$ over the years.Comment
-
Pork loin used to be my cheap go to.Now at costco it is $2.26 a pound. I can get a lot of meals from it. I cut them into- one small roast, a bunch of chops and then slice some up for stir fries. That's 6 to eight dinners in my house.Comment
-
I had to take a pic of this today. Neimann's Harvest Market, Carmel, IN. (I did not buy it.)
Comment
-
Going to get some Choice grade English Roasts Tuesday for $4.99 lb. Couple slabs of baby back ribs $2.99 lb and some whole fryer chickens for $1.09 lb. Plan is to smoke the chicken and ribs on Wednesday and put in the freezer. Did get a new chamber sealer this spring and really love using it. Just like the market seals. Will be able to enjoy the smoky meats on occasion during our long cold winters here in Michigan.Comment
Comment