Sandwich Meat

Downsizing__for_sanity

Hi everyone,

We currently seem to spend a fortune on beef and ham for sandwiches. My husband usually prefers Tesco roast topside of beef from the deli counter at Tesco, which IIRC is £1.25/100g (£12.50/kilo). If he bought lunch at work it would be more expensive and lower quality, so I'm happy to stick with him making it. We seem to be spending about £8-ish on just beef in a week though :eek:

I've had a quick look on mysupermarket and whilst the decent packet beef works out at £2/100g on offer, he thinks it's "plastic" and sweaty! Does anyone cook and slice their own beef for lunches? I've seen people do ham and gammon but DH is a little fussy and beef would be the Rolls Royce option. I should have room to freeze it and take out a few slices per day, but don't have an electric slicer or knife. Tesco frsh beef topside is on at £8.48/kilo, so a fair bit cheaper before I add in energy to cook it, shrinkage due to water loss etc.

What do you think? Is it worth the effort and faff?

DFS

zippychick

Hi Downsizing

this has been discussed before, so have a read of sandwich meat and i will merge this later on.

Other threads which may help include

Cheaper cuts of meat

lidl meat

Best value "Value" meat

Ham hock and pig hock bargain food

Ham economics - interesting thread

Exciting sandwich fillings on a budget

Home made sandwich spreads

Sandwich fillings

Thanks
Zip

maro11

Hi,
I often roast a topside for sandwiches. You do need to get the cooking time right so it is just cooked all the way through without it getting tough. You will also need a really sharp knife to slice. Once mine has cooled I put it in the fridge and slice it the next day.
Cold roast beef is lovely on a sandwich with caramalised red onions (can be made in advance and stored) and rocket, currently using mine up from the garden. I think it is worth the effort as a small joint will go a long way.

Hardup_Hester

Yes I always do this with ham & beef, Shirley Googe has the costings on this on her blog at http://shirleygoode.blogspot.com/ it's yesterdays post I think.
We have a Kenwood slicer, I bought it for hubby last year, it cost £25 & has more than paid for it's self already.
Hester

beemuzed

We slice gammon, beef, lamb, etc for sandwiches after the weekly roast. I'd agree with Hester - my kenwood slicer is brilliant and has more than paid for itself. We've had it years as well - about 10 I think, bought with the breadmaker so gets loads of use! This is definitely a cheaper option than buying ready sliced meat.

meritaten

certainly it would be cheaper for you if this is ohs preferred sarnie filling. but you do need a very sharp knife and good carving skills if you havent got a slicer. (by the way - they are worth their weight in gold as you can carve a slice so thinly you can see through it or a really thick, but uniform slice and anything in between. it means you can really make that joint stretch further - handy if you have unexpected guests for dinner and your roast will really only feed two!). look on ebay or try argos sales - but they are really worth the money and very easy to use and clean.you can slice chicken breast really thin too. and its brilliant with a home cooked ham or gammon. its not just for meat either - you cant seem to get thinly sliced bread these days - so for parties i buy an uncut loaf and slice it on the slicer. you get far more slices and it looks so much daintier!.

Hootie19

I would say if you invested in a slicer it would be money VERY well spent.

I have been using one for years (since being diagnosed with arthritis and losing the ability of usefully hold a carving knife, let alone actually using one!) and it is fantastic.

We go to Costco and stock up on joints of meat. We buy a ginormous beef joint, a gammon joint, pork etc. I cook them all as soon as we get home and then just leave them to cool completely (in the menatime making up gallons of gravy from the juices).

I then slice it all up with the slicer, and I freeze it in portion sizes. I used to freeze enough meat for a meal for five people all in one package, but since the kids are grown up and not always at home for dinner, I now do it in single portions. This also means that we can be like a carvery and each eat a different meat at dinner . I reheat it in the steamer, which keeps it lovely and moist. (But I digress - you didn't ask about that!)

And there's always a few slices left over for "freshly made" sandwiches, or to freeze for use in sandwiches/rolls later. Much nicer than supermarket "plastic" meat, imo. And I've never costed it out, but I would think it would be more economical than buying it either pre-packaged or at the deli counter.

Triker

I had been thinking about how to slice the meat joints up really thinly...I can't seem to do it with a knife. Then DING :idea:lightbulb...remembered my Magimix, I had bought a thicker slicing attachment for veg. I just used this on a joint I bought ready cooked and reduced at the butchers yesterday.

It sliced up a treat and now having it all having a lovely bath in gravy and onions. When thoroughly bathed I'll cool and freeze...da daaah instant roast dinner...well the meat bit anyway.:D

Mmmm hot roast pork sandwich :drool: for dinner.

cooking-mama

morning guys...im trying to reduce the cost of cold meat in packed lunches...my daughters are happy to have a variety of salad,cheese,tinned tuna etc...but OH is more old school than old style and is only interested in sandwiches with cold meat....since i dont want to buy cheap fatty meat such as "spam",chopped ham n pork ,haslet types,im finding it expensive....(aprox £6/£7 a week...more if i dont find any special offers.)
Does it work out cheaper to buy a small roast beef to cook n slice...can turkey legs be sliced...what do more experienced OS'rs do?.Thanks.

rachbc

I've got out of the habit recently but previously I have bought a small gammon joint and small piece of beef to roast for sarnies.

arm I am buying cold meats for aldo as they seem to be good value and hubby likes them