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If you’ve been facepalming whenever you see the prices at your local grocery shop, then you’re not alone. This ‘totally-not-a-recession’ we’re in has wreaked havoc on food costs in many parts of the world. In the UK alone, food price inflation reached 12.4% in November. Meanwhile, grocery prices in the US were up 12%, compared to the year before. So you’re definitely not alone if you’ve been feeling your wallet getting thinner.
Shoppers have been forced to react to this in different ways. Some are working overtime or have picked up a new side hustle. Others are cutting back on their favorite foods, eating out, and the size of their meals. However, food budgets, creative cooking solutions, and buying things at discounts are new to some people.
Luckily, the internet is chock full of friendly folks who love to lend a helping hand. Some budget-savvy shoppers from the r/Cooking online community shared their best tips on what underrated cheap foods you definitely shouldn’t ignore. You’ll find their awesome advice below. Upvote the posts that you found the most useful, and share some cost-saving food tips of your own in the comments. Us? We’re not big on cabbage, but lentils are great!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Baked potatoes. Cheap to buy. Easy to prepare. So many options to gussy it up with cheap but tasty fillings.
Sarcastic Fringehead 2 years ago (edited)
I freaking love potatoes lol. Such a weird obsession, but you can do them in so many different ways. I’ve yet to eat a bad potato. Yum
Couldnt_find_a_decent_name 2 years ago
Yep, if i could only have one food (but like all the spices and stuff) i always say potatoes. So many things you can make you’d never get bored!
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CHRIS DOMRES 2 years ago
Potatoes produce the most serotonin of any carbohydrate. They are the ultimate comfort food. Eating one will satisfy all your carb cravings.
David A Paterson 2 years ago
Try this. Cut a potato (peel on) in quarters but don't cut all the way through. Pop in the microwave for four minutes. Instant tasty hot meal.
Temporary Dork 2 years ago
Microwave time depends on size of potato, of course. I just stab it with a fork a few times but I'll try your method because even though cooked potatoes are easy to peel, they're very friggin hot :)
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Laura Jackson 2 years ago
I made a pork shoulder a couple of nights ago. Last night I threw some baking potatoes in the oven and then stuffed them with leftover pork and topped with cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. Served them topped with sour cream and a side salad, absolutely delicious and cheap!
Deborah B 2 years ago
If you don't like the time it takes to prepare - microwave it, then put it in the oven for 10 min to crisp up on the outside.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
We didn't even bother crisping our jacket potatoes, so only took about 3mins
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A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Baked potato, scrape out the innards and mix with cheese, bacon and scallions. put back in and bake. Serve with butter and sour cream! F*****g heaven!!
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
Potatoes in all forms! We used to have jacket potatoes a lot when I was a kid. Back then we would just have melted cheese and sour cream (which I used to make an intricate layered thing) but when we got into our teens we discovered a multitude of other variations! Creamed corn, tuna, salsa, so many ptions.
RELATED:
#2
Cabbage!
Bestihlmyhart added:
Keeps forever too. Looking at you spinach..
chantillylace9 added:
Try taking some shredded cabbage, it can have the carrots or not, and roasting it in a pan with a tiny bit of oil and maybe some chicken stock or a little bit of bullion or umami or mushroom powder until it’s nice and wilted and toss it in with Asian pasta dishes!!!
It bulks it up so nicely (which also helps cut calories) and makes thai and other cuisines even better because it soaks up the sauces way more than the rice noodles do.
Esme Weatherwax 2 years ago
Combine the potato from the other post and the cabbage et voila colcannon
Okatango 2 years ago
Borscht! Beets, cabbage, onions, carrots, celery, canned tomatoes, parsley, dill topped with yogurt
Greenmantle 2 years ago
Wow I didn't realise there were that many veg in borscht. I thought just beetroot
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David 2 years ago
I rediscover cabbage from time to time and it's about time to do so again. yes to keeps long time. Yes to good in stir fry. it is also super easy to make your own cole slaw and you don't have to drown it in dressing to make it tasty - so can still be pretty healthy that way.
Zelda Fitzgerald 2 years ago
Sweet and sour red cabbage with bacon and apples 🤤 one of my favorite veggie dishes.
Best Behave 2 years ago (edited)
Savoy cabbage. Shared and fry with plenty of oil and salt and pepper
XenoMurph 2 years ago
"Spring greens" too. I'd shred it before I flash fry in oil and butter, then I share it.
Load More Replies... Sillypants 2 years ago
Fun fact, umami isn't an ingredient, umami is a taste, the fifth taste.
#3
Lentils! Lentil soup is the best! And dhal is awesome. And you can make burgers with them.
Healthy, filling, versatile and delicious.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
Lentil soup is so good! I know I would have turned my nose up at it as a kid, but as an adult, it is legit!
