Buying meat in bulk can save you money in the per pound cost. It can also save money with fewer trips to the store and fewer reasons to eat out. Having bulk ground meat in the freezer, for example, means that you can quickly whip up filling meals without much fuss, even on busy nights. If you have a crockpot, you won’t even need to thaw it out first.
Make sure that you separate the meat into meal size portions and wrap it well before freezing to avoid freezer burn, which is harmless but may affect taste and texture.
There are a number of sources where you can buy meat in bulk. Compare prices from these sources and determine which ones work best for you.
From a Farm
If you have local farmers in your area, buying meat in bulk from them may be the most economical choice and yield you the best quality. Many farms are willing to sell you a whole or half cow or pig. Depending on the farm, you may be able to get your meat already divided into different cuts, otherwise you will need to have a butcher do it. The cost will still be much less than buying the meat from a traditional grocery store. You can often get it vacuumed packed.
From a Bulk Warehouse Store
One of the great benefits of a membership to a bulk warehouse store, such as BJs or Costco or Sam’s Club is the meat prices. You can buy family size packages of meat for less than regular retail prices. Compare the prices, since some cuts, brands and types are cheaper than others.
A Bulk Food Event
There are companies out there that will host bulk food events. Usually they only have one type of meat, such as chicken or beef. Usually, you find out about these events by word of mouth only, but you can do some research online to see if there is one in your area. One such company is Zaycon Foods.
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