# What's a meat to eat if your poor **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238 "2013-12-01T21:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/21 "2013-12-02T00:37:21Z")
Kroger has the marked-down meat that looks a bit tired and browny-grey but its still ok (hey! aged beef is GOOD!). DH gets huge cheap roasts there and puts them in the crock pot for his meals all week long. He stretches it by putting it with stir-fries too. Whatever’s on sale. Kroger (at least the “ghetto” Kroger by my house) marks down their deli cold cuts when its closing time. I think you have to observe when the markdowns happen for your particular store tho. I do not work for or get compensated by Kroger! ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/22 "2013-12-02T00:37:26Z")
I like chicken hearts. Might be an acquired taste though. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/23 "2013-12-02T00:44:27Z")
When I was a kid and my parents weren’t earning much … we ate a lot of tripe, because that was what they could afford. My mother actually got pretty good at making it, um, edible. Nowadays, I eat a bit of tripe, and then I don’t need to eat any more tripe for a few years. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/24 "2013-12-02T00:50:28Z")
Tripe? You mean like just … tripe? Ive seen it in soup (“PepperPot” contains tripe IIRC) but never by itself. Whats it taste like? ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/25 "2013-12-02T01:00:03Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Well, according to Democrat scare ads seniors resort to eating cans of pet food when real meat is too expensive. Just make sure you have a can opener if you go that route. I must have missed those ads in my market. I agree with the recommendations to reduce the amount of meat in your diet, and replace it with beans and rice, or eggs. ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/26 "2013-12-02T01:05:38Z")
You might try going the route many poor folks have done for centuries and try eating organ meats. Now, as ever, they’re about the cheapest cuts you can get. If you’re a bit squeamish about it, make stews. Stew covereth a mutitude sins. Plus, it helps stretch out the grocery bill even more, because water is free. And as the others have said, the vegetarian option is really your best bet when saving on the food bill. Try lentils when you get tired of rice and beans. They’re cheap as all get out as well. Good luck mate! ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/27 "2013-12-02T01:12:30Z")
> [@austerity](#): > > But I consider meat a luxury. Sure it tastes good, but you can get far more calories per dollar eating carbs like rice, pasta, and flour. OTOH, such a diet would be a huge problem for a diabetic. I know the OP didn’t mention that, but I do have diabetic family members, so it’s something that occurs to me. ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Eclipse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@Lunar\_Eclipse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Eclipse)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/28 "2013-12-02T01:18:39Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > Liver! Liver and onions. I was going to say this… but liver smells gross while you are cooking it. So gross that I don’t want to eat it. Maybe the onions are to cover that smell? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/29 "2013-12-02T01:20:44Z")
Dollar store food is cheap. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/30 "2013-12-02T01:57:19Z")
Eat bread and cheese six evenings a week (take it with soup or wine.) Treat yourself every seventh. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/31 "2013-12-02T02:03:57Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Well, according to Democrat scare ads seniors resort to eating cans of pet food when real meat is too expensive. Just make sure you have a can opener if you go that route. Do you have a link to such ads? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/32 "2013-12-02T02:10:18Z")
I’ve been amazed at how cheap skinless boneless chicken breast are. I can’t remember when the last time I paid more than $2 a pound for them. Didn’t chicken breast used to be a lot more expensive? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/33 "2013-12-02T02:13:05Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I’ve been amazed at how cheap skinless boneless chicken breast are. I can’t remember when the last time I paid more than $2 a pound for them. > > Didn’t chicken breast used to be a lot more expensive? Yeah, but then they figured out how to grow them in tanks without the chicken attached. Brought the price way down. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/34 "2013-12-02T02:27:30Z")
> [@amorali](#): > > Cheapest meat I would guess would be what you catch/kill yourself, if you already have all the necessary tools. HA! IF you live in or can easily get to a place that has abundant prey, maybe. Otherwise, hunting can be quite expensive and time-consuming. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/35 "2013-12-02T02:56:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **SerafinaPekala** : > > Kroger (at least the “ghetto” Kroger by my house) marks down their deli cold cuts when its closing time. I think you have to observe when the markdowns happen for your particular store tho. Similarly, I once snagged some chicken tenders for something like 50 cents a pound at Albertsons, because they were closing down the deli counter for the night. I wasn’t planning on buying meat that trip, but at that price, I’d have been a fool to pass them up. But yeah, what others have said: Beans and eggs are usually much cheaper protein than any dead animal pieces. Add enough spices, and you’ll never miss the meat. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/36 "2013-12-02T03:38:22Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#): > > Tripe? You mean like just … tripe? Ive seen it in soup (“PepperPot” contains tripe IIRC) but never by itself. Whats it taste like? My grocery store sells big packages of it. Soup is the best thing to do with it, for sure. Pozole and pho are good options. I am not a fan of organ meats in general, but tripe can be almost pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/37 "2013-12-02T09:18:35Z")
> [@Miss\_Woodhouse](#): > > But if you must have animal protein, look for chicken leg quarters. they are super cheap usually and can be prepared easily. Thirded. Chicken leg quarters are crazy cheap. The Aldi near me has 5 lb bags of individually frozen leg quarters every day for 3.99, bringing it down to .79 a lb. If you keep an eye on the ads, you can find better deals. Check the Goodwill type stores to see if you can find a Nuwave oven. They can cook meat with less energy than any other type of appliance. If you’re trying to save money on food, you probably don’t want to waste money on energy either. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/38 "2013-12-02T12:47:43Z")
> [@Lunar\_Eclipse](#): > > I was going to say this… but liver smells gross while you are cooking it. So gross that I don’t want to eat it. Maybe the onions are to cover that smell? The smell and taste of liver is very strong, so it’s always good to mix it with other strong flavours to compensate. I’ve tried marinating strips of liver in Dijon mustard, then coating in flour before frying, which was pretty nice. Cheap-meat-wise I would recommend bacon ‘misshapes’ (off-cuts) which butchers sell for cheap, which is fine if you’re planning to chop your bacon up anyway. Or ham hocks, which retail in my part of England at about £2 a go. While they have quite a lot of cartilage, bone and fat they do also yield a good amount of ham. What makes them less inexpensive though is the long cooking time - 2+ hours. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/39 "2013-12-02T13:08:37Z")
> [@amorali](#): > > Cheapest meat I would guess would be what you catch/kill yourself, if you already have all the necessary tools. I know a guy who isn’t poor, but he’s very frugal. When his freezer is empty, he takes a deer and hangs/butchers it in his garage. He has taken road killed deer (that he saw hit) home and used it as well. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/40 "2013-12-02T14:01:12Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > My grocery store sells big packages of it. Soup is the best thing to do with it, for sure. Pozole and pho are good options. I am not a fan of organ meats in general, but tripe can be almost pleasant. Traditional recipe for callos a la madrileña ([tripe Madrid style](http://spanishfood.about.com/od/beefrecipes/r/Madrid-Style-Tripe-Recipe-Callos-Madrilenos.htm)), and one [from the Philippines](http://panlasangpinoy.com/2010/02/24/ox-tripe-stew-callos-recipe/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238.md?page=3)