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What's with the price of...

What's with the price of...
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  • What's with the price of...

    Post #1 - December 6th, 2021, 2:16 pm
    Post #1 - December 6th, 2021, 2:16 pm Post #1 - December 6th, 2021, 2:16 pm
    Rather than make a bunch of new topics, I'll make one of Ronnie's favorite things(TM), the catch-all thread.

    The price of lump crabmeat has gone through the roof! Costco has a 1lb can (refrigerated) for $39.99. Claw is a little cheaper, but not worth the downgrade in quality. I had a recipe that was going to use crabmeat, guess I'm going to shift to something else.
    What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
    -- Lin Yutang
  • Post #2 - December 7th, 2021, 8:57 am
    Post #2 - December 7th, 2021, 8:57 am Post #2 - December 7th, 2021, 8:57 am
    Oh the other one that's shocked me this year is wings: I finally found something reasonably priced at Aldi (4lb for $12.99 frozen pieces); I've seen up to $5.99 for "party wings" at Fresh Farms, and as much as $3.99 for whole wings.
    What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
    -- Lin Yutang
  • Post #3 - December 7th, 2021, 9:04 am
    Post #3 - December 7th, 2021, 9:04 am Post #3 - December 7th, 2021, 9:04 am
    If you ever wanted to teach a class on supply and demand, chicken wings fit it to a tee. The beauty is that legs and thighs are cheap and so much better. I am hip.
  • Post #4 - December 7th, 2021, 9:14 am
    Post #4 - December 7th, 2021, 9:14 am Post #4 - December 7th, 2021, 9:14 am
    HI,

    I know it is of little help, Lewis Fresh Market in Waukegan has small whole wings this week for $2.99 per pound.

    Oxtails, wings and pig ears have really gone up in price. I would buy pig ears to make dog treats. I now buy snouts. I can only hope it does not get loved and become a boutique item.

    Regards,
    Cathy2
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #5 - December 7th, 2021, 1:33 pm
    Post #5 - December 7th, 2021, 1:33 pm Post #5 - December 7th, 2021, 1:33 pm
    Puckjam wrote:If you ever wanted to teach a class on supply and demand, chicken wings fit it to a tee. The beauty is that legs and thighs are cheap and so much better. I am hip.

    Legs and thighs are better for a lot of things.... wing-like appetizers less so. A drumstick is a lot of food compared to a wing, a thigh even moreso. Boneless thighs could be cut into two or three, perhaps, but part of the goal is minimal processing on my part.
    What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
    -- Lin Yutang
  • Post #6 - December 7th, 2021, 1:51 pm
    Post #6 - December 7th, 2021, 1:51 pm Post #6 - December 7th, 2021, 1:51 pm
    There are times when I shop with a predetermined intention of making something specific. At those times, I'm at the mercy of many variables, including availability, quality and (opportunistic) pricing.

    More often than not, I shop with only a loose idea of what I want to cook/eat and let the outside variables guide my purchases. This works out pretty well most of the time.

    One situation came up recently with iceberg lettuce. It was on my list but it was $4/head. Easy enough to shift gears and pick up some romaine instead, at about half the price. The next week, iceberg was down to $2/head. I no longer wanted it but okay. Duly noted.

    When it comes to grocery shopping and home cooking, there are almost always work-arounds but you do have to be adjustable, creative, resourceful and knowledgeable when you hit the aisles, in order to enable them. When you're in a commercial setting, the obstacles are much harder to avoid and the adjustments are way more difficult to make.

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #7 - December 7th, 2021, 7:12 pm
    Post #7 - December 7th, 2021, 7:12 pm Post #7 - December 7th, 2021, 7:12 pm
    ...speaking of legs, thighs, wings, etc...

    I wanted to make chicken soup a few days ago, and went to a market that is close to home. They never have bones/carcasses, so I usually make my stock with turkey wings and chicken feet.

    No turkey wings..

    I found chicken legs at $0.79 Feet at $2.29. I don't get it... ( I do...sigh).
    If you aren't tasting, you aren't cooking.
  • Post #8 - December 7th, 2021, 7:38 pm
    Post #8 - December 7th, 2021, 7:38 pm Post #8 - December 7th, 2021, 7:38 pm
    Evil Ronnie wrote:I found chicken legs at $0.79 Feet at $2.29. I don't get it... ( I do...sigh).