Auntriarch 2 years ago
Made lentil soup last night. Had a couple of slices of roasted swede in the fridge so chopped them in last minute
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John Hannah 2 years ago
I used to eat this all the time during a healthy period of life, lost weight and felt great too. You can make them so tasty. I added soy sauce, spring onions and garlic and it was mmm
Couldnt_find_a_decent_name 2 years ago
I love lentils, though i don’t think I’ve ever heard of lentil soup
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
Oh man, you are missing out. I like to use chicken stock, but you can do vegetable stock if it suits you more.
Load More Replies... Temporary Dork 2 years ago
Ooh I know this is about cheap food but shoutout to the really expensive Puy lentils, they are the caviar of pulses.
Greenmantle 2 years ago
My favourite too. Hold their shape well in a slow cooked dish
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Jacqueline Pie Francis 2 years ago
I loooove lentils! Yesterday I made a really savory lentil stew. I froze half of it (it freezes well).
Food prices have grown by leaps and bounds over the past year. USA Today recently reported on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ findings about just how much more expensive it is to buy some iconic holiday stables in 2022.
The price of flour rose by a quarter between November 2021 and November 2022. The cost of bread went up by 16%, cookies were 19% more expensive, and if you’re a fan of crackers, they’re now worth a fifth more.
God forbid you eat a lot of eggs or use them for baking! They’re 49% more expensive in the US, year-over-year. Sugar and sweets are up 13%, butter costs 27% more, and milk is 15% more expensive than last year. In short, baking tasty treats for Christmas and the New Year was bound to drill a hole in your wallet.
#4
Oats! Not only for porridge, but just grind it and add it into your baking - it is so tasty! Also, if you are on a really tight budget (or sick) it is really nice to add some oats into soup indead of noodles to make it more filling.
K Tigress 2 years ago
I love steel cut oats. Nice texture and not all mush like you get with instant.
BoredPandaSucks 2 years ago
you can get decent texture from rolled oats if you don't overcook. but yeah instant oats are cr@p!
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Jill Rhodry 2 years ago
Add it to any mince *ground beef) dishes too - you use less meat and add fibre to spag bol!
B Martin 2 years ago
We used to add to hamburger patties - kept them juicy and a bit healthier
Load More Replies... Pieter LeGrande 2 years ago
Lightly fried in butter, sugar and cinnamon makes a great topping for apple or rhubarb crumble.
TeenieMeanie 2 years ago
I treat it like congee and add soy sauce, scallions, and a fried egg.
David A Paterson 2 years ago
Oats make a great cheap food for wild birds. Rolled or quick-cooking, raw or cooked, with salt or without, with sugar or without, the birds thrive on it. Even meat-eating birds will go out of their way to eat oats.
AJay 2 years ago
When I was a kid (and very occasionally still now), I would eat them for breakfast just with some milk. Not cooking it or anything into porridge, just cold rolled oats and milk. I don't know why, I just like it.
Gini Sarver 2 years ago
i use oats in my meatloaf, a good filler & holds it together nicely… but be careful or you will end up with oat loaf, happened to me once, first time our family had leftover meatloaf 😁
#5
Rotisserie chickens. One chicken will feed me and my husband for 2 meals each plus some snacking and the carcass can be turned into amazing bone broth. That's a lot of bang for $5
nana theater 2 years ago
If a chicken is that cheap it usually comes from industrial factory farming with all it's brutal conditions. I am not willing to support that system just for a bargain.
Naesil 🇫🇮 2 years ago
I think these are pretty expensive here.. and for me they seem small enough that I could eat it in one sitting, but probably would make it to 2 different meals. For the longest time chicken seemed to be one meat that didnt skyrocket in price but now it also seems to be climbing fast.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
Meat's crazy expensive right now, except for chicken. I've been buying the frozen ones lately. The way I cook, they taste the same anyway.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
My mother and I ran to the grocery to buy something for dinner. We saw two rotisserie chickens in the glass thingy, and Mom decided to buy them. We took the food to her house. She started cutting up the chicken while I started a veggie. She started laughing. There was a paper on each chicken, reserving them for a family we knew in town. Mom had bought the last two chickens. Now and then, I wonder what happened when the other family went to pick up their chickens.
Ace 2 years ago
Whatever the price and quality, surely it's cheaper to buy the chicken uncooked and roast it yourself?
I'm Izzy and I'm busy 2 years ago
That's why it's called the bachellors handbag! $5.50 here, but they're littler ones.
T'Mar of Vulcan 2 years ago
One hundred rand (R100) in South Africa. Which to be fair is only about $5.80, but for comparison you can buy a dress from a cheapish shop for less than R200...
#6
Popcorn is underrated when it comes to the variety of flavors it plays well with.
