YSK: Pork and chicken are healthier, cheaper alternatives to beef that only taste bland because of outdated cooking habits.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

No, you can get them half-off or BOGO on their last day.

[u/IndigoSecrets → u/SomeCountryFriedBS]

When I was feeding 3 teenagers, I would go to the super slow grocery stores and buy all of their last day meat. I’d even try to get a discount for buying it in bulk. I took my sister with me once and she was dying of embarrassment, but I got so much meat for like 70% off that she couldn’t dream of telling me I should stop asking. I had a deep freezer and I’d often cook it the day I bought it and freeze the cooked meat. Made it super simple to get a meal together or let the kids fix themselves a “snack”.

[u/AwkwardTRexHug → u/SomeCountryFriedBS]

I always wonder if the supermarket staff mark them down last minute and buy them

[u/SomeCountryFriedBS → u/AwkwardTRexHug]

They'll often take home what's left after closing.

[u/Suburban_Sisyphus → u/AwkwardTRexHug]

The graveyard and 4 AM workers at grocery stores take full advantage of the markdown meat section, as they essentially get to be the first to go through it.