    Damn - that's crazy!

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #9 - December 8th, 2021, 11:03 pm
    Post #9 - December 8th, 2021, 11:03 pm Post #9 - December 8th, 2021, 11:03 pm
    Twice in the past week, I have gone to the local Mexican grocery store for chuck roast and ended up with T-bone steak for $3.59 or $3.99. I do not understand the deal but three steaks in, the meat has been excellent.
  • Post #10 - December 9th, 2021, 12:47 am
    Post #10 - December 9th, 2021, 12:47 am Post #10 - December 9th, 2021, 12:47 am
    ronnie_suburban wrote:
    Evil Ronnie wrote:I found chicken legs at $0.79 Feet at $2.29. I don't get it... ( I do...sigh).

    Damn - that's crazy!

    =R=


    They had turkey wings today, somewhere in the 2.50 range. Feet are up to 3.29!
    If you aren't tasting, you aren't cooking.
  • Post #11 - December 9th, 2021, 12:55 pm
    Post #11 - December 9th, 2021, 12:55 pm Post #11 - December 9th, 2021, 12:55 pm
    jlawrence01 wrote:Twice in the past week, I have gone to the local Mexican grocery store for chuck roast and ended up with T-bone steak for $3.59 or $3.99. I do not understand the deal but three steaks in, the meat has been excellent.


    What grade are the T-bones?
    We cannot be friends if you do not know the difference between Mayo and Miracle Whip.
    Pronoun: That fool over there
    Identifies as: A human that doesn't need to "identify as" something to try to somehow be interesting.
  • Post #12 - December 10th, 2021, 1:08 am
    Post #12 - December 10th, 2021, 1:08 am Post #12 - December 10th, 2021, 1:08 am
    It is ungraded, sourced from Mexico. Locally in Arizona, most carnicerias and Mexican supermarkets carry a lot of Mexican beef.

    I will say that the meat trimmed a lot better than what you would get at the local Safeway and Kroger affiliate.

    All of the people I have been buying for love what they are getting and I think that the steaks are excellent. And when they are priced at a lower price than 80/20 ground beef at the major supermarkets, why not try it?

    ===================
    When we are shopping, we use a lot of different stores to source our groceries. As a general rule, we always shop when we are out and about. We never make special trips to groceries. If we need something between trips, we borrow from neighbors and they are willing because we are supplying them with free salvage produce from the Borderlands Food Rescue.

    In the coming weeks, we will be in Phoenix which means that we will stop at two Korean markets and stock up on ground pork and beef. We will also hit Nogales around Christmas time and we will pick up 10# bags of chicken thigh quarters for $0.39-0.49/ lb. the quality is not first rate as you will find broken legs and an occasional extra piece but since most of that chicken will be stewed or pulled, that is not a concern.

    I found a new salvage location in Tucson that sells a lot of the Starbucks coffee beans and ground coffee for $4 per pound. They have deals on twenty or thirty different premium and restaurant branded coffees.
  • Post #13 - December 10th, 2021, 12:47 pm
    Post #13 - December 10th, 2021, 12:47 pm Post #13 - December 10th, 2021, 12:47 pm
    I don't question the quality of the beef you're buying, but it's my understanding that all beef sold in grocery stores in the US, regardless of the source, must be USDA inspected. If it isn't labelled as choice, I'd assume it's the next level down, which in grocery stores around me would be labelled "USDA INSP" (inspected). I doubt a grocery store in the US could get away with selling beef that was not USDA inspected, but I don't know the rules about whether it has to be labelled as such.
    "Your swimming suit matches your eyes, you hold your nose before diving, loving you has made me bananas!"
  • Post #14 - December 10th, 2021, 1:10 pm
    Post #14 - December 10th, 2021, 1:10 pm Post #14 - December 10th, 2021, 1:10 pm
    It all has to be inspected but it doesn't have to be graded.
  • Post #15 - December 10th, 2021, 2:10 pm
    Post #15 - December 10th, 2021, 2:10 pm Post #15 - December 10th, 2021, 2:10 pm
    Katie wrote:If it isn't labelled as choice, I'd assume it's the next level down, which in grocery stores around me would be labelled "USDA INSP" (inspected). I doubt a grocery store in the US could get away with selling beef that was not USDA inspected, but I don't know the rules about whether it has to be labelled as such.


