THE BEST BARGAINS IN THE SUPERMARKET

[MARISKANY]

We are all looking for bargains in this current economic climate and some can be found in our local supermarkets. My top two are country spare ribs and the 14 oz. can of crushed tomatoes.

What are yours?

[enbell]

I go for the $1 bags of bruised and slightly overripe produce at the local stands in our area. They are a great find and even if I have to immediately toss some of the contents I still come out ahead. I also love them because they force me to try things I might otherwise not buy.

[shanagain]

I buy 10lb bags of chicken leg quarters for $5.99/.59 per lb, separate the drum from the thigh, and freeze in ziplocs. From gumbo to chicken & dumplings to stock to plain baked chicken - they're always in the freezer, and rock-bottom cheap.

[malibumike]

One of the most versitile cuts of meat is boneless skinless chicken breast and when the supers put it on sale for $1.99/lb it is a very good deal.

[Sharuf]

When I find them on sale, I load up on those little 8oz cans of tomato sauce. Also, I watch for S&W canned beans of various sorts, especially garbanzos to have at the ready for hummus efforts.

There is a not-so-local market that has bulk bins with nicely priced grains, legumes, etc. I stock up whenever I get over there.

Cabbage is very versatile and can last a long time in the fridge.

[Soup]

excellent points: Big fan of bulk packages of beans, lentils and rice. Often buy beans and lentils in 10 lb bags and 25lb bags for rice. have airtight containers from some container stores and they last a fair long time. take me 6 monts to a year to use all the beans (keep about 4 to 5 varieties around).

love cabbage and I also buy a lot of fruit and veggies in season. The ethnic markets, I find the best deals.

[enbell]

Out of curiosity, what do you consider to be the on-sale price for those cans of beans?

[Sharuf]

Anything considerably under a buck.

[beachmouse]

Publix's rotating buy one-get one offerings. They have a fair number of products in that promotion that seem to never otherwise go on sale.

[Harters]

This morning - two packs of soft fruit for £3 @ Sainsbury. Choice of strawberry, blackberry, cherry and something else that I've forgotten

[BobB]

Soft fruit? What's that on the western shore of the Atlantic?

[Harters]

Bob

Please re-read my post - you'll see it's already explained.

But, by way of further confusion for you, "soft fruit" is different from "top fruit" :-)

John

[BobB]

Just the fruit itself then? The term is not used over here (or if it is, only regionally), I thought it might be some sort of fruit paste or other preparation.

[Harters]

Yep. Just a generic description of that type of, erm, soft fruit. Royal Horticultural Society defines it as fruit grown on bushes or canes (basically berries and currants)

BTW, "top fruit" = fruit grown on trees like apple, pears, cherries and the like.

[phofiend]

Funny, I interpreted it to be that "soft fruit" was past its prime and "marked down for quick sale" and "top fruit" was the fresh stuff.

[BobB]

Not to be overly persnickety, but your original post mentioned both berries and cherries - wouldn't that then be a mix of soft & top? Or more accurately, "small roundish fruit"?

[Harters]

The RHS includes cherries as "soft fruit" not "top".

We're British - please don't expect logic. :-0

[aggiecat]

Here in College Station TX, at our local HEB, they have chicken pieces; split breasts, thrighs and legs for $1.00/lb. Our local Kroger just ran a special for Bing cherries for the same $1.00/lb What a deal!