Which meat from the butchers?

Fire_Fox

I purchased a bone in pork shin joint the other week, £2 and enough meat for four modest meals for one adult female. You can roast them but I stripped the fatty skin, marinaded in wine and slow cooked for ten hours until it fell off the bone. No stock cubes or salt as it was already salted, just loads of cheap winter veggies then stirred in low fat soft cheese or yoghurt right before serving tho tomatoes would have done the same as far as cutting any saltiness.

If you are willing to try organ meats do some reading of recipes online and explanations of the flavours then try a few - chicken livers are reasonably priced and not too strong a flavour. Kidney is another good one for adding to stews/ casseroles/ pies but personally I couldn't stomach the gent's toilet smell as I cut it up. AFAIK you can soak it beforehand to remove any smells but obviously I didn't try that as I was feeding to my cat (who LOVED the smell)! Some offal can be incorporated into meatballs, meatloaf or Bolognese sauces to make regular mince stretch further.

Don't be shy to pick the butchers brains about different cuts or the best value for money, they will be used to customers on a budget and can give advice on suitable cooking methods - they should be professionals/ experts in their field after all. Best to go when they are not busy, midweek say.

For health be sure you are balancing out the meat with enough oily fish and seafood especially since you are willing to eat fatty, battery meat - unfavourable balance of fatty acids - you might also want to make friends with the local fishmonger. Some farm shops are simple and cheap, some set up as more of a gourmet outlet so prices can vary widely.

Fire_Fox

HappyMJ wrote: »

Free range will be much more expensive and I simply can't afford it and get a reasonable serving size. It's currently selling at £5.39/kg at Sainsbury's.

Aldi sells free range whole chickens at about £3.40 a kilo. :cool: Sainsbury currently have the corn fed whole chickens on offer at a similar price which I *think* are free range but certainly higher welfare if not.

A._Badger

EssexGirl wrote: »

It took me while to pluck up the courage to use a butcher rather than the supermarket, but what I tend to do now is tell them what I'm prepared to spend and see what they can offer me. I've got 2 really good butchers and they are great at helping to work around a tight budget.

This is very good advice, IMO. Butchers aren't idiots and they know they are up against tremendous competition from the supermarkets. Most of those that remain are delighted to welcome new customers and they are happy to advise. So clueless have we become as shoppers that butchers tend to get left with the cheaper cuts and are pleased if they get a new customer who will buy what they often have trouble selling.

My tip would be hand of pork, which roasts very well and is both a cheap and nutritious alternative to leg.

Cybes100

Thanks everyone - so much advice - wow!

I'm definately feeling more positive about going to the butchers now!

Re the horsemeat........it's not that that bothers me to be honest - I just want plain meat........nothing added (mainly sugar)......I can't get most meats, bacon, ham, etc from tesco without it containing sugar.

I also eat loads of fish - mackerel being my favourite! I'm still happy to buy the fish from tesco - I think i'm safe with that! And frozen Wild Salmon.

Thanks again everyone......now to plan my first trip (I don't have a local butcher.....I have to go into the city!)

HappyMJ

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Aldi sells free range whole chickens at about £3.40 a kilo. :cool: Sainsbury currently have the corn fed whole chickens on offer at a similar price which I *think* are free range but certainly higher welfare if not.

Aldi might call it free range...but I wouldn't. The birds still live in crowded barns.

Fire_Fox

HappyMJ wrote: »

Aldi might call it free range...but I wouldn't. The birds still live in crowded barns.

Talk about moving the goalposts! How could you tell that a butcher's barn chicken was reared to higher standards than the official 'free range' regs? Given that you said you cannot afford free range you must be buying barn or battery meat or not eating it at all, I don't therefore see the logic in poo pooing Aldi's free range (British and red tractor same as Sainsbury, what am I missing?).

bloggymum

Shin of beef is fab in the slow cooker - do not be tempted to trim off the membrane as this melts to give a lovely thickness to the dish during slow cooking. One of my very fave shin recipes is this one from Hugh F-W

http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/shin-of-beef-with-chilli-ginger-and-soy-recipe

Neck of lamb is another tasty cut for slow cooking as is breast of lamb (this roasts up beautifully and becomes crispy and bursting with flavour)

The cheaper cuts are delicious.

Good for you for making a break away from the supermarkets

edwardw

beef cheek is really nice!

PLRFD

Try brisket and cook it long and slow its a lovely cheap meal with some veg around it.

flea72

I bought goat this week at the butcher as it was half the price of lamb, so thought what the heck, ill give it a try. Ive decided to try what catches,y attention at the. Utchers and if its too expensive or,not nice, then i just dont buy it again.

Have had quite a few heartstopping moments when buying joints of beef but i think thats because i overestimate my needs, as i tend to choose joint by sight rather than weight. So they cost alot, but then i have loads of leftovers to use for other meals. Also gammon steaks. They are so much thicker than supermarket ones, so now we share one rather than having one each. But the first time i bought them i nearly fainted when it cost £7 for 2 (still too scared to say no aftrer ive got the butcher to weigh stuff lol)

As i rough guide i now choose based on the price of steak mince. If its more per kg than the mince, its special occasions or small quantities only