If you’re lucky enough to have a family-owned butcher shop in your neighborhood, then you’re probably getting some amazing cuts of meat at an unbeatable price.
And if you’ve got access to a whole cow, then your butcher will be selling you off most of the remaining cuts for pennies on the dollar.
But even if your local market doesn’t sell whole animals, or if they do but the cost of their cuts are too high for your household budget, there are still plenty of ways to get excellent whole muscle meats at a fraction of retail prices.
In this article we look at what spare rib trimmings are, how much they cost and whether buying them from the store is worth it – or not…
What are spare rib trimmings?
Spare rib trimmings are the small bits of meat left over after the main ribs, or “short ribs,” are trimmed off a whole chuck or shoulder of meat. While these trimmings are often thrown away, they’re actually a very valuable part of the meat that is often thrown away. The best cuts for spare rib trimmings include the front shoulder, chuck and rib tips.
These are the most tender and nutritious parts of the animal and although they are smaller in size, they are rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins that you can’t get in any other way. Spare rib trimmings prices vary wildly. In a good year, they can be sold for as little as 2 or 3 cents per pound while a bad year can see them sell for over $2 per pound.
And there are tons of factors that can affect the price of spare rib trimmings. The number of butchers selling the trimmings can change week to week, and so can the overall demand for beef in your area. If there’s a large convention or event in your area that requires a lot of beef to be served, then demand for beef will increase, and so will the price of the remaining trimmings.
How much do spare rib trimmings cost?
Trimmings from a single rib-eye roast – the most expensive cut from the chuck – sell for around $3.50 per pound. This means that if you have enough trimmings to make a 4-pound roast, then you can expect to sell it for around $10.
However, spare rib trimmings are sold by weight so if you’re planning on making a rib-eye roast, then you’ll have to check the price per pound on the shelf before you buy. If you don’t have enough trimmings to make a large roast, then you’ll have to weigh the roast you do have and see how much you can get for it.
Is buying spare rib trimmings worth it?
If you have access to a good-sized herd of livestock, or if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with a family-owned butcher shop selling whole animals, then buying whole muscle meats at a fraction of the price is definitely worth it. And spare rib trimmings are just one of many great cuts that can be obtained this way.
But if you don’t have access to a large herd of livestock or a family-owned butcher shop, then buying whole muscle meats at a fraction of the price may not be worth it. For example, in the US, a steer is typically sold for around $5 per pound.
So if you have access to a steer, then you might be able to get some excellent cuts of meat at a price that is just slightly higher than what it costs to buy the meat by the pound.
How to save on spare rib trimmings
– Stock up on whole muscle meats. If you’re fortunate enough to live near a large herd of livestock, then buying whole muscle meats directly from the farm or ranch can save you tons of money. For example, a whole cow can be sold for around $1 per pound, whereas the same cut of meat in cuts can cost as much as $2 in the supermarket.
– Purchase the smallest amount of meat you need per recipe. Buying a small amount of meat may seem counterintuitive, but it can actually save you money. For example, if you have enough rib tips to make a 3-pound roast, then you can make just enough roast to serve 2 people for around $1.50 per serving instead of $5.
– Use a discount code. Many online retailers will offer a discount code for buying large amounts of meat. For example, if you buy 100lbs at Costco, then the company will give you a $25 discount off your order. Now, that’s a bargain because Costco sells 100lbs of meat for $90, but if you buy with the discount code, then you’ll pay only $75 for the same amount of meat you would if you bought it at the regular price.
Summary
Whether you have access to a family-owned butcher shop, a large herd of livestock, or both, buying whole muscle meats at a fraction of the price can save you tons of money. But if you don’t have access to any of these things, then buying whole muscle meats may not be worth it.
The best way to save on spare rib trimmings is to buy large amounts of whole muscles at one time instead of buying in smaller quantities. And if you don’t have the space to store large quantities of meat, then look into buying meat by the pound. While it may take some planning, buying whole muscle meats at a fraction of the price can be one of the best ways to save money on your food budget.
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