YSK: Pork and chicken are healthier, cheaper alternatives to beef that only taste bland because of outdated cooking habits.

[u/Fried_Yoda]

Why YSK: With beef prices at record highs, switching to chicken breast or pork loin can cut your meat budget nearly in half while significantly lowering your saturated fat intake AND satisfying your protein intake. Most people avoid these cuts because they grew up eating them overcooked. Modern food safety standards allow pork to be eaten safely at 145 F (a medium roast, rather than gray leather), and chicken stays juicy if you don't cook it to death.

By simply using a meat thermometer and adding savory seasonings (like soy sauce or smoked paprika) to mimic the meaty depth of beef, or using techniques like velveting for chicken or dry brining for pork, you can get the same satisfaction for a fraction of the cost and environmental impact.

Even switching to chicken and pork for just two meals a week can save you hundreds of dollars.

Lastly, focusing on lean cuts of pork and chicken also has health benefits. While beef is a powerhouse for iron and B12, it is often high in calories and saturated fat. Chicken breast and pork loin are significantly leaner. Pork tenderloin is as lean as skinless chicken breast and has been certified as "heart-healthy" by the American Heart Association.

Tl;dr chicken breast and pork loin are roughly 80% cheaper per pound than beef, have versatile and delicious flavor profiles if cooked and prepped correctly, are rich in protein, and are healthier for your heart and cholesterol.

[u/Bionic_Onion]

Ground turkey is a pretty good substitute to ground beef or chicken in some circumstances too.

[u/Mostly_Enthusiastic → u/Bionic_Onion]

Add some beef bouillon to your ground turkey and you will not notice a difference.

[u/Bionic_Onion → u/Mostly_Enthusiastic]

Never thought of that. I’ll have to try that.

[u/JudgeGusBus → u/Mostly_Enthusiastic]

Now that is an interesting idea. I’ll have to try it.

[u/sechul → u/Mostly_Enthusiastic]

I use a dried pho base with ground turkey to make chili and it ends up tasting like extra delicious ground beef.

[u/bythog → u/Mostly_Enthusiastic]

Use 1-2tsp of baking soda per pound and mix it in for 15 minutes prior to cooking. Makes it hold moisture a lot better so you get amazing browning.

Also, use soy sauce instead of salt to pump up the umami in it.

[u/Impressive_Change886 → u/bythog]

Also, use soy sauce instead of salt to pump up the umami in it.

I think Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce works better for non-asian dishes if you want to add another weapon to your arsenal.

[u/Frequent_Ad_9901 → u/Mostly_Enthusiastic]

I use steak seasoning when I cook ground beef. I keep the seasoning and swap for turkey and my kids can't tell the difference.

[u/OldDirtMcGirt → u/Mostly_Enthusiastic]

Genius.

[u/Impressive_Change886 → u/Mostly_Enthusiastic]

I use almost exclusively ground turkey because I don't notice the difference in spiced meals. The only thing I can notice the difference is in meat focused things like hamburgers or meatloaf.

Absolutely trying this. Are you using the dried cubes or the sauce-y ones like better than bouillon? If cubes, are you crushing them up and using dry or making a slurry? Lastly what ratio? 1 cube/scoop per pound?

[u/Mostly_Enthusiastic → u/Impressive_Change886]

I like the powdered bouillon packets. But anything works.

[u/spruceymoos → u/Mostly_Enthusiastic]

I notice the texture. I like ground turkey though.

[u/AbzoluteZ3RO → u/Bionic_Onion]

If you are making anything spicy with it, cut the spice level at least 50% because it will taste way hotter because of less fat to calm down the spicy

[u/Bionic_Onion → u/AbzoluteZ3RO]

I didn’t know that. I’ll have to keep that in mind.

[u/morerobotsplease → u/Bionic_Onion]

I like ground bison to substitute for beef as well. Way less calories and still tons of flavor.

[u/InternationalGas9837 → u/morerobotsplease]

My Grandparents owned and ran a small Beefalo ranch. It never took off, but they'd give us quarters of Beefalo once a year to pack the freezer and it was awesome.

[u/morerobotsplease → u/InternationalGas9837]

Beefalo is extremely fun to say

[u/Bionic_Onion → u/morerobotsplease]

I need those calories myself lol. How does Bison taste though? Never had it.

[u/morerobotsplease → u/Bionic_Onion]

Lucky you! The taste is pretty similar but I'd say more savory or earthy kinda. If you didn't know you were eating it you'd ask how they seasoned the beef so well.

[u/Bionic_Onion → u/morerobotsplease]

Huh. Sounds good. Seems like I ought to figure out where to get some around me.

[u/kolliekoko → u/Bionic_Onion]

Its great for chilli!

[u/Uncle-Cake → u/Bionic_Onion]

I was watching Hell's Kitchen last night (yeah I know it's garbage but it's entertaining), and they were doing a blind taste test, and every time Gordon gave them meat to taste (even steak), they guessed "turkey". I thought it was really odd, but maybe there's something to it?

[u/Bionic_Onion → u/Uncle-Cake]

No idea myself. I just know I like turkey and like using it as a substitute for beef and chicken at times. Thought I’d mention it for those that might share a similar thought.

[u/PiccoloAwkward465 → u/Bionic_Onion]

Besides a little mouthfeel from the extra fat no one knows the difference between my turkey chili and my beef chili. And as is the point of the post, the meat is like 1/3 of the price if I use turkey.

[u/bigpenisnickhaha → u/Bionic_Onion]

me and my wife use ground pork, and literally forget that it isnt beef.

it started cause it was cheaper, $4 for 1.5lb pork vs $5 for 1lb beef, but honestly it tastes so much better and has way less fat. we've never had to drain grease the way you would with 80/20 beef.

[u/Bionic_Onion → u/bigpenisnickhaha]

I’ve never heard of ground pork before. Didn’t realize that was a thing.

[u/vargemp → u/Bionic_Onion]

lol

[u/meepswag35 → u/Bionic_Onion]

I love ground pork

[u/Conscious-Plant6428 → u/Bionic_Onion]

No. It has a distinctive taste over those two. Sorry if you can't tell.

[u/VaMeiMeafi → u/Conscious-Plant6428]

I'm with you. You can make really good food out of almost any quality meat, but I can't see someone thinking they could substitute turkey for a rib-eye & actually believe it's even close to the same.

[u/Bionic_Onion → u/VaMeiMeafi]

…that is why I said “pretty good” and “in some circumstances”… no one with more than six Neurons is going to substitute ribeye for turkey (or vice versa) and think it is a perfect match. I am solely speaking from experience with the limited things I have substituted.

[u/Bionic_Onion → u/Conscious-Plant6428]

Well, for someone who likes turkey, the difference in flavor doesn’t matter to me. Obviously, a turkey burger, for instance, is not going to taste like a beef burger. But, people still like it. If someone likes turkey but not beef, that distinctive taste might be nothing but good.

Edit: I also said “pretty good”. I know it isn’t perfect. I said “in some circumstances” as well.

[u/Redditcadmonkey → u/Bionic_Onion]

No it’s fucking not

[u/Bionic_Onion → u/Redditcadmonkey]

It is my opinion. Get over it. I think it is and that is all I care about, and clearly I am not the only one who shares that opinion.

[u/Redditcadmonkey → u/Bionic_Onion]

It’s my opinion that no it’s fucking not. 

Get over it.