David A Paterson 2 years ago
Pop it in a covered casserole dish in the microwave. Cook on high 2 minutes 20 seconds, remove popped kernels. Repeat. Repeat.
Donna Lambert 2 years ago
Noisy, I bet! I actually use paper lunch bags. A bit of oil. Shake it. Fold the top a couple times... I put a sm piece of tape or I put a small tear in the center. Mine stay closed! Just stay with til it stops the pop... Salt or flavor of choice!
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zububonsai 2 years ago
Forget about salt or sugar: Sprinkle with powdered rosemary 🔥🔥(grind dried rosemary leaves until it's powdery, sorry I'm not English native speaker)
alex cosgrove 2 years ago
You can buy it in bulk and use a silicone popping bowl from Amazon. It’s better for the environment, it’s easier to flavor, and it’s a whole of a heckle lot cheaper!
SageHare37 2 years ago
This! I got the one made by Lekue and love it. Took a few rounds to perfect it, I has to reduce my 1200w microwave to 70% power to hit the sweet spot of popping but not burning. Cooking on the stove is great, but I'm energy limited so the compromise of less effort in popping and cleaning up balances. Also, paper popcorn bags have a lot of BPA in them so if you prefer microwave popcorn but are trying to avoid BPA, a silicone popper is the way to go.
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K Tigress 2 years ago
Make it the old fashion way. Pop it on the stove top in a favorite pot or even steel bowl covered by aluminum foil with holes poked on top. I usually flavour it with my own homemade nacho powder or I just use potato seasoning with bacon bits. So yummy!
Anaïs Grobin 2 years ago
Once my husband & I learned about the health hazards in microwaveable popcorn, we've only made it in a pot from kernels from that point on. Much tastier, and takes longer to go stale, too!
Load More Replies... CHRIS DOMRES 2 years ago
Any corn food will create a huge insulin spike and ultimately a drop in blood sugar. Many people fall asleep after eating a bag of popcorn.
Recently, Bored Panda looked at the ways that you can save money on food. Cooperating with your family, friends, and neighbors can really help you squeeze the most out of every dollar, pound, and cent you have. You can buy produce in bulk, at a major discount, and then freeze most of it for later use.
So long as you package the food properly, it shouldn’t get freezer burn, and it’ll keep its nutrition value. Double-bag your fruits, veggies, fish, or meat, or use a vacuum sealer.
Another great way to put meals together cheaply is to embrace the power of stir-fries! You can use rice or pasta as the base, and throw in some cheap, seasonal veggies from your local market or mom-and-pop grocery store. Bonus points if you tend your own veggie and herb garden.
#7
Dried beans and rice. Infinitely customizable. A perfect protein. Great source of fiber. You can eat great tasting food for a week for $5 USD. $20 gives you options
Jake B 2 years ago
Best thing is these two together make a complete protein. So you’re being healthy. Tofu (Soy) and Quinoa are the only two plants with complete proteins, so knowing to mix the rice with beans is super smart.
Tim 2 years ago
There's several other plants that are "complete" proteins. This article lists soy, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, and nutritional yeast, as well as hemp and chia seeds. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/incomplete-protein
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Full of Giggles 2 years ago (edited)
I primarily ate brown rice, dried beans, and canned chicken when I was homeless. They’re cheap, easy to make, easy to store, lightweight, and don’t spoil in a backpack on a hot day. They also can be cooked together in one pot which is perfect for cooking on a compact camp stove.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
One of the places I used to work used beans and rice for a menu item. When I'd get my employee meal I'd throw that on everything. Goes great with fries, chicken tenders, grilled cheese, even on a hamburger.
David 2 years ago
I don't digest beans well but if you do they are cheap food. 50 pound bag of beans and 50 pound bag of rice is a heck of a lot of food for the buck.
Temporary Dork 2 years ago
Lentils, mung beans, and peas are easier to digest than other pulses, and the trick to removing as many as possible of the oligosaccharides that are responsible for the discomfort is slow processing. Soak for days (two or three) using alkaline or at least filtered water, change it often and use the slow cooker. But that's a lot of trouble for a simple rice & beans meal :)
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Laura Jackson 2 years ago
I get a rotisserie chicken and the next.day I use the leftovers to make chicken and rice soup. Use the bones for your stock, you can use white, brown, or my preference of wild rice, add some carrots, celery, and a bit of corn, season to taste and I've got soup for 2-3 days!
Echidna learns extreme ironing 2 years ago
Look up Gigantes Bean - a Rick Stein recipe - cheap, healthy and very tasty! A batch will last for two days.
Helena Fonseca 2 years ago (edited)
Rice and beans are the very base of almost all everyday meals here in Brazil. Not canned or dried though.
