Food & Drink

Where to buy good-quality steaks for cheaper?

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  • Jul 19th, 2021 9:53 pm
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Jul 17th, 2021 1:37 am
BlackPiano [OP]
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Nov 20, 2017
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39 upvotes

Jul 17th, 2021 1:37 am

Where to buy good-quality steaks for cheaper?

Our family eats steak about 2-4 times a week so it's a big part of our grocery budget. I understand that good-quality steak isn't cheap. I'm just trying to make sure we're buying efficiently since we eat it so often.

We're looking for AAA or better (Prime, Wagyu, etc.) cause we love the marbling.

We've been buying from the big grocery stores each week based off who is having a deal. I would have thought that local butchers would be cheaper, but they're not! Almost always they're more expensive than the deals of the big grocery stores, even when the butcher is selling 5 pounds or some large bulk amount. I've tried to see if there is a difference in quality, but I haven't noticed any when comparing to the same grade of meat in the big grocery stores.

I've never tried buying a cow or something like that, because I haven't had good experiences with frozen steaks, the smell and taste has always been off to me. I've tried to follow proper defrosting procedure, but it still doesn't seem to come out the same, maybe i'm doing something wrong.

We live in the GTA, specifically the Vaughan/Richmond Hill/Markham area, if that matters.

So is there a cheaper way to buy good steaks?
20 replies
Jul 17th, 2021 7:31 am
PointsHubby
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Feb 7, 2017
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Eastern Ontario

Jul 17th, 2021 7:31 am

For decades we bought from the big name grocery stores …
Or local butcheries
Mostly buying Steaks when we saw them advertise a Sale

We constantly chasing the elusive cheap steak bargain

Then we joined Costco

Now we buy all our Steaks there

Costco isn’t always the cheapest option
But for us …
We prefer the consistency of having a great steak everytime vs a bad one from somewhere else

So it’s a small luxury in life … I am willing to pay more for

Haven’t had a bad steak from Costco ever

Saw steaks advertised here on RFD a month or two ago on sale … New Zealand Grass Fed
Went out and bought them … and then was thoroughly disappointed
viewtopic.php?p=34470960

So am back to Costco (should have never left )

We buy their AAA Strip Loins
Its about $ 50 to $ 60 for 3 big Steaks in a Pkg
So not cheap.
But oh so good. Nicely marbled. NO GRISTLE !!!

We used to buy Costco’s AAA Platinum Steaks that cost a bit more
But I haven’t seen them for about a year
The AAA regulars aren’t much different

The only downside to Beef @ Costco
Is they mechanically tenderize it … I really wish they would stop this practice
I think it’s totally unnecessary
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Jul 17th, 2021 7:45 am
Quentin5
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Jul 17th, 2021 7:45 am

This is my thread on the subject, which is a hybrid discussion/sales thread.
there-good-list-out-there-what-steak-cu ... d-2458629/

When i see sales i toss them on my thread but nothing good lately. Anything less than Top Sirloin i don't even bother posting it.

When you see deals stock up on them.
In fact in Rand McNally they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people
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Jul 17th, 2021 9:14 am
kirra
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Dec 11, 2010
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Toronto

Jul 17th, 2021 9:14 am

We usually buy the full bone in prime rib/sirloin/tenderloin when it's onsale at real canadian/costco/sobeys/loblaws etc, we trim and cut them into steaks/roasts and vacuum seal with a foodsaver before freezing. Don't notice any off tastes
+2
Jul 17th, 2021 10:07 am
sprung
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Jul 17th, 2021 10:07 am

Good and cheap rarely intersect. Good luck
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Jul 17th, 2021 12:36 pm
LNahid2000
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Jul 10, 2003
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Jul 17th, 2021 12:36 pm

Costco has AAA Striploin primals for $30 off this weekend. Saw a 6kg one for around $130 after discount yesterday, and $22/kg is pretty cheap for AAA striploin in the summer.
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Jul 17th, 2021 4:32 pm
gr8dlr
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Jul 17th, 2021 4:32 pm

2 - 4 times per WEEK is a lot.

"Love marbling" = watch your cholesterol, not healthy IMO depending on your portion sizes.
We're all bozos on the bus until we find a way to express ourselves...

