Chicken is not something that I usually go to the meat counter to find. Pork chops, short ribs, and steaks, yes. But not chicken. That is, until a happy coincidence taught me otherwise.
It was one of those afternoons at the grocery store where everything seemed out of stock. The refrigerator case was nearly empty and the chicken that was left looked...not appealing. I had friends coming for dinner later and didn't relish the thought of going to another store.
That's when my eye caught the meat counter display. There were the chicken breasts I needed, perfectly arranged in neat rows and looking plump and healthy.
I figured this had to be some kind of special chicken and likely to be exponentially more expensive than the chicken sold in packages. But in fact, it was cheaper. Significantly cheaper.
I asked the person at the counter and he explained that the meat department buys chicken parts in bulk for making things like stuffed chicken breasts and barbecue wings for grilling. They always have leftover meat and sell this beside the prepared foods. He also said that it was the exact same meat that is sold in the packages and comes from the same company, it's just cheaper because it's bought in bulk.
Well, color me impressed! I had him wrap up three pounds of chicken breasts for my recipe and was on my way. Bonus: I had exactly the amount of meat I needed, and I wouldn't have to adjust the recipe or deal with leftover meat.
My advice from this experience is to check the prices at your meat counter before buying the packaged meat and ask questions about where the store gets it. You might just land yourself a bargain.
Related: Beef Shopping Guide: Cheap Cuts and Cooking Guide
(Image: Lemon-Garlic Chicken/Katherine Hill)
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Good tip. Thanks.
*Facepalm* And I used to work in a grocery store. Never thought of this.
I never thought to check for price differences. Thanks for the tip!
I have seen said chicken and like most assume it was some amazing crazy chicken that was out of my league. Wow..to the person that said facepalm? Double that with me.
Just have to say that the recipe pictured is AMAZING and a staple at my house. Yum!
What is this meat department of which you speak? In ALL the local supermarkets here, there is the packaged meat section, unmanned, and with all the meat neatly packaged in Styrofoam and cling wrap. Then there is the deli with the processed meat product ... you know, salami, bologna, american cheese product. No fresh meat department. Bummer :(
YES. Local grocery near us packages their chicken parts as "store brand" and they are dirt cheap. Chicken legs with thighs attached are like $1.75 for three, just got 3 chicken backs for soup for less than $0.75. I never thought to actually go to the meat counter/butcher, but if I'm ever in a grocery without store brand meat, I will totally try it!
I should also go there and ask for some nice beef marrow bones for roasting... They'll probably even split them for me...
Excellent tip...thank you!!
Opposite end of the spectrum from where ever @greybeard lives - my grocery store doesn't have styrofoam cling wrapped meats. There's the butcher case and a small section of vacuum packed house-marinating meat items and sausages.
Prior to moving to this neighborhood, however, I went out of my way to find a good butcher. So not into the styrofoam meats of unknown provenance from Safeway.
I always check the meat counter prices for their pricing before heading over to packaged meats. It's a good idea as sometimes one is significantly lower than the other.
And the meat counter is definitely not just for chops...the ones around here sell all sorts of poultry cuts, various kinds of ground meat and sausages too.
I love my favorite butcher shop but the meat counters at my supermarket, my co-ops, and my ethnic markets are great resources!
I wish people would not look for cheaper sources of meat. Cheaper meat = more commercial = worse abuse of the animals during their lives. It's bad enough that we eat them (I eat them too! - I believe humans are omnivores). Rather than look for cheaper meat, look for ways to buy better tasting pasture-raised meat and spread it over more meals.
@babyfishmouth - I agree that ethically raised, sustainable meat is the best way to go (and the best tasting due to the care) but price is always a consideration even within that paradigm.
@babyfishmouth I deal with this problem all the time. I really believe in buying meat where the animals have been treated humanely and I really try to buy local as well. However, I'm an assistant who barely makes more than minimum wage and I live in L.A....not the cheapest city. It's hard for me to turn away from the cheaper meat when the price difference can almost be my hourly wage.
PS - your username is hilarious. When Harry Met Sally is my favorite movie!
We have the extremes out here. Chain stores with packaged meat and poorly staffed and poorly stocked meat counters. A great local meat market, but definitely premium priced. Even at the chains, like the meat counter allows them to jack up the price. I typically go to the local meat market. It costs more, but is worth it for locally sourced, free range organic...
I think this often true of factory meat but not real true of better quality meat sources. Usually, you do save quite a bit when buying in quantity, especially if you have the space and resources to invest in an animal share.
@babyfishmouth - I think it is fine to maxamize your resources and look for good prices and values. But it doesn't have to be at the expense of quality and humane treatment. We buy at the farmer's market, the fancy humane butcher, whole foods, animal shares, and mail order from this awesome and cheap New York farm because they all do different things well and at good value.
Thanks so much for the tip. I found some for $1.99/pound compared to the prepackaged store brand that was on sale for $2.50/pound. And no styrofoam so it made me feel greener!
What is the recipe used for the picture?