Beef is one of the few grocery categories where manufacturer coupons are almost nonexistent. You will rarely find a paper coupon for “50 cents off a pound of ground beef.” However, this does not mean you have to pay full price. Fresh meat operates on a predictable “loss leader” sales cycle. Stores aggressively discount these nine specific beef products to drive foot traffic. Knowing when to look for these unadvertised price drops is far more effective than hunting for a coupon that doesn’t exist.
1. 80/20 Ground Chuck
Ground chuck is the workhorse of the meat department. Because it is so popular for burgers and meatloaf, stores frequently use it as a “front page” flyer deal. You will often see it marked down by 30% to 40% every four to six weeks. The best strategy is to buy family packs during these deep discount weeks and freeze them in one-pound portions.
2. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
While not beef, chicken breasts act as a pricing counterweight. When beef prices soar due to supply chain issues, retailers slash chicken prices to keep customers buying protein. If ground beef is at a record high, look immediately at the chicken section; you will likely find a “buy one, get one free” deal designed to keep you from walking out empty-handed.
3. Chuck Roasts
Chuck roasts are a winter staple. During the colder months, retailers know shoppers are using slow cookers. They rotate chuck roasts onto sale schedules every 3-4 weeks. Unlike steaks, which are often priced high for weekends, roasts often see their best markdowns mid-week to clear inventory for the upcoming weekend’s premium cuts.
4. Ribeye Steaks (Holiday Weekends)
You will rarely find a coupon for a ribeye. However, before major holidays like Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, the price per pound drops dramatically. Stores compete fiercely for your holiday grill money. The price of a ribeye on the Friday before Labor Day is often $3 to $5 less per pound than it is on a random Tuesday in October.
5. Pre-Formed Burger Patties
Fresh, pre-formed burger patties in the butcher case are a convenience item with a high markup. However, they have a very short shelf life. If they don’t sell by Sunday afternoon, the store must toss them. Savvy shoppers can find massive “Manager’s Special” markdowns on these patties early Monday morning, often at 50% off.
6. Beef Tenderloin
Whole beef tenderloin is a luxury item. Throughout most of the year, it stays at a steady, high price. However, in the two weeks leading up to Christmas, the price becomes volatile. Warehouse clubs and grocery chains engage in a price war, dropping the cost per pound significantly to capture the holiday feast market.
7. Corned Beef
Corned beef points (the cheaper cut) and flats (the leaner cut) see a massive price drop in the first two weeks of March for St. Patrick’s Day. The price often falls so low that it is sold at a loss. This is the only time of year to buy this cut; stocking up in March allows you to enjoy it year-round for pennies on the dollar.
8. “Stew Meat”
Packages labeled “stew meat” are often just trimmings from better cuts like roast and steak. Because they are technically “scraps,” butchers have leeway to price them aggressively to clear the counter. You will often find unadvertised “in-store specials” on stew meat when the butcher has been cutting a lot of steaks that day.
9. 73% Lean Ground Beef (The “Value” Tube)
The large, 5-pound tubes of 73% lean ground beef are the unsung heroes of the meat budget. While rarely advertised with flashiness, these “chubs” often have a lower base price per pound than any sale price on fresh tray beef. They are the most consistent value option for tacos and casseroles, where the higher fat content can be drained off.
Stop Looking for Coupons, Start Watching the Cycle
The secret to saving on beef is not in the Sunday paper; it is in the calendar. By timing your purchases to match these specific inventory cycles and holiday price wars, you can save far more than a 50-cent coupon would ever provide. It requires freezer space and patience, but the savings are substantial.
Do you have a specific day of the week you shop for meat markdowns? What is the best price you have ever found on a steak? Let us know your wins!
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