Ches Yamada 2 years ago
Does anyone remember the "commercials" from the early 80s where the cartoons sang a song about beans & rice? It was shown during cartoons kids would wath, targeting lower income families to try and "help" them put healthy meals on the table. The lyrics were basically "beans and rice, beans and rice..." lol. Very racist ads but they get stuck in my head a lot
Dancing Armadillo 2 years ago
Red Beans and Rice add Andouille Sausage.. with Louisana Hot Sauce
#8
Sweet potatoes. Sweet or savory, chunky or smooth, extremely versatile food you can do a lot of delicious meals and snacks with.
Pascalica added:
I use them in burritos. Cut into chunks, season with cumin, garlic, chili powder, salt, and toss with some oil. Bake until tender in the middle with some charring on the outside. So damn good with black beans, Mexican style rice, the sweetness of them goes very well with all the savory.
Benita Valdez 2 years ago
This is one of the very few vegetables that I just don't like really. Just not a fan of it cooked; I do enjoy the occasional raw piece though
Lauren S 2 years ago
I’m not sure I’ve ever had sweet potatoes raw before. I don’t think I knew you could eat them like that. Hmm. I should try it.
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David A Paterson 2 years ago
Yes. I had a midnight snack last night of microwaved sweet potato. Cook the same way as potato.
Marilynn Berry 2 years ago
I absolutely live them, but I can't eat them too often because they gave me kidney stones
D-m Keilman 2 years ago
Ooh I made some yesterday. Baked then cubed then pan roasted in a few tbsp bacon fat til crispy n browned. Took from the pan and put a spoon of maple butter (whipped maple syrup~thanks Aldi!) and tossed so the butter could melt and get a little on each piece. Awesome dessert.
#9
Canned garbanzo beans.
Add salt , pepper , sugar and a spice of your liking. Lightly oil. Put in the oven for 20-25 mins 400F. Great crunchy low calorie snack.
OrangeCoffee87 added:
I make "not egg" salad with them. Great with crackers or in a pita.
Antz Online 2 years ago
Chickpeas! Rather prepare the raw chickpeas than the canned products, massive difference in the taste. And way cheaper.
Full of Giggles 2 years ago (edited)
I prefer to use canned garbanzos/chickpeas for hummus. Adding half the water in the can makes the hummus creamer and adds flavor.
Load More Replies... Victoria Anderson 2 years ago (edited)
The water from some cans of garbanzo beans/chickpeas is called "aquafaba". It's a very popular ingredient in vegan recipes, often whipped as a substitute for egg whites or used in chocolate mousse.
Temporary Dork 2 years ago
Finely ground chickpeas / garbanzo beans are called gram flour. Make a batter with water and some salt, leave on the countertop for half an hour, bake pancakes. They have a wonderful nutty flavor, are gluten free and very nutritious!
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
Do you think it would work blitzing tinned ones instead? I can't have dried or fresh ones as they trigger my IBS
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Firstname Lastname 2 years ago
Had to look up "not egg" salad and immediately made it to satisfy my egg withdrawals. So amazing. Thank you OrangeCoffee87!
kaycee14 2 years ago
A can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained, some halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, capers and/or diced kalamata olives, s&p, olive oil, feta, and a sprinkle of Greek or Italian herb blend. Makes a wonderful salad. If you're going to refrigerate, don't put olive oil on until you're ready to eat.
#10
Eggs are the cheapest healthiest food you can eat.
Frank Brewster 2 years ago
Our supermarket brand eggs are going for $6/$7 lately. Organic eggs are almost $10 in Arizona.
I'm Izzy and I'm busy 2 years ago (edited)
About $4.30 AUD here, but I have my own little flock of chooks, so I usually have too many eggs and just give them away. Works well - I give spare eggs to my neighbours, and they'll give us spare veggies, old clothes, etc. Edit: I'm in SE Queensland, but I just googled eggs on the Woolies website, but they were just the first ones I saw. Probably caged...
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Mad Dragon 2 years ago
An outbreak of Avian Flu has resulted in the deaths of more than 50,000,000 chickens in the US, which has caused a shortage of egg-laying birds and is responsible for the rising costs of eggs.
Petra Schaap 2 years ago
when did that happen? I recall I hear Americans complaining about the expensive eggs for 3 years at least
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Gil Heuvelmans 2 years ago
I keep a couple of chickens. They eat all our leftovers plus maybe 40 bucks a year in corn. I get about 750 eggs a year in return.
Allison Lynn 2 years ago
It was posted 22hours ago. The writers suck at research clearly
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VodkaInMySweetTea 2 years ago
I used to get a box of 60 eggs for $4.50. (I have a lot of people to feed.) In 2020, it went up to $5.00. In 2021, it was around $6.20. As of this morning, it costs $25.04.
