This is currently $47.88. Three years ago, it was about $17, but now the price of short ribs is completely insane.

One of the good things about living in Texas is that beef prices are still cheaper than in other regions.

Especially in San Antonio, when you go to the grocery store, there are many types of beef, and places like Sam's or HEB occasionally have sales, so I could buy short ribs without much burden.

Just three years ago, buying enough short ribs for our family of three would cost around $15 to $17.

By marinating and grilling them at home, we didn't even need to eat out.

But these days, when I try to buy enough for the same family of three, it easily exceeds $40, and if I want to buy a good amount, I need to think about spending around $50.

Wow, $50 just to eat short ribs in Texas. My oldest child has grown so much in the past three years that he now eats as much as I do, but isn't that a bit much?

In the past, short ribs were not considered one of the expensive cuts of beef in the U.S.

Since the meat is attached to the ribs, it requires some trimming and has a lot of fat, so it was treated differently than premium cuts for steaks.

However, the situation has changed. Overall, the number of cattle raised in the U.S. has decreased, making beef supply tight, and more people are looking for short ribs.

Previously, this cut was often seen in Korean-style rib or stew dishes, but now braised short ribs have become common in American restaurants.

With videos on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram showing how to cook short ribs slowly or barbecue them, demand has increased even more.

It's not surprising that a previously cheap cut has become popular and its price has risen.

Is short rib really that good for you?

Nutritionally, it does have its benefits. Being beef, it is rich in protein and provides nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.

Especially, the iron in beef is heme iron, which is absorbed better in the body than the iron found in plant-based foods.

Zinc and B12 are also essential nutrients for our immune function, red blood cell production, and nerve function.

The problem is that these nutrients are not exclusive to short ribs.

You can get protein from chicken, pork, eggs, and fish, and if you need iron and B12, you can choose leaner cuts of beef. In fact, short ribs are quite fatty. The reason they taste good is because of that fat. Depending on the cut and how it's trimmed, there can be a big difference, but it's clear that they are high in saturated fat and calories.

Ultimately, short ribs are not something you need to eat for health reasons.

If they were still around $15, it would be worth having them occasionally.

But there isn't much nutritional reason to spend $50 on them.

For $50, you could instead have chicken breast, chicken thighs, pork, eggs, or Greek yogurt multiple times.

If you want beef, you can buy other cuts that are leaner and reasonably priced when they go on sale.

As I get older, my criteria for food have changed a bit.

When I was younger, it was enough for something to taste good, but now I find myself looking at price tags in the grocery store and wondering if it's worth the health benefits for the money.

Not eating short ribs doesn't mean I'm missing out on any essential nutrients, and I can easily substitute them with other foods.

So, I plan to think this way until the prices come down a bit.

At this price, I might as well just skip it.