Monday, November 10, 2008
Good advice Bleeding Economic Indicator: Check Local Groceries for Choice Cuts at Discount Rates
Posted by Nicki Wood on Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 1:00 PM
In today's economic news, area supermarket shoppers report the return of the Moribund Meat Bin. Long the best source for strip and sirloin for economically squeezed households and admitted tightwads, the bin vanished in flush economic times.
An i-reporter snapped this photo of a large sirloin tip steak marked down to $7. Other bargains included so-called "luxury cuts" like New York strip and a whole side of salmon.
The repository for overpriced or unpopular cuts reaching their "sell-by" date, the bin is also called the Carnivore Clearance Tub, The Chop Chop Shop, and Steak this Kebab and Stove It.
So what's in the bin at your local?
Comments (8)
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Freckled bananas, obvs. The best deal around is the big bags of freckledy bananas at Harris Teeter for $1. It's banana bread season, you know.
And the K&S market has a bargain fruit/vegetable section. It's usually a variety of stuff thrown together, with at least one exhibiting some mold, but you can easily pick out the bad stuff and you've still got a bargain. Very convenient with bell peppers because they can be frozen.
Bargain meat...I shudder at the thought.
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Confession time: I'm scared of the vegetable bargain bin at K&S. There I've said it. Does that make me an ugly AMerican?
For those carnivores who prefer their meat aged, the bargain bin is the only way to go. Sounds odd, I know, but it's true - that bacteria does make it more tender. You just have to know you're either going to use it or freeze it pronto.
As for the K&S bargain veggies, I love the opportunities provided there. you're not an ugly american for your fear, you're just disadvantaged. Basic rule of thumb - they either have what you want or you don't. You don't buy (only) because of the price, you buy because you're going to use it and you wanted it anyway (and it looks ok). Trust me, I've thrown out loads more tomatoes and blueberries and strawberries from the unseen bottoms of more 'american' produce pre-selected packages than I have ever from those at K&S.
And their pre-peeled garlic makes the big containers at Costco look like a big expensive joke.
I'm sorry, but is Niki Wood a pseudonym for Mary Hance?
@ S L: Bargain meat: yeah. no problem. Try not to gag when you smell it though.
Haha! I'm so flattered to be compared to my old friend Mary Hance. Don't know how she would feel about it.
I often scan the butcher's sale at Kroger. I've found some good items in the past, although 95% of the food is still 2 or 3 days from being 'bad'. They are usually trying to move the product so they don't have to toss it. I applaud their efforts.
Having said that, I still prefer Publix any day of the week.
My mother's ex used to call it the Bad Meat Bin. My neighborhood Kroger just started allocating one small section of a shelf to their "bad meat." I've never seen anything other than chicken on the bad meat shelf, and yes, I've bought it on occasion.
I've also been known to buy a loaf of bakery bread now and then from the stale bread bin.
