Stock Your Freezer: Pork Under $2/lb at Giant and Meijer

It is a good week to be buying pork. Ribs, chops, tenderloins, and loins are on sale at nearly every store on the list, and some of the prices are genuinely low. If your freezer has any room left, this is the week to fill it.

This Week's Best Deals

St. Louis-Style Pork Ribs at Giant, $1.99/lb with digital coupon (with $25 purchase). That is about as low as ribs go anymore. You will need the digital coupon and a $25 order, but that is not hard to reach. Pick up a couple of slabs and freeze what you do not cook this weekend.

Perdue Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs at Kroger, $0.99/lb. A dollar a pound for chicken thighs is old-fashioned pricing, and thighs are the most forgiving cut in the kitchen. Braise them, bake them, toss them in a slow cooker with some of those Bush's Best Baked Beans (also on sale at Kroger, buy 2 get 1 free) and you have a real meal for very little money.

Pork Loin Assorted Chops at Meijer, $1.49/lb. This is the kind of price that makes stocking up worthwhile. Pork chops freeze well, and at this price you can afford to grab a full family pack.

California Green Grapes at ALDI, $1.29/lb. Grapes have been expensive this summer, so $1.29 a pound stands out. ALDI also has plums and nectarines at $1.49/lb and multicolored peppers for $2.49 for a 3-pack, making the produce section worth a stop this week.

Publix Boneless Pork Loin Chops (or Roast), BOGO. Publix runs a good BOGO, and a whole boneless pork loin roast bought this way gives you a lot of options. Slice it thin for quick pan-searing, or roast it low and slow with some sweet potatoes, also on sale at Publix for $1.29/lb.

Quick Breakfast and Lunch Ideas

Eggs and English Muffins. Giant has Thomas' English Muffins on a buy one get two free deal this week, and Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs are $4.99 for a dozen. Toast a muffin, fry an egg, add a slice of the Kraft shredded cheese that is 2 for $5.00 at Giant, and breakfast is done in five minutes.

Chicken Salad Sandwich. ALDI's Park Street Deli Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad is $4.99 for 16 ounces. Pile it on ALDI's 12 Grain Wide Pan Bread at $2.69 and you have a solid lunch without any cooking at all. That loaf of bread will last you through the week.

Deli Turkey on Hoagie Rolls. Publix has their Honey Maple Turkey Breast sliced fresh in the deli for $7.99/lb, and the Publix Bakery's Hoagie Rolls are $3.99 for a 4-count. Simple, good, and no stove required.

The full meal plans built around this week's sales are ready to go over on MyMenuPlans.com, with everything organized by store and sorted to help you get the most out of what is actually on sale. Take a look and see what works for your week. A little planning at the start saves real money at the register, and I am glad to help you get there.