Phil Rubin 2 years ago
High egg prices in the US are due to avian flu. Large numbers of "layers" have to be killed to prevent the spread.
Sandy Kavanaugh 2 years ago
I think a lot of insurance money is being paid for these so called diseased birds. Baloney!
Load More Replies... A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
1 dozen large eggs... $1.29 this time last year. Now... $4.69 a dozen!!!! WHAT???
#11
God i was wondering if anyone was going to mention instant ramen or not. So cheap, so versatile. I do two packs, a chicken thigh (marinated, grilled, sliced, and frozen individually), and a couple table spoons of dried, mixed veg. I have an electronic kettle in my work office. 3 cups of hot water and 10min of waiting...BAM, lunch. Costs me maybe $2.
N. 2 years ago
Please don't eat this unless you have to. 2 packs of ramen has 140% of your daily sodium. It's ultra processed.
RMA 2 years ago
Pretty much only if you use the vile seasoning. Keep a jar of Knorr chicken stock in the office - the ‘pro’ range, not the salty stuff from the supermarket. (Amazon usually has it)
Load More Replies... Maple Porkly 2 years ago
I have these in my emergency kits. They are light weight, last forever, come in different flavours and you can eat them cooked or raw.
CGZ 2 years ago
Go visit a great big genuine asian grocery and check out the assortment available. It's an adventure.
kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago
Go visit Japan and try real ramen. You will cry tears of joy.
Load More Replies... Felix Grace 2 years ago
ramen noodles, chicken-tomato bouillon, egg, soy sauce, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and dried minced onion and/or chives. Add egg into water, mix well, add noodles and microwave. then add bouillon, soysauce etc and stir well. Veggie stock and seaweed also can be subbed in
VodkaInMySweetTea 2 years ago
Oooh. Had this for lunch. I replace the seasoning packet with a low sodium bouillon or DIY broth (save up stems and peels of vegetables in the freezer). Add a frozen green, some edamame beans or tofu, stir in a beaten egg. Top with sesame seeds and hot sauce. Mmmmmmm.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Creamy Chicken ramen... add leftover chicken and some mixed vegetables. Thicken a bit with a roux and man, a good meal that will stick with you on a cold day!
Irene Donovan 2 years ago
Try some of the varieties made in other countries. They have a ton of really interesting flavors that, while not as cheap as what's found in american supermarkets, are still around a dollar a meal. My personal favorites are a rice noodle one with beef or chicken and a potato noodle one (beef, pork, or shrimp) from vietnam, spicy shrimp ones from thailand and vietnam, and a spicy beef one from korea. Throw in a few veggies and some kind of protein if desired.
#12
I'd say omelets. They are cheap nutritious and not hard to make if you practice and have a big flat spatula. There's also a thousand ways to make an omelet. I like mine with sautéed mushrooms and some goat cheese and herbs.
Lauren S 2 years ago
Does it count if you put all the stuff in but still scramble it because the omelette part takes skills and nonstick pans that I just didn’t have?
LizzieBoredom 2 years ago
Make a Frittato. Throw everything in one pan, stir, and pray.
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Mad Dragon 2 years ago
The current outbreak of Avian flu has resulted in a shortage of eggs and prices 2-3x what they usually are in the US.
Mary Hiers 2 years ago
When my kids were growing up, Friday was leftovers night. Occasionally I'd make a frittata with all the leftover veggies from the past few days and it was a hit with them. Since it was made with whatever we had on hand, we named it the "Hakuna Frittata."
Auntriarch 2 years ago
I love that! I'm stealing it *hums the tune on the way to the kitchen*
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AnonymousApple 2 years ago
Frittatas are even better. They're like a giant omelet you don't have to fold.
Kristina Atwood 2 years ago
Even easier? Oil an oven proof pan, toss in the whipped eggs and whatever veggies and meats you want in your "omelet." Bake for 15-20 at 400⁰F. Frittata.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
The very first 'prac' we learned in food tech was an omelette. I still have the recipe we used written down. I think it was the first thing I ever cooked for my family. I didn't really eat egg then (something about the smell/flavour put me off). Recently I have begun eating them again, especially when I am hungry but my sinuses are playing up, so I don't feel like eating.
PurpleUnicorn 2 years ago
I gave up trying to turn my omelettes over, now I cook the bottom then put the pan under the grill to cook the top. Works for me!
#13
Tofu is legit 1 dollar a lb now and can be used in so many dishes
Couldnt_find_a_decent_name 2 years ago (edited)
But I hate the texture. Edit: thank you so much for all these suggestions, I’ll definitely try them out!
Okatango 2 years ago
There are many textures from silken to hard. If you freeze tofu, then squeeze out all the water when thawed, marinate and stir fry, it will have a "meaty" texture. You can also crumble it the firm type and saute with onions, garlic, sunflower seeds then add some good vegetable stock or miso to use as base for shepherds' pie.
