Ok, this may seem super basic to some, but it's been a revelation for me. I make lunch every day, and love sandwiches with deli meat. I'm really frugal and tend to make a lot of my food from scratch (like bread), and deli meat has always been a not-insignificant grocery cost. This week, instead of buying my ham and turkey, I did this:
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Ham--bought a half a ham (smallish size)--less than half the cost per pound as deli ham. Sliced it all thin, divided into freezer bags, froze most. When I finish what's in the fridge, I just pull out one of the freezer bags and let the ham thaw. Ready to eat!
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Turkey--I bought a bunch of chicken breasts for cheap (to me, deli turkey and chicken taste basically the same). Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with seasoning, put in a baking dish with some water in the bottom. Cook at 325 for 45 min to an hour. Let cool, slice thin. Super moist and tasty. I just made enough for a week, but I'm sure you could make more at once and freeze the extra.
Deli meat ranges from $5-$8/lb, and is usually closer to $7/8 where I'm at. My half ham was around $3/lb, and chicken was $2/lb. Plus, this meat is healthier, has fewer additives, and you can customize it. Win win!
Cross-posting to /r/eatcheapandhealthy
January 27, 2017 at 08:52PM