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| Author |
Message |
jep
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bulk meat?
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Feb 13 13:12 UTC 2006 |
I have a large freezer and a large family. We're interested in finding
places to buy meat in bulk in mid-Michigan; particularly chicken and
pork (specifically pork chops).
When I was a kid, my parents used to buy a side of beef. It kept us in
meat for months. My family doesn't eat a lot of beef but it seems it
ought to be possible to buy other meat in bulk, too.
We already buy extra when there's a sale at grocery stores. We've
never come close to filling up the freezer, though. With tax returns
coming, it seems like a good time to look into investing in larger
quantities.
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| 79 responses total. |
johnnie
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response 1 of 79:
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Feb 13 14:40 UTC 2006 |
The wife and I bought half a cow a yearandahalf ago. If you're in the
habit of buying the more expensive cuts of meat on occasion, it's a
pretty good deal. If (like us), your beef expenditures tend toward
burger and round steak when it's on sale, then you'll end up paying more
than you usually do (but you'll be eatin' better, plus you'll get fun
cuts you don't usually buy, like tail and tongue).
If you want to have some serious practical fun, and you live in an area
where it'd be feasible, you could raise your own cow/pig/sheep/chickens...
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mary
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response 2 of 79:
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Feb 13 15:03 UTC 2006 |
Unless you have a generator be prepared to experience higher than
necessary anxiety when the power goes out. Also, I tend to think
meat that is frozen for more than a couple of weeks takes on a
funky taste and texture. I prefer fresh, but I'm only cooking for
two or three.
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nharmon
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response 3 of 79:
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Feb 13 15:57 UTC 2006 |
It depends on how it is frozen. If you do what we do, and vacuum seal
the meat and then freeze it in a non-frost-free freezer, it can last years.
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jep
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response 4 of 79:
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Feb 13 16:31 UTC 2006 |
Clinton hasn't had a power failure for years aside from the one a few
years ago where power failed all over southern Michigan. Anyway, there
are 6 of us. We eat a lot. The rewards of buying in bulk outweight
the risks of losing a freezer full of food. But a generator is not a
bad idea. Thanks for the suggestion.
We live in town and can't raise our own food animals.
It's a new, non-frost free freezer.
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richard
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response 5 of 79:
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Feb 13 16:46 UTC 2006 |
jep is it deer hunting season there?
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jep
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response 6 of 79:
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Feb 13 16:57 UTC 2006 |
Nope. I don't hunt anyway. The only thing I know how to shoot is an
M-16, and the only target I know how to shoot is people. I don't want
a freezer full of vertical pork. Actually I am asking about how and
where to buy pre-butchered chicken in bulk. (And pig pork chops if
that can be done.)
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bru
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response 7 of 79:
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Feb 13 16:59 UTC 2006 |
There used to be a place just west of Clinton. Go past the preschool and bar
headed west, and it was on teh left side set far back from the road.
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klg
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response 8 of 79:
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Feb 13 17:09 UTC 2006 |
(I wonder if johnnieJohnny gets the front 1/2 of the cow or the back
1/2. Let me guess.)
Last summer in TO we saw the Kensington Mkt area where people used to
raise cows in their basements. (I probably shouldn't be giving keesan
any ideas.) It sounded o.k., if you don't mind a little TB.
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tod
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response 9 of 79:
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Feb 13 17:13 UTC 2006 |
Most homeowner's insurance covers food loss after a long power outage so I
wouldn't sweat it. Good luck finding a butcher, jep.
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nharmon
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response 10 of 79:
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Feb 13 17:32 UTC 2006 |
It would have to be a long power outage, as freezers can remain frozen
for up to a week (IIRC) without power. At best, you'd just have to keep
the thing shut during the power outage. At worst, you'd have a HUGE
feast to cook on the grill during the outage. Don't forget to invite me. 8D
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marcvh
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response 11 of 79:
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Feb 13 17:40 UTC 2006 |
You'd have to have a lot of food damaged in a power loss to meet the
typical deductable on homeowner's insurance, and you'd probably end up
with your premiums being hiked to cover the loss. I'd just self-insure
against such things.
