Do you think that it is cheaper to buy a roast and cut it up for stew beef than to buy stew beef?

Question

Is the quality any different?

Answer 1

I've bought stew beef before and honestly, I learned my lesson and started buying chuck roasts and cutting them myself. The one or two times I've bought the stew meat already cut up, I found that it still needed trimming anyway, so it really wasn't much of a time saver. Also, I think it was different cuts of meat (the leftovers from cutting roasts) and I didn't like that. I prefer chuck, and by cutting up my own, I know I'm getting 100% chuck, not a little of this and a little of that, you know? You could go to your butcher's case and take a chuck roast and a package of stew beef and compare the price per pound on the labels. I'm willing to bet the stew beef is more expensive.

Answer 2

It depends on what you mean by "roast". If you buy a chuck roast, which is a cheaper cut to begin with, you'll probably save a little money (per pound) because the butcher didn't have to do the work, YOU did. And chuck is what "stew meat" is often made of.

If you're talking about a higher-quality roast, like a top round, a bottom round, an eye round or a loin roast, you shouldn't cut it up at all! Just roast it whole. The meat is already more tender, and it contains less internal connective tissue (etc), so it doesn't require long, moist cooking (like a stew) to make it easier to chew.

Answer 3

There are many types of Roast, most if cooked in a slow cooker will make good stew meat. I vote Roast being cheaper , unless theirs a sale on stew meat at the time.

Answer 4

I think we're missing the point of "Stewing", moist heat (liquid) for an extended period of time will turn your "roast" meat to mush. Stew meat has more connective tissue that holds the meat together during the cooking process resulting in firm but tender meat chunks. Stew meat is not expensive, save the Roast for company

Answer 5

Of course it's cheaper. The less processing the product has been through the cheaper it will be.

Go to the meat counter and look at the price of a 2 lb. roast. then look at the price of 2 lbs. of pre-cut stew beef.

Quality is exactly the same if not better for the roast.

Answer 6

If you're slow cooking meat, like in a stew, you never want to use the best cut (expensive) of meat. Slow cooking makes a cheaper cut just as tender as a premium piece of meat. This trick is just an easy way to save some money. The tip you mentioned is a way to save even more money by buying one piece of meat and cutting it into cubes yourself rather than buying the already cubed meat at the grocery store, which usually costs a little more.

Answer 7

I personally buy a roast that is on sale and cut it up myself.
This way I know for sure what I am eating, also I can control the amount of fat and grizzle that comes with cut up stew meat.

Answer 8

i made a beef stew the other day for 25 people and i bout the stew beef to marinate it myself. it cost about 40$ with the veggies and broth and meat put together. THAT'S CHEAP for 25 ppl

Answer 9

its cheaper and quality is a little different becuase of the processing but a beef is a beef and it will taste the same when you make it as a stew.

Answer 10

Yes! I find it much less expensive to buy chuck roasts on sale and cube them for stews. Also, I can trim excess fat as I cube the meat. :)