The DOJ is now intestigating beef prices at several major grocery store chains. Here are what those prices are on different types of beef.
According to Newsweek, the Department of Justice is looking into 7 grocery store chains over recent jumps in beef prices. Here’s a look at each store under investigation and what it’s charging for beef right now.
For every store, I’m sharing the price of its cheapest ground beef, a ribeye steak, and one roast. These may not be a perfect apples-to-apples comparison, but they give you a good snapshot. You can decide for yourself whether these prices are higher than they need to be.
Kroger
- Kroger 73/27 Ground Beef Roll, 1 lb: $6.79
- Choice Boneless Ribeye Steak: $19.99/lb
- Choice Chuck Roast: $9.99/lb (or $6.99/lb this week with a digital coupon)
Publix
- Publix Market 75/25 Ground Beef: $9.39/lb
- Choice Boneless Ribeye Steak: $26.59/lb
- Publix Boneless Chuck Roast: $9.97/lb
Walmart
- Fresh 73/27 Ground Beef Roll: $24.94 for 5 lbs ($4.99/lb)
- Choice Boneless Ribeye Steak: $18.97/lb
- Choice Chuck Roast Family Pack: $8.27/lb
Albertsons
- Signature SELECT 85/15 Ground Beef Value Pack: $6.49/lb
- Choice Boneless Ribeye Steak: $20.99/lb
- Choice Chuck Roast: $10.99/lb
ALDI
- 73/27 Ground Beef: $4.29/lb
- Grass-Fed Ribeye Steak: $12.99/lb
- Choice Chuck Roast: $6.99/lb
Costco
- Kirkland 88% Lean Ground Beef: $5.99/lb
- Choice Boneless Rib Eye Steak: $17.99/lb
- Choice Chuck Roast: $7.99/lb
Giant (owned by Ahold Delhaize USA)
- 80/20 Ground Beef: $4.99/lb (on sale this week)
- Nature’s Promise Grass-Fed Ribeye Steak: $20.95/lb
- Nature’s Promise Grass-Fed Chuck Roast: $10.66/lb
Beef Prices on the Rise
Over the last several months, I’ve seen plenty of comments on NewsBreak from people frustrated with beef prices. They say they can’t afford it anymore. It’s not our imagination: beef prices are on the rise. Look at the photo above, which I took at Walmart in January 2022. A ribeye steak cost $10.97/lb back then. That same steak now sells for $18.97/lb, quite the increase. I also recorded a ribeye steak at Costco costing $12.99/lb in January 2022, and it now runs $17.99/lb.
I used to love buying chuck roasts because I could get one for $5 a pound and use it for pot roast. The cheapest ones I can find today cost around $7 a pound. Kroger stores regularly put them on sale, sometimes buy one get one, so I stock up then, but I still pay more than I did a few years ago.
As for ground beef, I looked up past receipts on my Costco account. A few years ago, ground beef cost $3.99 a pound, and now it costs $5.99.
Grass-Fed Ribeyes Cheaper?
There were two stores, Giant and ALDI, where the grass-fed ribeye steaks were actually the cheapest ribeye steaks in the store. I am used to seeing grass-fed beef being more expensive. What these two steaks had in common is that they were both vacuum-sealed and were imported from other countries.
While not true with every vacuum-sealed steak, I find that the imported ones nearly always come in vacuum-sealed packages. So at the very least if you are looking for U.S. beef and see a vacuum-sealed package, make sure you are checking the origin information on the packaging.
How to Save Money on Beef
- Buy in bulk if you have the freezer space. Larger packages usually cost less per pound.
- Buy whole cuts of beef and cut them yourself at home. Costco regularly stocks whole boneless ribeyes, tenderloins, and strip steaks, among others. You can also save by buying roasts and cutting steaks from them.
- Pick the cheaper, tougher cuts and slow cook or sous vide them until they turn tender.
- Check the clearance or markdown section if your store has one (Kroger stores do). Cut that beef the same night, or wrap it up and freeze it for later.
- Skip pre-cut items like beef stew cubes and stir-fry strips. Buy roasts and steaks and do the cutting yourself.
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