Failure is always an option...just not the preferred one!
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Jul 17th, 2021 9:12 pm
thriftshopper
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SW corner of the cou…

Jul 17th, 2021 9:12 pm

gr8dlr wrote: ↑ 2 - 4 times per WEEK is a lot.
No if they are South American. Especially deep south South American.
Last edited by thriftshopper on Jul 18th, 2021 12:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Jul 17th, 2021 9:19 pm
REALBAUCE
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Jul 17th, 2021 9:19 pm

Eating steak four times a week, wow. What are the other meals?
+5
Jul 17th, 2021 9:33 pm
dubbers
Jr. Member
Jul 8, 2019
186 posts
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Jul 17th, 2021 9:33 pm

BlackPiano wrote: ↑ Our family eats steak about 2-4 times a week
Cholesterol levels probably through the roof!
+4
Jul 17th, 2021 9:46 pm
sickcars
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Jul 17th, 2021 9:46 pm

If you have not already try some picanha. You can buy a big slab of it usually around a pound & a half and then cut it into steaks, one of the most under rated pieces of meat around & very tender.
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Jul 17th, 2021 10:07 pm
blexann
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Mar 10, 2005
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Jul 17th, 2021 10:07 pm

Cheap and good doesn't exist

Farmboy
Highland Farms
Sobeys
Longos

In that order, I use the Flipp app and check for sales. This week Sobey's has AAA Sterling Silver Striploin Steaks for $14.99 if you get the family pack, $15.99 at the butcher. They are really good

My go to is normally Farm Boy or Highland Farm but they haven't had anything (AAA strips) on sale for quite some time.
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus
+5
Jul 17th, 2021 10:15 pm
BlackPiano [OP]
Newbie
Nov 20, 2017
74 posts
39 upvotes

Jul 17th, 2021 10:15 pm

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ For decades we bought from the big name grocery stores …
Or local butcheries
Mostly buying Steaks when we saw them advertise a Sale

We constantly chasing the elusive cheap steak bargain

Then we joined Costco

Now we buy all our Steaks there

Costco isn’t always the cheapest option
But for us …
We prefer the consistency of having a great steak everytime vs a bad one from somewhere else

So it’s a small luxury in life … I am willing to pay more for

Haven’t had a bad steak from Costco ever

Saw steaks advertised here on RFD a month or two ago on sale … New Zealand Grass Fed
Went out and bought them … and then was thoroughly disappointed
viewtopic.php?p=34470960

So am back to Costco (should have never left )

We buy their AAA Strip Loins
Its about $ 50 to $ 60 for 3 big Steaks in a Pkg
So not cheap.
But oh so good. Nicely marbled. NO GRISTLE !!!

We used to buy Costco’s AAA Platinum Steaks that cost a bit more
But I haven’t seen them for about a year
The AAA regulars aren’t much different

The only downside to Beef @ Costco
Is they mechanically tenderize it … I really wish they would stop this practice
I think it’s totally unnecessary
That’s a really good point. Buying a pack of steaks that turns out to be subpar is such a downer. I would pay a little more to have guaranteed great steaks.
+2
Jul 17th, 2021 10:18 pm
BlackPiano [OP]
Newbie
Nov 20, 2017
74 posts
39 upvotes

Jul 17th, 2021 10:18 pm

gr8dlr wrote: ↑ 2 - 4 times per WEEK is a lot.

"Love marbling" = watch your cholesterol, not healthy IMO depending on your portion sizes.
We test our cholesterol and they’re within normal limits. We avoid processed red meat: minimal bacon, ham, hotdogs, ground beef, etc.. IMO that’s the meat that is really bad for you in high quantities.
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Jul 17th, 2021 10:24 pm
BlackPiano [OP]
Newbie
Nov 20, 2017
74 posts
39 upvotes

Jul 17th, 2021 10:24 pm

blexann wrote: ↑ Cheap and good doesn't exist

Farmboy
Highland Farms
Sobeys
Longos

In that order, I use the Flipp app and check for sales. This week Sobey's has AAA Sterling Silver Striploin Steaks for $14.99 if you get the family pack, $15.99 at the butcher. They are really good

My go to is normally Farm Boy or Highland Farm but they haven't had anything (AAA strips) on sale for quite some time.
Flipp is great
+3
Jul 18th, 2021 10:08 am
gr8dlr
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Markham

Jul 18th, 2021 10:08 am

BlackPiano wrote: ↑ We test our cholesterol and they’re within normal limits. We avoid processed red meat: minimal bacon, ham, hotdogs, ground beef, etc.. IMO that’s the meat that is really bad for you in high quantities.
There are ppl who eat a lot of processed foods who might have ok cholesterol too.
...it's just not a good pattern of eating IMO.

