So glad I'm almost done with meat stockpiling

[buffy871]

So, having had some times in the past where we suddenly had no money, I've noticed that crappy food in crappy times makes everything worse. Suddenly going from a regular diet to living off bread and gravy, eggs, bacon and ramen is depressing. I read an article that suggested that you should stockpile things you usually eat, for just that reason. I've been stockpiling good quality meat off and on, and I've almost got the freezer full. I have enough now to last a long time for two people. It was expensive though!

Here's my meat list, if anyone is interested.

2 Steaks, 1 whole ham, 2 turkey, beef ribs, 1 large lasagna, hot dogs, corned beef, 4 packages hamburger, 4 whole chickens, 2 cornish game hens, turkey sausage, ground turkey, ham hocks, bag of frozen fish filets, chicken parts, pepperoni, tuna, pork ribs, smoked sausage, pork tenderloin,

[pollypurebred39]

I can testify that it is in fact depressing. My guys have had a really rough go of it these last few years. Can't say that I'm enjoying it much myself. Our food budget was a huge part of our expenditures, not so much anymore. I agree that you should only stock what you will eat, at this moment I'm just trying to make a deep pantry and experimenting with lots of new frugal recipes. I do not have an emergency pantry like the government page says you should keep for disasters. Just the amount of water alone seems like a crazy amount of money to me when you may never need it. But then what if you do? I think you stocking the freezer with meats is kind of the same thing, you may not need it for a cash poor emergency, but you may, so it's certainly a good idea to be prepared. Especially since you know those cash poor times have happened to you before.

[greekislandgirl]

We only eat meat about once a month but it's SO good when we do!! It's such a treat every time. I agree that when times are rough, it's important to keep up morale, and if meat is a big part of that, then keeping that in your stockpile is really important. For us, unfortunately, the thing that would depress us is if we couldn't afford fresh vegetables, and I can't stockpile those!!

[craftypam]

Buffy my only suggestion to you is make sure you have it wrapped well and don't put ground meat on the top shelf of the freezer. It costs even more if it goes bad. I'm telling you this from lots of experience. I have just started refilling my freezer with meat too!!

[frugalfranny]

Way to go Buffy...........just make sure you use it before it has a chance to get freezer burn.

For me, just having a stockpile makes me feel good. I can always
do things to ssssttttrrrreeettttcccchhhhhh it!!

[imagine]

This is pretty the much the only way we buy meat

Buy it when there is a good sale and put in in the freezer.

I just bought

Beef Brisket $1.99 a pound

ground round (roasts and steak cuts) $2.19 a pound I cut up the steak cuts thin for fajitas and chicness like beef and broccoli all nothing add no solution or anything

Lean ground round ( or was it chuck )$2.19 a pound

Pork sirloin tips $1.79 a pound

and a pound of ground sausage that was free

Bought enough to hopefully last us to the next sale.

Packaged them up in what we would use in a meal size and wrapped up well ( as airless as possible)

I will buy chicken and fish when they are on sale.

mom will give up some deer when she gets one.

Just how we do it stocked up and eat out of the pile.

[Contrary Housewife]

I agree with you and we also have a well stocked freezer. However, I buy most of mine off the markdown tray on the "sell by" date at the local store. So it's all half price or less. This morning I bought two strip steaks, two filet mignons (!!), a pack of tri-tip and a pound of ground lamb all at 50% off. It's all double wrapped and waiting in the deep freeze.

Frozen will last a long time, but two things: 1. you do need to eat it, and rotate it out with fresher stuff as the months go by, don't save it for the end times (or you'll wish you were eating ramen instead). 2. that ham will not last long. 6 months maybe. I don't know why, but all the color and flavor just leeches out of them in long term storage.

[Paws]

This is pretty the much the only way we buy meat
Buy it when there is a good sale and put in in the freezer.
I just bought Beef Brisket $1.99 a pound
round round (roasts and steak cuts) $2.19 a pound I cut up the steak cuts thin for fajitas and chicness like beef and broccoli all nothing add no solution or anything
Lean ground round ( or was it chuck )$2.19 a pound
Pork sirloin tips $1.79 a pound
and a pound of ground sausage that was free
Bought enough to hopefully last us to the next sale.
Packaged them up in what we would use in a meal size and wrapped up well ( as airless as possible)
I will buy chicken and fish when they are on sale.
mom will give up some deer when she gets one.
Just how we do it stocked up and eat out of the pile.

I agree with you and we also have a well stocked freezer. However, I buy most of mine off the markdown tray on the "sell by" date at the local store. So it's all half price or less. This morning I bought two strip steaks, two filet mignons (!!), a pack of tri-tip and a pound of ground lamb all at 50% off. It's all double wrapped and waiting in the deep freeze.

Frozen will last a long time, but two things: 1. you do need to eat it, and rotate it out with fresher stuff as the months go by, don't save it for the end times (or you'll wish you were eating ramen instead). 2. that ham will not last long. 6 months maybe. I don't know why, but all the color and flavor just leeches out of them in long term storage.

I'm glad someone uses deer besides my family and I...lol DH is a big deer hunter and usually gets several every winter. Although we have had a couple of lean years when he was unable to get even one...
We also buy beef products, but only on as good sale or on markdown. I usually won't buy any meat that's over $2.00/lb. I like it even better when it's not even a $1/lb.

[auntie2many]

I am looking to eat down all of the meat and start anew before freezer burn starts. When I do re-stock the meat it will be minimal amounts as we lose power a lot during the summer. Also we do not have a stand alone freezer.

Thanks for the heads up on the ham. I had planned to thaw mine and eat it this week. I bought it at Christmas 2010. It sounds like it is just on the verge of still being good.

A2M

[Debbie-cat]

We eat alot of deer too Paws.

In the fall we always hope to get at least one deer. That one deer will last us until spring. I alternate with chicken, beef, fish (that we caught) and if we are lucky moose meat from my BIL.

[wheezie]

Great job OP!

[mh3rdwheel]

I too am almost done stock piling meat, I have 1 turkey, 2 hams, lots of hamburger, pork steak, hot dogs, sausage, bacon. I have bought these on sale last week, my chest freezer and regular freezer almost full.

My family and I love deer meat, the way my husband cooks it so that you cannot taste the gameyness. and the deer meat is better for you.

[mh3rdwheel]

I have neer tried moose meat, their is a Cabelas 5 minutes away, they have where you can order the meat in like a restaurant to try. Maybe i will try it someday.

[shoiji]

Stockpiling meat is always expensive. I need to pick up some more canned salmon and sardines.

I pretty much only purchase meat when it is on sale or managers special. Ask you meat department when they put out their managers special. Usually I just tour the meat department looking for managers special tags on meat. If it is something I will eat I pick up a couple of packages and divide up and freeze. Rigth now I am slowly building up my meat stockpile also.

[NikoSan999]

You did fantastic. I have alot in our freezer that I still need to get used up. Badly.