What are some cheap types of meat that are suitable for a stir fry? [closed]

What are some cheap types of meat that are suitable for a stir fry? [closed] - Crop male stirring tasty meatballs in pan while preparing lunch against smiling female beloved at home

I'd like to start purchasing more meat from organic farming for my stir-frys, but the price level for high-tier cuts like chicken breast is almost unpayable, so I'd like to look into alternatives.

I don't care about which animal the meat is from, and it doesn't need to taste perfectly good or be 100% tender. What would be some cheap options that can reasonably be used in a stir-fry?



Best Answer

The problem with a lot of cheap cuts is that they are not really suitable for stir frying or other short cooking methods because they are less tender, more muscular, more sinewy. Instead, cheap cuts from e.g. beef often end up in pot roast dishes, where they can soften up and become really good.

That being said, a few good options for stir fry meats are, in my opinion:

  • chicken thighs, i.e., dark chicken meat, which also usually stays juicier than breast. I can get them at my local supermarket, de-boned, in free-range quality, for quite a low price. Need to do a little cleanup usually, but nothing too bad.
  • cutlets (schnitzel in German) from beef, veal or pork: tenderize them a bit with a meat mallet, then cut in strips across the grain
  • ground beef: while it's not whole meat, you can cook ground beef with a little bit of oil on medium-high meat to get the water out, then brown it in it's own fat and a little oil, then finally add your veggies and other ingredients for a "fine grained" stir fry, so to speak
  • other cuts of beef: Kenji López-Alt covers cheap stir fry cuts from beef beautifully here



Pictures about "What are some cheap types of meat that are suitable for a stir fry? [closed]"

What are some cheap types of meat that are suitable for a stir fry? [closed] - Fried Chicken on White Ceramic Plate
What are some cheap types of meat that are suitable for a stir fry? [closed] - Hamburger and Fries Photo
What are some cheap types of meat that are suitable for a stir fry? [closed] - Photo of Steak and French Fries on Gray Plate



Quick Answer about "What are some cheap types of meat that are suitable for a stir fry? [closed]"

  • chicken thighs, i.e., dark chicken meat, which also usually stays juicier than breast. ...
  • cutlets (schnitzel in German) from beef, veal or pork: tenderize them a bit with a meat mallet, then cut in strips across the grain.


What meats are good for stir fry?

Most tender beef cuts, such as sirloin, tri-tip, ribeye, top loin (strip), tenderloin, shoulder center (Ranch Steak), shoulder top blade (Flat Iron) and shoulder petite tender, can be cut into strips for use in stir-fry recipes.

What is the most inexpensive cut of beef?

11 low cost beef cuts for budget friendly meals
  • top round steak (aka london broil) The London Broil is a thick and versatile cut. ...
  • top round roast. ...
  • sirloin tip steak. ...
  • eye of round steak. ...
  • bottom round steak. ...
  • bottom round roast. ...
  • Arm chuck roast. ...
  • top blade steak.


What is choice beef for stir fry?

What Cut of Beef Is Best For Beef Stir-Fry? Flank steaks are the most popular choice for making a stir-fry. However, you can also use sirloin steak, skirt steak, Denver steak, or even beef chuck. Beef chuck steak is the most economical choice, but it does require some extra trimming.

What is the most tender beef to fry?

Sirloin is a boneless and tender cut of beef that is perfect for pan-frying.



How to tenderise \u0026 marinate beef for prefect stir fry like in Chinese restaurant




More answers regarding what are some cheap types of meat that are suitable for a stir fry? [closed]

Answer 2

Chicken breast is popular in Western countries because:

  1. It can be cut in large portions with no bones
  2. It has a high protein to fat ratio (white meat), which is perceived as more healthful.

Restricting just to chicken, the solution is to buy dark meat parts that have bones: thighs and drumsticks. Where I shop in the USA, the per-unit price of boneless chicken breast is around 3-4 times that of drumsticks. There is some waste with the bones, and you have to cut the meat off the bones yourself, but drumsticks are much cheaper. My personal preference for a stir fry is chicken thigh, which is intermediate in price.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Gary Barnes, Terrance Barksdale, Jonathan Borba, Kasumi Loffler