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David A Paterson 2 years ago
Three times that price here for firm tofu, and firm tofu is much better than soft.
And the like 2 years ago
Hey pandas I've been trying tofu recently. Does anyone have a suggestion on an easy recipe with tofu?
BakedKahuna 2 years ago
I personally love deep fried tofu cubes. You can have them just with salt and pepper, add them into a saucy dish like curry or put some in a bowl of ramen.
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Biscuitbot 2 years ago
SO much you can do with tofu, I swear you can make a version of anything from it! Silken tofu for cheesecakes, firm tofu for nuggets 🤤
#14
Sourdough loaf with olive oil and salt and pepper
I'm Izzy and I'm busy 2 years ago
Yum! I remember having it as a kid once - I still have it. Not a big olive oil fan, so sometimes I'll skip it, but I'll keep a little bit of olive oil just for this.
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Sara Cros 2 years ago
Crikey! Sourdough is pretty expensive here in New Zealand. Between $6-10 a loaf. Compare the cheapest regular sliced bread you can get for $1.75.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Sourdough or a good Italian roll, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Italian seasonings with a few light pepper flakes. Draw the bread through and have a tonguegasm!
Patrick Whittington 2 years ago
I dont know if that saves me money. I eat stuff like that in one go...lmao
#15
Gnocchi. I just learned how to make it, i have always loved it, and it is CHEAP. Last batch made about 6 servings for the two of us. Took six potatoes, three spoonfuls of ricotta, 2 eggs (which my backyard dinosaurs provided) and a cup and half or so of 00 flour. Maybe $8 real world. Eat them with everything. Mushroom gravy, tinned fish, puttanesca…whatever. Always good and ready in under 3 minutes ;)
I'm Izzy and I'm busy 2 years ago
Chadonk adonks. Chooks. Chenks. Chonkes. Chookers. Ladys. Cheekies. Chookos. Chickos. Just a few things I call my backyard dinosaurs.
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Yoga Kitty 2 years ago
Oh, you meant the gnocchi! For a hot second I thought you wanted to roast their poor backyard dinosaurs...!
Load More Replies... Mary Hiers 2 years ago
Dollar Tree has packs of gnocchi that are enough for two meals, and they're great with cheese sauce or whatever.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
I came to say this! My dollar store has $2 packs of gnocchi and $2 jars of sauce, I cook them up with frozen veggies and onions and garlic and have 3-4 meals with it.
Load More Replies... Diana Pahule 2 years ago
This kind of goes under the heading of things you can do with potatoes.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
Not all recipes. I have made them with or without, or with natural yoghurt
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#16
Pb&J, add berries and it really feels decadent.
Pterodactyl in Disguise 2 years ago
Peanut butter, banana, and honey!!!! Sososo good!!
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lauralett50 2 years ago
Got 7 variety of jams , jellies, and preserve for Christmas. Each a different flavors. Yum
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
I'm coming over. I'll bring the crackers and butter.
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#17
Dried beans. The US is weirdly against dried beans becoming mainstream.
NoZombie7064 added:
With inflation, canned beans are much more expensive than they used to be. Store brand canned black beans are a minimum of $2/can around me, more for other types of beans or any kind of premium brand or organic. Back of the hand calculations suggest that dried are still cheaper even with the cost of energy.
Cindy M 2 years ago
Hmmm. I live in the U.S. and grew up with dried beans as a pantry staple. Love them, and so nutritious!
lauralett50 2 years ago
Same, have three variety in my cupboard right now
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Blackheart 2 years ago
Where did you get your info? I live in the South and we eat dried peas and beans all the time. Black eyed peas for New Year's, pinto beans with cornbread, purple hull peas, lima beans, butter beans, white beans....Flavor and cook them right and they are great.
33Possums 2 years ago
I grew up with dried pinto beans and just made black eyed peas for New Years. Where do they get these ideas?
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tuzdayschild 2 years ago
I don't know what they're talking about. I'm American and I've been eating dried beans all my life.
Laura Jackson 2 years ago (edited)
I just love slow cooking dried pintos with a bit of salt pork. Where I'm from we called them soup beans from leaving the liquid thinner. We then served over crumbled cornbread with chopped raw onions on top. As a side we make fried potatoes with Spam and onions, macaroni and cheese, and collard greens. Hmmm... I just figured out what I'm having for supper tonight!😃 Edit: yes I'm a southern cook if you couldn't guess, lol
Me 2 years ago
I slow cook pintos too for beans and cornbread, bean soup, tex-mex dishes.
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Andrew McLoughlin 2 years ago
The thinking is that they take too much work because you need to simmer/soak them overnight, discard the water, rinse, and repeat, all before youre ready to actually cook. Depending on what you're cooking, that is /not true/ and the added steps are just an arbitrary turn-off.
