Why Are Americans Choosing Chicken Over Beef This Summer?

This summer, Americans are firing up the BBQ grills, but the percentage of Americans grilling burgers is dropping. It’s all about the cost of beef. 

According to axios.com,
‘Nielsen retail data shows ground beef prices up 14% year over year, while USDA data shows average fresh beef prices hit a record $9.64 per pound in April.
Chicken prices, meanwhile, have remained relatively stable. The average price for boneless skinless chicken breast was about $4.17 per pound in April, according to American Farm Bureau Federation analysis.’ 

What are your options? 

Washington shoppers are turning to chicken, and turkey is looking like a good value as well. Living here in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s not unusual for us to grill fish as a main source of protein. 

Demand for premium beef has not disappeared entirely, but it is definitely decreased. Which means if you are going to grill burgers, some creativity might be called for.  

Here’s an idea. 

When you’re creating your burger patties, try Mixing in mushrooms or Ground Turkey, or both. Also add seasoning to the mix. You can save a little money by buying frozen ground beef as opposed to fresh. 

One of my favorite things to do when I’m mixing ground beef for burger patties is to add some Lipton onion soup mix to the ground beef before making patties. Don’t forget to let them rest for about 10 minutes before you put them on the grill. 

Also, if you have to have beef, you might look at cheaper cuts of meat. Skirt steak is starting to become very popular. It’s very easy to marinate and cook on the grill. 

Pork is a possibility. 

If you want to try something different that’s Less expensive than beef try ground pork. The flavor is milder, and you might have to be a little more aggressive on the seasoning, but you will save some money. Cooking time might be just a little bit faster, but you really will need to be sure that your pork patty is cooked all the way through. Medium rare on a pork burger is not an option. 

Happy grilling this summer.