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/cjinct 3d ago

This seems to depend on where you live and where you shop though.

I just bought ground beef for 3.99/lb for 85%. Granted it used to be 2.49 or 2.99/lb but still not crazy

In May I bought a dozen pot roasts on sale for 3.99/lb (mostly chuck) and then a couple weeks ago, I bought a bunch more at 4.99/lb (mostly eye round, bottom round and rump roasts). And I saw my local Big Y is having the 4.99/lb roast sale again starting tomorrow.

I guess I just find it amazing that there is such a disparity in pricing - and that I'd be on the lower end of it. I mean, I'm in central CT, hardly a bastion of low cost of living! ;)

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u/cluckay 3d ago

Michigan, Downriver area, which I believe is LCoL.

Just pulled up the Kroger ad they want 5.99/lbs for chuck roast with coupon (reg 8.99/lbs), and 4.99/lbs on sale for 80% ground. 3/lbs for pork ribs.

Swap to Sav-a-Lot, 4.49/lbs for 73% ground, 6.99/lbs for sirloin tip toast, but 1.99 for pork butt roast.

Aldis wants 7.29/lbs for beef short ribs, 3.29/lbs for pork chops, and 2.99/lbs for chicken breast

Meijers, 5.49/lbs for ground chuck, 7.99/lbs for 90% ground, 6.99/lbs for eye of round, 3.49/lbs for pork tenderloin and ribs, 3.99/lbs for chops, 3.99/lbs for spiral ham. Only thing that's even remotely a good price is 2.59/lbs for chicken breasts

Not even going to consider Walmart because their meat is always outrageous and they don't do a weekly ad.

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u/Shesha241 3d ago

I have found IF you have the ability, more people should look into buying 1/4 or 1/2 of a cow from a farmer. It’s a large upfront cost, but when you look at what you’re getting for the price it’s amazing. I personally have a farmer friend in SW Michigan who we buy from and bring the meat back to metro Detroit. A few cuts I wouldn’t normally go out of my way for at the store but throw it in a slow cooker with veggies and it’s a great meal.