Sometimes this health stuff is irreversible. And then the Doctor says monitor and watch everything you eat and don't eat this or that anymore.

Balance is the ticket.
We're all bozos on the bus until we find a way to express ourselves...

Failure is always an option...just not the preferred one!
+3
Jul 18th, 2021 12:30 pm
Macx2mommy
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Jan 2, 2015
2766 posts
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NOT centre of Univer…

Jul 18th, 2021 12:30 pm

We buy when on sale, which is usually NOT the summer. It usually cheaper in starting November to March. There is usually a great sale around the week before Thanksgiven, Xmas, and Easter on together tenderloin or prime rib. We usually buy enough for the ext sale, which means freezing, but we only have steaks or roasts a couple of times month on a average. We do pick up the occasional extra roasts when a decent deal such as the Costco deal right now.

We primarily buy tenderloins, strip loin, rib eye, and prime rib in the cyropacks. Then I break down myself into steaks, roast, and remaining cubes. I freeze on cookie sheet what we don’t use for the week, and then vacuum seal it. I find if tits not freezer burnt, it cooks fine and tastes close to fresh.

This week I picked up a Costco strips for $110. It will give about 11 steaks and some odd pieces for breakfast.

Side note: Ground beef is note any less healthy than steak. It’s just been ground, there are no chemicals added.
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Jul 19th, 2021 1:13 am
UrbanPoet
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Jan 27, 2004
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ONTARIO

Jul 19th, 2021 1:13 am

Macx2mommy wrote: ↑ We buy when on sale, which is usually NOT the summer. It usually cheaper in starting November to March. There is usually a great sale around the week before Thanksgiven, Xmas, and Easter on together tenderloin or prime rib. We usually buy enough for the ext sale, which means freezing, but we only have steaks or roasts a couple of times month on a average. We do pick up the occasional extra roasts when a decent deal such as the Costco deal right now.

We primarily buy tenderloins, strip loin, rib eye, and prime rib in the cyropacks. Then I break down myself into steaks, roast, and remaining cubes. I freeze on cookie sheet what we don’t use for the week, and then vacuum seal it. I find if tits not freezer burnt, it cooks fine and tastes close to fresh.

This week I picked up a Costco strips for $110. It will give about 11 steaks and some odd pieces for breakfast.

Side note: Ground beef is note any less healthy than steak. It’s just been ground, there are no chemicals added.
Thats the best RFD way! Breaking down those $5.99/LB prime ribs!

It get a bit overwhelming though. I usually only end up buying 2 per sale…
+2
Jul 19th, 2021 6:25 pm
death_hawk
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Aug 22, 2006
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Jul 19th, 2021 6:25 pm

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Then we joined Costco

Now we buy all our Steaks there

Costco isn’t always the cheapest option
If anything it's damn near the most expensive option.
Their quality is really nice, but that price....
Also about the only place you can get Prime beef.
The only downside to Beef @ Costco
Is they mechanically tenderize it … I really wish they would stop this practice
I think it’s totally unnecessary
That too. Expensive AND tenderized? Count me out.
That's why I typically only buy primals there. But not everyone wants 15lbs of steak.

To answer OP's question though.... I have no answer.
I like Costco's meat but it's not cheap. Grocery stores are shit, but they're cheap.
Tenderization is a factor (so Walmart is out, even if cheap)

Butcher is about the only thing I can recommend, but this isn't cheap either.

SnowyDumpling wrote: ↑ Be cautious of "Mechanically tenderized" steaks.
Yeah this is getting popular. It's not a massive issue unless you have health issues/old/young/etc but it's still a pretty big issue. Personally I generally refuse to buy tenderized steaks unless they're cheap.
Do you not have anything else to do rather than argue with strangers on the internet
Nope. That's why I'm on the internet arguing with strangers. If I had anything better to do I'd probably be doing it.
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