Supermarket smackdown: hunt for the cheapest BBQ chow

Memorial Day is upon us, along with the inevitable pre-holiday hunt for  BBQ provisions. Good news, Brokesters: we just found out that grocery store prices in NYC are actually cheaper than in the rest of the country. Team Brokelyn is here to help you maximize those savings. We’ve scoured grocery stores across the borough and compiled a price index to find which have the best (and worst) prices for your outdoor feasts. We concentrated on the basic stuff here from buns to beers. Here are the results from our price scouts:

BURGERS AND DOGS
Bubba Burgers,1/3 lb patties
Highest Price: Key Food (borough wide) $11.99
Lowest Price: Pioneer Food Stores (Bed Stuy) $5.99

Others:
Pathmark (Atlantic Center): $9.99
Target (Atlantic Center): $10.39
Foodtown (Williamsburg): $9.99
Food Bazaar (Bushwick): Not in stock
Food Bazaar (Prospect Heights): Not in stock
Met Food Market (Prospect Heights): Not in stock
Compare Foods (Bed-Stuy): Not in stock

Oscar Meyer Beef Franks, 10 ct. package
Highest Price: Pioneer Food Stores (Bed Stuy) $5.49
Lowest Price: Tie! Food Bazaar (Prospect Heights)/Met Foods (Prospect Heights): $2.99

Others:
Pathmark (Atlantic Center): $5.29
Target (Atlantic Center): $4.04
Foodtown (Williamsburg): $2.99 (with club card only)
Key Food (Park Slope):$5.29
Key Food (Greenpoint): $5.29
Compare Foods (Bed-Stuy): $4.49

Boca Burgers, original vegan patties, box:
Highest Price: Foodtown (Williamsburg) $5.99
Lowest Price: Compare Foods (Bed-Stuy): $4.29

Others:
Pathmark (Atlantic Center): $5.29
Key Food (Park Slope):$5.19
Key Food (Greenpoint): $4.99
Food Bazaar (Bushwick): Not in stock
Food Bazaar (Prospect Heights): $4.97
Pioneer Food Stores (Bed-Stuy):$5.29
Met Food Market (Prospect Heights): $4.97
Target (Atlantic Center) $4.89 (no vegan burgers available; price for All-American patties only)

BUNS AND ACCOUTREMENTS
Stroehman’s Dutch Country Potato Rolls (hotdog or hamburger buns) 8 count:
Highest Price: Tie!  Key Food (borough wide)/Pioneer Food Stores (Bed Stuy)/Foodtown (Williamsburg): $3.29/Food Bazaar (Bushwick) $3.29
Lowest Price: Target (Atlantic Center): $1.79

Others:
Pathmark (Atlantic Center): $3.19
Foodtown (Williamsburg): $3.29
Food Bazaar (Prospect Heights): $3.19
Met Food Market (Prospect Heights): $3.19
Compare Foods (Bed-Stuy): $2.99

Kraft Original BBQ Sauce, bottle:
Highest Price: Key Food (Greenpoint) $3.00
Lowest Price: Pioneer Food Stores (Bed Stuy) $.98

Others:
Pathmark (Atlantic Center): $1.50
Target (Atlantic Center): $1.24
Foodtown (Williamsburg): $1.99
Key Food (Park Slope):$1.50
Food Bazaar (Bushwick): $1.99
Food Bazaar (Prospect Heights): $1.99
Met Food Market (Prospect Heights): $1.99
Compare Foods (Bed-Stuy): $2.39

DRANKS
Country Time Lemonade, regular, quart jar
Highest Price:Key Food (Park Slope) $4.89
Lowest Price: Target (Atlantic Center) $2.79

Others:
Pathmark (Atlantic Center): $3.89
Foodtown (Williamsburg): $3.49
Key Food (Greenpoint): $4.69
Food Bazaar (Bushwick): $2.99
Food Bazaar (Prospect Heights): $3.99
Pioneer Food Stores (Bed Stuy):$2.99
Met Food Market (Prospect Heights): $3.99
Compare Foods (Bed-Stuy): $2.99

PBR, cans (12 pack or two 6 packs)
Highest Price: Compare Foods (Bed Stuy): $15.98 two 6 packs plus deposit ($13.98 for two 6 packs)
Lowest Price: Key Food (borough wide): $7.99/12 pack plus deposit

Others:
Pathmark (Atlantic Center): Price not available
Target (Atlantic Center): No PBR!
Foodtown (Williamsburg): $8.99/12 pack
Food Bazaar (Bushwick): $8.50/12 pack
Food Bazaar (Prospect Heights): $8.99/12 pack
Pioneer Food Stores (Bed Stuy):$9.99/12 pack
Met Food Market (Prospect Heights): $8.99/12 pack
Compare Foods (Bed-Stuy): $7.99/6 pack

Rolling Rock bottles (12 pack or two 6 packs)
Highest Price: Compare Foods: $24.00/two 6 packs plus deposit
Lowest Price: Target (Atlantic Center): $10.99/12 pack plus deposit

Others:
Pathmark (Atlantic Center): $6.99/6 pack
Foodtown (Williamsburg): $11.99/12 pack
Key Food (Park Slope):$12.59/12 pack
Key Food (Greenpoint): $11.99/12 pack
Food Bazaar (Bushwick): $12.50/12 pack
Food Bazaar (Prospect Heights): $6.99/6 pack
Pioneer Food Stores (Bed-Stuy):Not in stock
Met Food Market (Prospect Heights): $6.99/6 pack

OVERALL
If you want to get the best value for your barbecue supplies, you’re better off going to Target — you can also stock up on the fun stuff like tiki torches and table settings there too. Our second choice would be to venture in to Bed-Stuy to Pioneer for your burgers and whatnot. Whatever you do though, don’t buy your beer at Compare Foods though, they’re considerably higher than everywhere else we looked.

Many thanks to our price scouts Meredith Olson, Tim Donnelly, Andrew Linderman, Hannah Nordgren, Tom Sullivan, Alison Pels, Karina Briski, Sarah Bibi and Meghan Doherty!