meat in a tube

[jenfur]

We use a lot of ground beef and it can get expensive. Usually the sales are for the tubes, and Sam's usually has huge tubes for really cheap. So far, I just haven't been able to bring myself to buy it that way. Why? Because my mom never did. So, am I making a mistake? Is meat in a tube just as good/fresh?

 

[Dashzap]

I have never bought it either. With all the ground beef recalls, I tend to stick to the high end ground beef.

 

[ajh88]

Just the thought makes me queasy. I'm sure in general it is OK, but I was raised on "fresh" beef and I just can't change it. I just have to wait until it's on sale and stock up...

I suppose it's worth a shot though. I finally broke down and bought the bag of frozen chicken breasts because it had been so long since chicken was on sale.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I have never bought it either. With all the ground beef recalls, I tend to stick to the high end ground beef.

Ditto. I'm a thrifty gal, but try to get my ground beef at a smaller grocer where they grind it themselves. It's not cheap (though not a whole lot more than regular grocery prices). Health is something I try not to gamble with.

I do stretch it as much as I can- either less meat in a casserole or do half and half with rice for tacos...

 

[Sethsmom]

It seems like my mom and dad may have bought it many moons again. We never got sick but I do not remember hearing of all the problems years ago. I can't bring myself to though. I like to see what it looks like and I'm concerned with meat bourne illnesses so I doubt I will ever buy it. Just how long has it been packaged? Just too many unanswered questions for me.

 

[canadianmom2three]

I'm with you there, I am VERY frugal about groceries, but one thing I can't be cheap on is meat....I will buy a cheaper cut, or buy less meat in general before I will buy meat from the discount grocery, and despite the cheap prices, I cannot bring myself to buy ground meat in a tube. Raw meat in general makes me a little queasy at the best of times, after seeing a couple of those 20/20 exposee's on supermarket meat practices I am very very picky about what I am buying in terms of fresh meat.
I'd rather eat canned ham confused3 the grossest fresh meat alternative I can think of) for a week than buy questionable meat.

 

[Sethsmom]

I finally broke down and bought the bag of frozen chicken breasts because it had been so long since chicken was on sale.

For some reason, I prefer to buy the frozen boneless skinless breast and thighs when they are on sale.

I'm scared of fresh chicken.

 

[happily single]

I broke down last year and bought a "tube" at my local Shaw's last year. it was HORRIBLE. I guess I didn't read the package first, because it tells you to let the meat sit at room temp. (I beleive) to make the brownness of the meat turn to red. Besides opening a tube of brown (yuck) meat I remember there being a lot of "stuff" like white hard something and a lot of fat. I ended up throwing out the tube since I couldn't find anything I would eat in the entire tube

 

[MKCP5]

We use a lot of ground beef and it can get expensive. Usually the sales are for the tubes, and Sam's usually has huge tubes for really cheap. So far, I just haven't been able to bring myself to buy it that way. Why? Because my mom never did. So, am I making a mistake? Is meat in a tube just as good/fresh?

WOW!!!! I thought I was the only one who was tubeophobic!!!!
It is cheaper but is grosses me out!!!!

 

[delmar411]

I've bought it once. Let's just say it was so gross we threw it away. It had little white things all throughout it and I have no idea what it was but never again!

 

[minnieluvzmickey]

We eat deer............don't have to worry about recalls..........you can kill and process it yourself............very cheap and safe.

sorry Bambi

 

[luvmy3]

I'm curious, what is the meat in the tube? I have never heard of it before. Is it frozen or is it in the meat section of the supermarket.

 

[TifffanyD]

I've bought turey meat in the tube and it works ok for tacos and hamburger helper. But now I've found I can get purdue for 1.99 a lb at BJ's all the time so I just get that

 

[mickeyfan2]

Those meat tubes are the ones always involved in the meat recalls. I will not eat that meat.

 

[summerrluvv]

I've never seen meat in a tube. Maybe it's a regional thing?

 

[tar heel]

No, I only buy fresh ground beef. I also don't buy meat-sold-as-fresh from Target and Walmart since they don't have butcher shops, especially since I noticed that the "fresh" stew beef was enhanced with a sodium solution. Yuck. I'm not a fan of those frozen chicken breasts for the same reason.

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

I'm curious, what is the meat in the tube? I have never heard of it before. Is it frozen or is it in the meat section of the supermarket.

Located in the meat section, not frozen.

It is "tube shaped" with a plastic wrapper, kind of looks like an elongated water balloon.

Just like you would find say Bob Evans (or other brands) sausage presented. Usually wrapped in 1 pound amounts.

 

[canadianmom2three]

For some reason, I prefer to buy the frozen boneless skinless breast and thighs when they are on sale.

I'm scared of fresh chicken.

This thread is a riot - who knew that there were so many people who not only love disney, but fear raw meat....I have a total aversion to fresh chicken too, I don't know why, but I always think that frozen is better, and even then, I usually err so far on the side of caution, that the chicken ends up being cooked to beyond the point of tasty anyway...

 

[Mic]

My favorite way to buy lean ground beef is to purchase a whole sirloin tip when it goes on sale for @$2 a pound, and have the meat dept. at my local grocery store grind it up for me. It is great for anything but hamburgers...it's too lean and they fall apart! Unfortunately, sirloin tip has not been on sale for MONTHS! I personally do not have a problem with purchasing the large tubes of ground beef at Sam's Club. I buy the 10% fat tube for about $20 each for 9-10 lbs. I believe the price went up to $2.29 a pound, which is still a dollar cheaper per pound than my local grocery store. The nearest Sam's is a 45-minute drive for me, and I usually go once every 3-4 weeks. The tube is "clear", unlike at the grocery store's tube of beef. And I have personally watched the Sam's workers put the tubes out. They are frequently out of them, so I know other folks are buying ground beef this way. Once I get home, I divide the tube into 3-lb. Ziploc freezer bags and place them in the freezer. To prevent illness, I cook all ground beef well before using.

 

[mickeyfan2]

My favorite way to buy lean ground beef is to purchase a whole sirloin tip when it goes on sale for @$2 a pound, and have the meat dept. at my local grocery store grind it up for me. It is great for anything but hamburgers...it's too lean and they fall apart!

I press the lean meat into burgers. I freeze them on a cookie sheet and put then in a bag. I cook them frozen and they do not fall apart.