{"id":9994,"date":"2023-01-13T11:26:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T11:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/?p=9994"},"modified":"2023-01-27T06:57:29","modified_gmt":"2023-01-27T06:57:29","slug":"cheapest-meat-to-smoke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/cheapest-meat-to-smoke\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheapest Meat to Smoke – 9 Tasty Options!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Generally, the most tender cuts of meat tend to be expensive. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t prepare tender meals with affordable meat cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for your next barbecue, you don’t have to break the bank to have a delicious plate. Instead, concentrate on using traditional, high-quality, low-cost cuts of meat. From experience, chicken is the cheapest meat to smoke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, I\u2019ll discuss the tastiest and cheapest cuts I\u2019ve smoked over the years and highlight the nine cheapest cuts of meat. We\u2019ll also examine a few meat smoking tips<\/a> to ensure you always get wonderful results.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"cheapest<\/figure>\n\n\n

9 Cheapest Meats to Smoke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Price Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n

Meat<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

Price (Avg)<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Whole Chicken<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

$1 - $2<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Turkey<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

$2<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Pork Shoulder<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

$2<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Pork loin<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

$2 - $4<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Ground Beef<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

$3<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Brisket<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

$3 - $7<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Lamb Breast<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

$4<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Chuck Roast<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

$5<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Pork Ribs<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

$6<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

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1. Whole Chicken<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, we’ll start with the cheapest cut of meat. Chicken holds up well in smokers and can be prepared in several delicious ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my opinion, I don’t think any other protein can provide these many options to chefs. Typically, the price of a whole chicken will be considerably less than other chicken cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, whole chicken costs $1 to $2<\/a> per pound, while the price of chicken cuts can range between $3-$5 per pound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most expensive cuts of whole chickens are the breasts. However, chicken thighs and wings are cheap cuts and work just as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, I\u2019m a huge fan of the versatility of whole chicken, and this bird gives me so many cooking options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro tip: You can remove the skin of the chicken thigh or breast for a leaner meal with a little fat cap.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Roasted<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

2. Turkey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Turkey is another affordable meat that tastes delicious when smoked. I particularly like smoking turkey breast, as it’s tender and flavorful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey is one of the best cuts of meat for smoking because it absorbs flavors and cooks consistently. You can also experiment with seasoning to make a unique platter of turkey for your taste preferences. Keep in mind that turkey costs $2<\/a> a pound on average.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Roasted<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

3. Pork Shoulder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pork shoulder has always been regarded as one of the most delicious and inexpensive cuts of meat for smoking. Taken from the upper shoulder of the pig, this cut of meat is simple to cook, and the natural sweetness makes this protein hard to drop.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pork shoulder is among the cheapest cuts of meat you can use to make roasts, pulled pork sandwiches, and other tasty recipes. Remember, pork shoulder costs less than $2 per pound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like pork ribs, the pork shoulder takes a long time to fully smoke. BBQers can expect to finish smoking a pound of pork shoulder in about 60 to 80 minutes<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Baked<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

4. Pork Loin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pork loin is another pork cut that is cheap to buy and easy to smoke. Pork loins typically sell at around $2 to $4<\/a> per pound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a flavorful meat cut that tastes divine when smoked, even with low to moderate seasoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use this cheap cut to serve your guests as a stand-alone meal or as a filling for sandwiches, including pulled pork sandwiches. In addition, pork loin cooks quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With pork loin, you should stop smoking at an internal temperature of about 145<\/a> degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll also need to smoke this piece of meat for about two hours<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n

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5. Ground Beef<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re going to have beef at your barbeque, ground chuck is one of the cheaper cuts of meat you can buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burgers are usually a good choice when hosting barbecues, and you can spice them up with tasty extras or toppings while still keeping the price down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid the leaner, more expensive ground beef, such as the top round and flank steak to save money. Bear in mind that a pound of ground beef typically costs around $3<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Hot<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

6. Brisket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beef brisket is a staple of smoked and barbecued cuisine. This meat is taken from the lower chest and belly of the steer. Beef brisket can be one of the toughest meats to cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beef brisket often ranges from $3 to $7<\/a> per pound. However, some brisket cuts cost as high as $20 per pound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beef brisket will benefit most from a lengthy, slow roast at 200\u2013210 degrees<\/a>. Ensure that you let the smoked brisket rest for around 30 minutes after smoking.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the tastiest results, I suggest you chop the flesh against the grain to prevent it from becoming tough and rubbery.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Sliced<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

7. Lamb Breast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the cut, lamb can be pricey. Popular lamb cuts like the leg, rack, and loin will cost more than other parts of the sheep meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the breast is a flavorful, less expensive alternative. Lamb’s breasts are a tasty and soft cut of the lamb because it is taken from the rib area, close to the lamb’s rack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walmart\u2019s lamb breasts cost roughly $4<\/a> per pound. However, you should find cheaper lamb breasts at your local butcher’s shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can buy the breast meat with ribs attached, or have them removed. Making lamb kebabs with veggies can be an affordable and creative dish for your guests or family.  Plus, smoking kebabs can feed more people at the gathering.      <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Grilled<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

8. Chuck Roast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like the chuck eye steak, the chuck roast comes from the shoulder of the cow (which is a heavily used muscle in the cow).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, you can expect the meat to be tough, and you need to cook the chuck roast under low temperatures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, I found that\u00a0the chuck roast tastes excellent when smoked slowly on low heat. This inexpensive cut comes out\u00a0of the oven juicy\u00a0and is jam-packed with tasty\u00a0flavors. Chuck roast typically costs around $5<\/a> per pound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n