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tod
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response 12 of 79:
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Feb 13 17:51 UTC 2006 |
re #10
How long will the food in my refrigerator and freezer remain cold enough to
prevent food borne illness?
It is important to keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed to prevent the
loss of cold air.
A fully loaded refrigerator may keep food fresh for about six hours.
A fully loaded freezer may keep food frozen for up to two days.
If any food in the refrigerator or freezer is warmer than 45 F, throw it out.
see:
http://www.metrokc.gov/HEALTH/disaster/electricity.htm
re #11
What is a typical deductible for refrigerated products coverage?
Homeowners can get a "refrigerated products" coverage specifically included
in their homeowners policy.
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marcvh
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response 13 of 79:
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Feb 13 18:57 UTC 2006 |
In my experience $500 is typical. The loss of some frozen food is unlikely
to be financially devestating to most people, so insuring against it is a bit
silly.
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tod
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response 14 of 79:
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Feb 13 19:33 UTC 2006 |
My experience has been that folks like Pemco or State Farm have refrigerated
products coverage that goes up to $200 or so and does not require a
deductible. This is good if you have a deep freezer, etc..
If a person doesn't keep alot of perishable foods in the house then it
wouldn't be worth the coverage, though.
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scholar
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response 15 of 79:
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Feb 13 20:22 UTC 2006 |
I'm a terrible person. :(
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tod
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response 16 of 79:
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Feb 13 20:25 UTC 2006 |
Use soap!
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johnnie
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response 17 of 79:
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Feb 14 01:26 UTC 2006 |
jep, your best shot is probably to look in the yellow pages under "meat
packers" or "meat wholsale".
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glenda
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response 18 of 79:
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Feb 14 05:25 UTC 2006 |
There is a small, local chain of meat stores in the Toledo/Sylvania area that
have excellent meat and the type of chicken/pork freezer packages that you
are probably interested in. I will call my sister and get the address(s)
phone info for you if you like. I can drive to two of the stores, but don't
think that I would be able to tell you how to get there.
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mcnally
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response 19 of 79:
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Feb 14 05:31 UTC 2006 |
I don't know that I'd feel totally safe importing meat from Ohio.. :-p
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glenda
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response 20 of 79:
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Feb 14 05:45 UTC 2006 |
We have purchased from them and my sister's family (including Mom who now
lives with her) buys from them, exclusively. We all seem to be doing ok other
than the normal type of stuff people our age are prone to suffer.
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jep
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response 21 of 79:
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Feb 14 13:05 UTC 2006 |
Toledo is a part of Michigan which is in Ohio.
Thanks, Glenda! Yes that is the kind of information I'm interested
in. Given an address and a computer, I can find any place. (Thank
you, Mapquest!)
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jep
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response 22 of 79:
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Feb 14 13:12 UTC 2006 |
We got started on this project over the weekend. We were in Sam's
Club, and they had a plaque which mentioned "case price" for pork
chops. We asked, and they were about $1 per pound less that way, so we
got a 60 pound box of pork chops. Except they were pork loins; 4 15
pound slabs of pork. We don't have our own butcher shop. We couldn't
use them. Fortunately we could return them.
Unfortunately, when I argued that pork loins are not pork chops and
pointed to their packages of pork chops which are labeled "pork chops"
(exactly like the sign), they claimed that pork loins (labelled "pork
loins") are pork chops and that's what they sell for "case price".
They would sell us a case of pork chops for $1 more per pound. That's
$2.48, which is about the same as we would pay at Busch's when they are
on sale. Not what we had in mind.
Beware of Sam's. Just because they say they sell it, does not mean
they sell it. I won't be renewing my membership.
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keesan
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response 23 of 79:
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Feb 14 13:30 UTC 2006 |
We buy 50 lb bags of beans and probably weigh 50 lb less per person than those
of you who eat a lot of meat, which is higher in calorie and low in the type
of fiber that is good for you.
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jep
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response 24 of 79:
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Feb 14 13:48 UTC 2006 |
I was going to add some standard caveats to my message, such as that we
know you don't eat meat, Sindi, and Rane doesn't believe in God. You
feel very strongly about your preferences. I respect that, as you
know. But it's not what I am interested in discussing in this item.
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