Why don't supermarkets make meat packaging to keep portions separate.

jvjack

I throw away quite a bit of meat. I could go to butchers and get single portions but supermarket is easier and i think cheaper. 
But say like me you buy 8 chicken thighs in the carton (Aldi £2.99) and eat two today , the packaging says once opened use in 24hrs. They could be unopened and last a few days , so why can't they add some separation between the chicken thighs even if it costs a bit more.

Same goes for bacon. 8 slices seems to be the least in supermarket. Had three slices this morning , but advises eat within 3 days after opening. Unopened could be in fridge for 3 weeks.
And ham slices will last 2 weeks unopened ,  but once opened says eat within 2 days.

Was just wondering why they don't put layers between the meat portions or slices. That would more than half my meat spend.




 

mac.d

Once you open the packaging, whatever you're not going to eat within the next day or two you can portion into individual tubs or bags and freeze them. Then just take each one out and defrost them night before in the fridge.

I wouldn't do it with something like ham slices, you just need to buy a smaller pack of them.

Supermarkets are trying to reduce the amount of packaging used, not increase it. 

Syman

creating alternative packaging may increase production costs

portion it out and put it in a freezer?

jvjack

I have a little freezer separate to the fridge but turned it off as it's not used much. Pretty sure it would cost more to freeze those packages of meat. Could be wrong , but to me adding layers , maybe just one between the meats , even though would be more expensive , would be proportionally cheaper for the customer and supermarket.

KxMx

All you need is some freezer bags. 
Think of how much it's costing you in food thrown away versus running cost of freezer! 

HouseMartin567

A small freezer probably cost 0.5Kwh per day to run, so approx 12p, equating to £44 per year. Guess you need to work out if you are throwing away that much in unused meat.

I buy meat in as large a pack as possible, what ever works out the cheapest per gram. I then portion and freeze. I’m pretty organised at meal planning and taking the relevant meat out of the freezer and put into the fridge the night before I want to use it.

The freezer is also useful for cooking multiple portions of bolognaise, chilli, etc so I have ‘ready made’ meals for nights I know I’m not going to have time to cook from scratch.

singhini

I'm guessing the meat is vacuum-packed or sealed in a modified atmosphere before its sent to the supermarket. So once opened, oxygen gets in and bacteria can start multiplying. If the pieces were separated in mini-compartments, each one would need its own seal, adding complexity and cost.

Why don't you repack at home: Freeze chicken thighs or bacon in small freezer bags (2 per bag). They defrost quickly, and frozen bacon cooks fine from frozen.

Vacuum-seal or ziplock: a small home vacuum sealer can make a big difference (keeps meat fresh in the fridge and or freezer for longer),

The butcher might well cost a little more, but no waste can make it cheaper overall.

jvjack

Yes.
But just on the extra sealing between the meats in the package , i can't see why it would say double the price to do it.
Just looking at my 8 large chicken thighs in their package for the price of £2.99  , it just seems that an extra seal between them wouldn't say cost more than 50p to do. 

singhini

jvjack said:

Yes.
But just on the extra sealing between the meats in the package , i can't see why it would say double the price to do it.
Just looking at my 8 large chicken thighs in their package for the price of £2.99  , it just seems that an extra seal between them wouldn't say cost more than 50p to do. 

8 times more individual seals might be harder to achieve a true seal?  

What is the reason you throw away quite a bit of meat? 

Emmia

When I was at uni and later when I lived on my own I'd buy things like chicken breasts, sausages, etc and then as soon as I got back from the supermarket,  I'd portion them up, wrapped in cling film into single portions (e.g. 2 sausages) which I'd freeze and then defrost as needed. 

Not difficult and avoids waste.

kimwp

Freeze what you won't use within a couple of days. Or find a buddy to split purchases with. Cooking it will extend its life another couple of days. The freezer is also fab for making the most of yellow sticker purchases. If you've a tiny freezer, I can't imagine that running it will cost a lot.