    I have a gut feeling you are assuming too much, and the unlabeled beef in the Chicagoland area is not one grade under Choice. I remember the days when Jewel and Dominick's proudly sold their "Select" grade beef for more than Choice grade at smaller markets. I'm guessing that Select grade would still be labeled as such, since it's a favorable buzz word. I'm guessing Cutter or Utility would not be labeled other than USGI. This is all just opinion after doing 15 minutes of research on beef grades about a decade ago. I found some REALLY nice lookin', thick cut, full of marbling, ungraded ribeyes at a local Mexican mkt, for a steal. Bought a bunch, froze a bunch. First cook - bad intestinal aftermath. 2nd cook a few months later, same exact instestinal aftermath. The rest went from freezer to the trash. My FIL came for a visit this spring, and treated us to USGI ribeyes he found at Tony's for a "deal he couldn't pass up." Those were fine, but I ate with real trepidation. Buyer beware - that's all.
    We cannot be friends if you do not know the difference between Mayo and Miracle Whip.
    Pronoun: That fool over there
    Identifies as: A human that doesn't need to "identify as" something to try to somehow be interesting.
  • Post #16 - December 10th, 2021, 4:31 pm
    Post #16 - December 10th, 2021, 4:31 pm Post #16 - December 10th, 2021, 4:31 pm
    seebee wrote:This is all just opinion after doing 15 minutes of research on beef grades about a decade ago.

    Thanks for the smile.
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #17 - December 10th, 2021, 4:52 pm
    Post #17 - December 10th, 2021, 4:52 pm Post #17 - December 10th, 2021, 4:52 pm
    “Although inspection for safety is mandatory, grading of meat and poultry, which is done by United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is voluntary. There is no federal requirement that meat or poultry be graded. If a meat company wants their meat to be graded, they must pay AMS for the service (inspection is federally funded). Some meat companies and grocery stores grade their meat themselves, and some sell it with no grade.”

    We often used ungraded strip loins for carving stations at Loews Anatole.”, Dallas. Some were choice or better, some lower. We also used cow tenders for carving stations. Why? Food cost. For center of the plate choice or better were SOP. This 1640 room convention hotel was a money making machine.

    ( …and nicely seasoned rare beef tenderloin on a soft roll with horseradish sauce will be great, regardless of the grade. After three cocktails, who can tell the difference?)
    If you aren't tasting, you aren't cooking.
  • Post #18 - December 10th, 2021, 9:55 pm
    Post #18 - December 10th, 2021, 9:55 pm Post #18 - December 10th, 2021, 9:55 pm
    There's an awful lot of ungraded (but inspected) beef about. Sometimes called "no roll." I know I've bought sliced rib eye cheap in Korean markets.
    What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
    -- Lin Yutang
  • Post #19 - December 10th, 2021, 11:53 pm
    Post #19 - December 10th, 2021, 11:53 pm Post #19 - December 10th, 2021, 11:53 pm
    Folks,

    The steaks were an $18 purchase at a supermarket that I have good experiences with their meat. Had the steak been tough, I would use it as stew meat as the price was so low.

    It is kind of like buying the "Grade B medium eggs" for $0.59 at the local Kroger affiliate. My last purchase of the eggs ended up being 6 white eggs and 6 brown eggs all of which were large or extra large. Seems that the eggs were repacked at the store.
  • Post #20 - December 21st, 2021, 10:33 am
    Post #20 - December 21st, 2021, 10:33 am Post #20 - December 21st, 2021, 10:33 am
    Good thing I don't need enoki mushrooms currently - prices are up 5X according to that writer.
    What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
    -- Lin Yutang
  • Post #21 - December 21st, 2021, 10:48 am
    Post #21 - December 21st, 2021, 10:48 am Post #21 - December 21st, 2021, 10:48 am
    JoelF wrote:Good thing I don't need enoki mushrooms currently - prices are up 5X according to that writer.

