Meat can be expensive but when you shop at PAK’n SAVE, you can be sure you’re getting everyday low prices to lower your grocery bill, especially when you shop during our famous Meat Week.

Meat contains lots of protein and other valuable vitamins and minerals that keep your body fighting fit (and if you’ve ever been to a BBQ you know we Kiwis reckon it’s delicious too!).

Sometimes, costs can leave meat off the table. That’s why we’ve put together our list of top tips for saving money on meat.

1. Buy only what you need

By buying only what you need, you can save money on meat and ensure nothing goes to waste. 

The Heart Foundation recommends that a single serving of meat or poultry should be about the size of the palm of your hand. For most adults, this means about 100 grams of cooked red meat in a day, according to the Nutrition Foundation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health recommends eating no more than 500 grams of cooked red meat per week - so be sure to mix it up with a little bit of chicken, fish and meatless proteins too.

See our other tips for eating healthily while saving money on groceries.

2. Bulk your meals with non-meat protein

Legumes like beans and lentils are perfect non-meat proteins that you can add to your meat dishes to make them go further, and they’re super cheap.

Try adding a handful of red lentils to minced beef for a casserole. Tinned beans are right at home in Mexican dishes like nachos and burritos. When you add legumes, you can save money on meat by halving the amount you need to buy.

You can also bulk up a meat dish with vegetables - like adding diced onion and grated carrot to mince, or frozen peas to a casserole. 

3. Be mindful of fat and bones

Remember that fat and bones add to the weight of a cut of meat. If you’re buying steak, for example, look for a piece that has less fat on it so you’re not paying for something you’re just going to cut off anyway.

While bones can increase the cost, boneless cuts often cost more because there’s extra butchery work involved. One way to save money on meat is to buy bone-in cuts and debone them yourself. Or buy a whole chicken and break it down into drumsticks, wings, thighs, and chicken breasts.

4. Make your own ground beef

Save money on ground beef, or beef mince, by making your own at home. While regular ground beef is cheap already, it is higher in fat. You can make your own prime or premium ground beef using a whole beef roast like bolar or brisket. 

Chop the roast up into one-inch chunks and freeze them for half an hour. Then, working in batches, pulse the frozen chunks in your food processor until it resembles ground beef. If you don’t have a food processor, you can make ground beef with a large knife or cleaver. Freeze the meat for up to half an hour, then chop it finely while it’s still cold.

5. Buy cheaper cuts, cook low and slow

Buy cheaper cuts of meat like blade steak or pork shoulders. These cuts are extra economical but need a long, slow cooking time, so investing in a slow cooker is a great idea. Read our guide to buying meat.

A pressure cooker or a slow cooker is also usually easier on electricity than your oven. See our huge range of slow cooker recipes here.

6. Keep meat for meals only

Meat is expensive enough without it turning into a snack food. Encourage hungry teenagers towards other food during the day:

• Crackers and cheese or carrot sticks with a yummy dip like hummus.
• Trail mix or a nut and dried fruit mix.
• Pottle of yoghurt.

7. Eat less meat

An easy way to save money on meat is to cut meat from at least one meal a week. You’ll save heaps and encourage your family to try out new recipes. 

8. Plan your meals in advance.

A great way to save money on meat is by planning your meals in advance. By meal prepping you can still enjoy great cuts of meat whilst taking advantage of our regular deals on groceries.

9. Buy in bulk and freeze

Whenever you buy meat that you’re not going to cook the same day, pop it in the freezer. This keeps it fresh and stops it from going to waste.

You can also shop in bulk when meat is on special. Then simply freeze it all when you get home.

10. Buy frozen meat

Frozen meat is often far cheaper than buying fresh. If you pick the right recipe, the meat will taste just as good 

For more on frozen meat, check out our fresh vs frozen guide.

11. Substitute for cheaper cuts

While your recipe might call for a sirloin steak, you can probably get away with a cheaper option. 

Learn what cuts can be substituted for cheaper versions to save money on meat. Rather than sirloin, buy rump. Instead of chicken breasts, use drumsticks.

If you can’t find your cheaper cut on the shelf, ask the helpful team at your PAK’n’SAVE butchery. They may be able to prepare it for you.

12. Don't be scared of 'reduced to clear' meat

Sometimes you’ll find “Reduced To Clear” meat in the fridges at the grocery store. That means the meat is approaching its best before date, but is still safe to eat. Buy reduced products and freeze them for later — this is a great way to save money on meat.

Red meat may appear dull in colour if it’s been denied oxygen, like if another packet has been sitting on top of it. Don’t worry, it’s still safe to eat if it’s not past its best before date. Of course, if in doubt, throw it out.

Visit our website for more savings ideas to make your grocery budget go further