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Some things I have learnt over the years about buying meat at a reduced price. These may not be relevant to supermarkets near you, or they might be.

• Check the use by date, it may be today, or yesterday. Double check before you buy.


• Always go for meat as far back in the case as possible. Yes the meat at the back might not be reduced, but always try and get one that's not been sitting at the front of the case all day


• When you get home, open the packet, sniff the meat There's nothing worse than freezing meat and defrosting it only to find out it was off when you bought it.


• If it is off, take it back straight away. You should still have your receipt and the packaging which will make getting a refund easier.


• Freeze the meat as soon as possible. If you are not eating it tonight, it goes in the freezer. Freeze it in a container or plastic wrap. Label with what it is, and the date you put it in. I also add the amount which helps when I'm deciding what to do with it.

If you do these things, you'll have a happy experience with buying reduced meat. Otherwise, well, the smell of chicken soup cooking with off chicken has been enough to put me off chicken soup and off meat for 10 years now.