Source From http://www.newsnet5.com
CLEVELAND – The unofficial start to the summer means barbecues and grill-outs for many families. The festivities will cost you more this year as food prices are up. You may find the most sticker shock in the meat department.
Marc’s Grocery & Deep Discount Stores Corporate Meat Merchandiser Mike LaPorte said meat prices are up 20 to 30 percent over last year.
“Right now, we don’t see much of an end in sight,” LaPorte explained.
“It’s ridiculous,” shopper Honey Williams said. “I usually do the meats, but I couldn’t do it this time. Everybody has to bring something.”
Williams will have a pot-luck Memorial Day with everyone bringing their own meat to grill.
Meat is on the rise because of gas prices and the use of ethanol in gas. Without as much corn, there’s less feed for the animals so it’s costing you more to feed your family.
There are things you can do to make your dollar and your meat go farther. With ground beef, make your own hamburger patties. You’ll pay a premium to buy store-made patties.
If you add an egg and bread crumbs to your ground beef, you can make 2 pounds become 2.5. Or try creative recipes to stretch your meat.
Shopper Kathie Wieczorek said she uses Hamburger Helper to stretch her meat and she makes stew with her chicken to make it last longer.
It’s also a good idea to try new meat products, like turkey.
Honey Williams used to eat turkey only on Thanskgiving, but she picked up two packages when she saw the price.
“This right here is $1.89 a pack. A pack. Not a pound,” Williams said.
When you find a good deal stock up.
“You can freeze meat if it’s in a good sealed container for up to six months,” LaPorte said.
When it’s time to eat that frozen meat, defrost it slowly in the refrigerator. The meat loses flavor and juice when you defrost it in the microwave.
The fourth tip, cut back on premium meats like steaks. We found T-bone steaks for $11.29 a pound.
“I stick with chicken or ground beef mostly. The higher quality meats I cut down a lot,” Wieczorek said.
Chicken won’t come cheap. Boneless chicken breasts are $3.29 a pound.
Tip five, look around for cheaper options like chicken thighs. They cost half as much as chicken breasts.
“There is a lot of meat in the thighs,” LaPorte said.
For some consumers, they just can’t get past the taste of the thighs.
“I get the drumsticks i like that,” Williams explained. “They seem to be lower than the rest of the part of the chicken. The wings are even high and that’s sad.”
Ribs are high, too. So if you’re a die hard rib fan, stick with pork ribs. They’ll cost you less.