33Possums 2 years ago
They really don't. Soak them overnight (no salt) and cook them in the morning. Once they are mostly done add salt and whatever else you want.
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SageHare37 2 years ago
For those responding with "We eat a lot of dried beans in the US..." I think the use of dried beans in the US is definitely a learned thing. For many families, cooking dried beans is too intimidating or requires too much planning ahead. It takes long enough, it's less desirable to learn unless it's already your "normal". The very real risk of food poisoning from under cooked beans adds to the intimidation. That being said, I wish everyone was taught to cook them. Absolutely delicious. And if you are fortunate enough to own an electronic pressure cooker, cooking them becomes incredibly easy.
Thomas Jones 2 years ago
US isn't "weirdly against them" - at least not any more than we're weirdly against time spent on any type of cooking.
#18
Canned tuna! Cook it in some soy sauce and add some garlic powder, ginger powder etc with a bowl of rice and it’s warm, filling and tasty on a budget. I make it all the time and add avocado, green onion and cucumber when I have some extra cash, really takes it to the next level.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Needs to be albacore in water but yeah man! Wife makes a tuna casserole with macaroni, cheese, tuna, peas, scallions etc. It's filling, tasty and awesome!
Manic Mama 2 years ago
Steam some veggies and chuck in a tin of flavoured tuna. Cheap, super-easy (about my level of cooking prowess) and yum. Do not recommend for lunches at work as other people complain about the fishy smell (quite reasonably).
Dan Hall 2 years ago
You want cheap and easy. Tuna Mac. Just start the water, throw some cheap frozen mixed veggies in, let the water come to a boil, finish like you would regular Mac and cheese and throw a can or two of drained tuna (I prefer the cheap stuff because it mixes better) Stir and you have a complete meal in a bowl.
Roxanne D'souza 2 years ago
I love canned tuna. Sometimes we make a tuna-avocado salad with tomatoes, onions and lots of fresh lime or sometimes we just add chopped onions and tomatoes and make it paste like and make tuna sandwiches. Delicious.
#19
So many possibilities with onions but I love French onion soup. Doesn’t need gruyere although that’s delicious. Fine with any Swiss or even mozzarella. I also love bologna sandwiches. Cheap and easy. Too bad it’s not healthy too. Also chicken thighs. Goes with any seasoning and aside from a few dishes, tastes better than chicken breast to me.
Sue From Michigan 2 years ago
Chicken thighs are the tastiest part of the bird to me and they are cheaper than breasts.
Benita Valdez 2 years ago (edited)
I've recently been introduced to Lebanese sweet bologna; so damn delicious.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Onion soup with swiss.... Fried Bologna sandwiches with cheese... and the wife and I LOVE dark meat chicken and turkey. Dark meat chicken makes the best soup stock too...
Clementine Smith 2 years ago
Chicken thighs with the skin OFF are almost the same nutritional value as breast. Thighs for the win in our house
#20
Celery root. Baked in oven with olive oil, salt and pepper.
Yoga Kitty 2 years ago
You can also prepare it like schnitzel - really tasty! But PLEASE don't serve them to anybody who is expecting a "real" schnitzel - they might hate you afterwards...
Thomas Jones 2 years ago
Celeriac isn't commonly carried at most grocery stores in the US. Until we got a Wegmans, only place to get it was farm markets. We live in an urban area, so it's not that we lack for different stores for getting produce.
Marilyn Russell 2 years ago
Nope. Tried to like it before and even made a fancy recipe for mash and couldn’t eat it.
Megan Curl 2 years ago
I love celeriac, but here in the US it’s about $10 per bulb, so it’s a special treat for me.
Bailey W. 2 years ago
As a German who loves soup, $10 for one bulb breaks my heart..
Load More Replies... #21
Cottage cheese — cheap protein/calcium and you can use it savory or sweet.
bluejayghosts added:
Cottage cheese is the best—Costco sells large quantities for like $4!!
traditora added:
In a bowl with some cinnamon and sugar or honey is a nice snack. Add some granola and it's breakfast.
Or my favorite breakfast: a hardboiled egg, cottage cheese, cherry tomatoes, lots of olive oil, salt and pepper, and good crusty bread to soak up the oil.
Dash Junior 2 years ago
The blob in the photo looks like no cottage cheese that I have seen. Is if different in some counties outside of the United States? That aside, I do love cottage cheese. I eat it by itself, and as a less fatty substitute for sour cream on potatoes and burrito’s, and mixed with salsa and mashed avocado for tortilla chips.
WindySwede 2 years ago
They just use a picture at random I guess. But am curious about what this is!