    LOL! Does anyone actually need them?

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #22 - December 24th, 2021, 12:05 pm
    Post #22 - December 24th, 2021, 12:05 pm Post #22 - December 24th, 2021, 12:05 pm
    I bought two boxes of Total cereal for $6.49 each, though buffered by a one dollar off coupon.

    General Mills prices will go up in mid-January with some as much as 20%.
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #23 - December 24th, 2021, 2:35 pm
    Post #23 - December 24th, 2021, 2:35 pm Post #23 - December 24th, 2021, 2:35 pm
    A 30-ounce jar of Hellman's mayonnaise is up to $6.00 pretty much across the board at all of the local grocery stores we shop. :shock:

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #24 - December 24th, 2021, 5:59 pm
    Post #24 - December 24th, 2021, 5:59 pm Post #24 - December 24th, 2021, 5:59 pm
    ronnie_suburban wrote:
    JoelF wrote:Good thing I don't need enoki mushrooms currently - prices are up 5X according to that writer.

    LOL! Does anyone actually need them?

    =R=

    Good one!
    If you aren't tasting, you aren't cooking.
  • Post #25 - December 25th, 2021, 11:25 pm
    Post #25 - December 25th, 2021, 11:25 pm Post #25 - December 25th, 2021, 11:25 pm
    ronnie_suburban wrote:A 30-ounce jar of Hellman's mayonnaise is up to $6.00 pretty much across the board at all of the local grocery stores we shop. :shock:

    =R=



    Marianos has Hellman's for $3.77 this week.
  • Post #26 - December 25th, 2021, 11:58 pm
    Post #26 - December 25th, 2021, 11:58 pm Post #26 - December 25th, 2021, 11:58 pm
    jlawrence01 wrote:
    ronnie_suburban wrote:A 30-ounce jar of Hellman's mayonnaise is up to $6.00 pretty much across the board at all of the local grocery stores we shop. :shock:

    =R=



    Marianos has Hellman's for $3.77 this week.

    That's a nice price. Not enough to get me into Mariano's but still, a nice price. I know you're not in Chicagoland. I wonder if it's the same price here, as well.

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #27 - December 26th, 2021, 2:18 am
    Post #27 - December 26th, 2021, 2:18 am Post #27 - December 26th, 2021, 2:18 am
    Straight from the Mariano's site based on the Crystal Lake store.

    With the current on-line ordering. prices are on the tip of your fingers.
  • Post #28 - December 26th, 2021, 6:08 am
    Post #28 - December 26th, 2021, 6:08 am Post #28 - December 26th, 2021, 6:08 am
    Hi,

    Woodman's has 30 oz jar of Hellmann's for $4.89. Jewel offers it at $4.49. Aldi's price is $4.15.

    Unfortunately, Fresh Farms does not offer online pricing at least on their website.

    Certainly, Hellmann's is more than it was one or two years ago. It might be interesting to periodically revisit these prices to see how they track.

    Regards,
    Cathy2
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #29 - December 26th, 2021, 7:02 am
    Post #29 - December 26th, 2021, 7:02 am Post #29 - December 26th, 2021, 7:02 am
    Target has 30 oz Hellman’s = $4.29
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #30 - December 26th, 2021, 4:46 pm
    Post #30 - December 26th, 2021, 4:46 pm Post #30 - December 26th, 2021, 4:46 pm
    Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

    Woodman's has 30 oz jar of Hellmann's for $4.89. Jewel offers it at $4.49. Aldi's price is $4.15.

    Unfortunately, Fresh Farms does not offer online pricing at least on their website.

    Certainly, Hellmann's is more than it was one or two years ago. It might be interesting to periodically revisit these prices to see how they track.

    Regards,
    Cathy2

    +


    I have two jars of Best Foods (identical to Hellman's) mayonnaise in the pantry that I purchased for $2.50 from the Kroger affiliate. Mayonnaise is generally on sale during the SUMMER holidays (Memorial Day to Labor Day). I try to stock up during the summer months as we make most of our salad dressings year around. When the national brands are not on sale. we buy Winco Foods.

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