Noah left a great tip in the comment section of the What’s on Sale in May post the other day and I wanted to make sure everyone read it because it was such a great tip!
Here is what Noah had to say:
“I just discovered this weekend that if you buy a boneless ham at the grocery store, first take it to the meat department. They will slice/shave it for you {I got mine sliced for free} and you can then use it for lunch meat. Ham freezes well. We bought a 3.5 pound boneless ham for $3.99 a pound which was a savings of almost $2.00 a pound from the pre-sliced deli meat.”
Have YOU tried this before? I’m going to totally do this the next time I purchase a ham.
Awesome tip Noah. Thanks!
~Mavis
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Melissa W. says
Another good tip is that the meat departement will usually grind meat for you … for example you could by one of there roasts or flank steaks when on sale and grind it into hamburger (better than the stuff that’s pre-ground)
Brandy @ The Prudent Homemaker says
I have had the butcher cut a bone-in ham for me into steaks when they are on sale for .67 a pound at Christmas. Unfortunately that store closed down and the other stores won’t do it anymore for me unless they have two cutters (machines) at their store, and they don’t.
You can also buy boneless lunch meat from Sam’s Club and take it home and cut it yourself on a meat slicer. We used to do that, but we now cut cooked turkey and ham on the slicer for even less per pound (I buy them in November/December and stock up for the year) and we use that for sandwiches, so lunch meat is less than $1 a pound at my house, even after taking out the cost for the bones.
Susan says
Sometimes the Ribeye steaks at Safeway are about 2″ thick. I buy them when they are on sale. I have them cut them in half so they are the thin cut. So you get twice as many.
If you buy the thin cut prepackaged, they are usually $1 more a lb!
Susan says
Another grocery store money saving tip:
You can buy a cake right off ythe shelf – or discount area- and they will write whatever you want on the top for FREE! Just bring it to the bakery.
I have done this at both Fred Meyer and QFC. Sometimes you only want a small-ish cake! And no need to preorder.
Kathy says
I’ve been doing this for years. The butcher will do it at most stores, if they aren’t too busy. I was told at my local grocery that if too many people are in the store, they get slammed with folks wanting meat cut to order. So I go very early in the day and have no problems at all.
Linda M says
I have done this for a long time….I usually call ahead and tell them the size I want and the price their ad gives. They are always happy to do this as I give them a day or a few hours to take care of it and they can do it at their convenience.
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I also do the same thing with a whole pork loin. I have them break it down how I want it. If I want roasts, chops or tenderized. It is always free.
But be sure to thank them….it is a little extra for them and I know they appreciate being acknowledged.
Susan says
I always thank anyone who does anything for me! 🙂
Helen in Meridian says
Last week when Albertsons had London Broil for $1.99 a lb, I had them grind up 10# of steak into ground beef and freezer wrap it for me. This week they have their tomato diced, stewed several ways, and the one like Rotel for .39 automatically for your first 6. You can go thru and buy more at 6 a time. This is so reasonable to stock your tomato sauce, chopped, stewed pantry for .39 a can.
Susan says
That is an excellent price for tomatoes!!
Tina says
Interesting. I worked for a grocery store deli for years while in college and it was against our policy to slice bulk lunch meats. Might be a store to store policy.
Darlene says
Winco deli will do this. They will also slice bricks of cheese for you, and any other “cooked” meat like pastrami, cooked turkey breast, etc. Winco rocks!
Susan says
LOVE my local Winco, too! 🙂
Sheila Smith says
Ours local stores will cut it too. With the boneless ham, I have them do enough for our family approx 3/8 inches thick for grilling too. Add a bit of my dads maple syrup when you flip it and a pineapple ring = no complainers at dinner time.
Sharon says
Safeway stores will slice ham for you in their meat departments. Tell them to slice it “paper thin” and it’s the same as the deli departments. I learned that several years ago when I was waiting to get a pound of shrimp behind someone that was having boneless hams sliced for a pancake breakfast. When boneless ham goes on sale it is a real bargain. Sometimes you get a clerk or butcher that isn’t terribly willing, but they will all do it.
Holly Burnham says
How do you know which hams have been pre-cooked….I would love to do this.
Susan says
If you look on the wrapper, it will say.
Joanna says
Mavis, another tip:
When our local grocery store has their whole roaster chickens BOGO free, I grab 2 and take them to the meat counter and have the butcher chop the bird up for me. Not only will they chop it into pieces but they will re-package it for me nice and neat, and slap the Buy One, Get One Free sticker backin top. I do this each time they have a sale on the whole birds, and never have to deal with it at home–each large bird makes 2-4 meals for our family.
pat Lewis says
I have had both done for years- slicing a boneless ham in the meat dept as well as having them slice a $1.55/lb boneless pork loin up into chops and roast at the same time that boneless chops are being old from their meat case for $4/lb!!! Another customer was amazed to see this done for me and when I showed her the cost difference, she got really excited and “high-fived” me!!! Another shopper taught!!!
wendy says
I always have the butcher mince my meat, I then know what is in it, he also bones legs of lamb, and once I made a stuffing and took it to him and asked if he would roll a pork with my stuffing, it was no trouble. You just have to ask, but try when they aren’t so busy. I haven’t had a ham sliced though but you have given something to think about.
Shirley Kelly says
I am looking for a good buy on Ham. Does anyone know of any specials? Thanks!
Tanja says
All of the grocery stores in my town have a 5 for $25 special on meat items and some side items. I try to look for the boneless hams ( which sometimes they have and sometimes they don’t) and do this very thing by having them sliced. Most of the hams come out to be 2 to 3 lb. so they come out around $1.66 to $2.50 a lb.. If I don’t get them sliced at the store, I will cube some up for ham and beans later or any other dish requiring ham.
tom says
You can do this if you want, but asking the deli to slice your non-deli groceries is a good way to make the deli department hate you