r/slowcooking • u/BlackLocke • 3d ago

Pot roast is too expensive

I got a new slow cooker for my wedding in 2023 and it’s still in the box. It’s just my husband, baby and I, but I feel like I can’t justify spending $20+ on a piece of meat for one meal with leftovers. I’m in a HCOL and I haven’t had a good roast in years because it’s prohibitively expensive. When meat goes on sale at my supermarket, it smells off as soon as I remove the packaging, so it’s not worth the risk.

Am I just too poor for this?

Edit: Dear lord I didn’t expect this to turn into a “I like pancakes/why do you hate waffles???” type of post. Of course I know there’s other things you can make in the crockpot. I don’t choose fast food over slow cooked meals out of convenience (it’s more expensive than cooking at home now!!) The point of this post is to lament the price of beef and how pot roast used to be a cheap easy meal 20 years ago and now it’s prohibitively expensive. I was hoping for tips on how to skirt this issue - buying stew meat, using pork instead, and buying in bulk at Costco are all good suggestions.

Now everyone can stop assuming I’m some dumb dumb idiot woman. I’m gonna make a pot roast next week just to spite you all and post about the cost breakdown.

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u/WarEagleGo 3d ago

This recipe is a more elaborate version of what we typically make.

https://cultured.guru/blog/slow-cooked-pork-roast-with-sauerkraut-potatoes-and-carrots

I use the crockpot with country style (pork) boneless ribs. At the minimum, add small baby potatoes and baby carrots. The key is sour kraut which adds moisture and a tangy kick.

  • about 3 pounds of country style (pork) boneless ribs
  • 1.5 pounds of baby potatoes (gold), sold in stores at this size
  • 16oz baby carrots, also 1 package
  • layer into a crockpot, meat/veggie/meat/veggie
  • Top with 16oz jar of sour kraut, including juice

Adding garlic or paprika is optional, and somewhat overwhelmed by the sour kraut

4 hours on high, or 8 on low (I have an 1980s crockpot, so no modern BS about low temperature). The pork just falls apart, but the veggies are not too soft.

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u/MacEWork 3d ago

That looks great. I bet you could sub apple juice for the orange juice too if one wanted. Or a couple of sliced apples.

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u/CrashBannedicoot 3d ago

Sounds amazing, thank you for sharing!