It is the type of headline people might have laughed at in the past, but now it doesn’t seem so impossible.

The United Nations announced the technology to grow synthetic meat will be available within the next half-century. This will eventually mean meat can be grown and eaten without harming animals or destroying livestock in the process.

Wait a minute. Relax. No one’s going to make you turn into Charlton Heston, holding onto meat and saying “You’ll pry this from my cold, dead hands.” This is not an anti-meat crusade. What is being discussed is just the technology to grow and process meat that tastes like the real thing without coming from a ranch.

This has been discussed for a long time. Heck, Winston Churchill included this in a speech he delivered all the way back in 1932! Today’s consumer is just looking for different ways to purchase meat products. Whether it is buying meat in bulk and freezing it for future use or something else, there are ways to make the most of your meat purchase and save some money.

As previously mentioned, if you know you will go through meat quickly – like for a holiday party or a cookout – buy it in bulk and save money. Instead of buying parts of a steak, buy an entire roast. A butcher or meat processor can slice the roast for you, or you can do it yourself if the roast will be eaten over a period of several days.

Storing meat can be done in several ways. The best way to make sure your meat lasts longer is to store it in something that cools quicker rather than slower. Cooler meat will last longer and there should not be spoilage.

A healthier trend that encourages customers to eat meat without guilt is organic meat. This is grass-fed beef and chicken, instead of the products usually served to fatten up livestock. These meats do not contain artificial growth hormones and are richer in protein, vitamins and minerals. Because the meat is grass-fed, it also reduces the environmental impact on the customer.

Another way to eat meat in a different style is to dehydrate it. This involves cooking the beef and then rinsing it under hot water to remove excess fat and grease. You then use an electric dehydrator to process the meat for a period of time and then store it in a refrigerator. If you don’t have one, there are ways to buy simple products. An example of a company using this technology can be seen in the dehydrators from MeatProcessingProducts.com. These dehydrators resemble food processors or crock-pots, but they do the job right.

If you’re still worried, relax some more. This technology may not be available until after you have moved on to the great meat shop in the sky. Until then, eat your meat healthy and happy.