Meat hacks to cut your grocery bill: Putting the viral Costco trend to the test
Amid rising grocery costs, American shoppers are searching for inventive ways to save, like buying meat in bulk and taking on the butchery at home.
Beef prices are up 15% since this time last year, according to the USDA Food Price Outlook, with that category predicted to grow faster than its 20-year historical average rate of growth.
With uncertainty around when prices could regulate, one trend gaining traction involves cutting costs by turning to Costco's meat department for beef.
From home cooks to recipe developers, social media feeds have filled up over the past few months with people purchasing large slabs of uncut meat -- beef tenderloin, New York strip loin and ribeye -- from Costco and breaking it down at home to cut it into individual portions.
Many have also opted for USDA Choice over Prime grading -- then, when it's time to cook the meat, home cooks are using a sous vide method first to help achieve a more tender result without the added cost that buying USDA Prime beef typically entails.
ABC News' Becky Worley tested out the trend firsthand to see if the hack can actually help cut down on the price of proteins.
According to Worley, USDA Choice ribeye steaks sold at local supermarkets in her area retailed for over $27 per pound, whereas Costco offered individual ribeye at just $17.99 per pound. But the real cost savings comes with the whole ribeye subprimal, which cost just $12.99 per pound.
With a sharp knife, Worley was able to slive the oversized 21-pound cut into 15 portions of steak, which she said amounted to nearly $300 in savings.
The method can also apply to turkey and other meats.
"This hack works with all kinds of meat at warehouse stores," Worley said, noting that "pork, salmon, ground beef, and stew meat" are all good options.
"Also, they often go on sale," she noted.
Where local grocery stores sold sliced turkey for more than $21 per pound, for instance, Worley discovered Costco's whole turkey breast rang up to just $4.79 per pound, which she sliced thinly at home before freezing for future meals.
For those who don't have the freezer space, Worley suggested going in on beef together with a friend, family member or neighbor.