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Bec 2 years ago
My aunt was told to feed some to her mama dog who was experiencing some milk sickness.
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Edda Kamphues 2 years ago
Just add some shredded cucumber, salt and pepper. Awesome taste and will keep you full forever.
Lauren S 2 years ago
I lived in a few key foods when I was pregnant. Peanut butter and apples or bananas and cottage cheese. Now I am a weirdo, I’ve never met anyone else who does this but I put French dressing on it, I have since I was a little kid. So good. Or vanilla yogurt, but I think that one’s normal!
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Cottage cheese with a can of salmon and a nice peach slice!! Can also substitute cottage cheese for ricotta in lasagna.
SarahBee 2 years ago
I work for a company that makes cottage cheese, and it's always available for free in our lunchroom. I don't love it alone, but it makes an amazing dip for corn chips. I also mix it in with frozen Italian meals and instant mac and cheese for an extra protein boost. Great on the side with Mexican and Indian food as well.
#22
A nice baguette. Wish I could get my hands on one, but US grocery stores tend to not give a s**t about quality baked goods, and quality independent bakeries are few and far in between (and usually only focus on sweets).
Lauren S 2 years ago
I think it depends on where you live in the US. I cannot tell you why (I’ve heard it’s the water but idk) but bagels from NYC or northern Jersey are amazingly better than anywhere else I’ve had them in the country. I’m not talking clever delicious flavors, just plain regular bagels are amazing! I imagine the same would be true where some places in the US must make great baguettes. Although, I have a feeling some European countries probably have us beat with these (ahem… France). I wonder what bagels are like in France?
Okatango 2 years ago
In Quebec, we campaigned for and accelerated the immigration of 13,000 French bakers a few years ago. Heaven.
OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago
And now french bakeries in France are struggling big time with inflation etc. 😓
Load More Replies... Gustav Gallifrey 2 years ago
See if you can find a bakery run by people from Vietnam or of Vietnamese extraction. The two good things that the French gave to Vietnam were a written alphabet, and pastrycooking. Vietnamese took to pastrycooking like ducks to water.
Naesil 🇫🇮 2 years ago
This seems to be very common thing in everything about US, the country is so massive that there will be places where you can get absolutely best of the best about anything, but the average normal stuff you get from all the big stores across the country seems to be subpar. Like everyone makes fun of american beer (bud light etc.) but then american craft beers win award every year because they are so good. Same goes probably for the bread, everything you buy in normal store is just sugary bs, but some mom and pops bakery in some small town can have the best bread ever made in the history.
33Possums 2 years ago
Regarding baked goods, a lot has to do with what ingredients are available in that location. For instance the yeast in San Francisco is what makes the sourdough so special. Probably the same with small brewery beers and bagels. That's why regions specialize. Of course standard grocery store products are all going to be the same.
Load More Replies... Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
We have dozens of independent bakeries here in Portland. I used to work for a sourdough place myself. Then again, this city is a haven for yummy food.
Dana Lockett 2 years ago
I've made bread from scratch, and didn't have a mixer with a dough attachment. Did everything by hand. It turned out better tasting than the store bought stuff. Try your hand at making it; you never know how it will turn out.
Echidna learns extreme ironing 2 years ago
I wish I could get my hands on a good baguette - there is a great french bakery in Creswick, Victoria, Ozland - but a 6 hour round trip from home.
Lauren S 2 years ago
You can’t find a good baguette in France? Wow. I would have thought that would be common. Have you ever been anywhere where you had great ones? Is there something you do love that you can only get in France (or it’s just better there)?
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#23
I find a lot of canned meats and seafood are looked down upon but I really enjoy them. Spam, smoked oysters, sardines etc
Hien Le 2 years ago
My guilty pleasure: Spam + sliced cheese + Nongshim instant noodles. Trust me it tastes like heaven
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Temporary Dork 2 years ago
Smoked mackerel is ridiculously cheap where I live (hello world! The Netherlands are at the north west edge of Europe, our neighbors across the North Sea are the English) and it's absolutely delicious!
Auntriarch 2 years ago (edited)
I don't like fish much, but the mackerel in different sauces is nice, and can flavour a lot of rice or whatever (waving from across the north sea)
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Huddo's sister 2 years ago
I only tried them fairly recently and found I loved one brand, but not one of the others, even though they were both done in tomato sauce.
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A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Sardines and hot mustard with onions on rye! Awesome sandwich... just don't get too close to anyone for about 3 days! LOL! Smoked oysters and scallops rock as well as do the herring filets in wine.
Mary Hiers 2 years ago
So many memories of my dad watching baseball games while eating a can of sardines and drinking a beer during the 1970s!
kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago
Beer helps us to get through many challenging meals!
Load More Replies... David 2 years ago
A very basic Filipino dish is steamed rice, canned sardines, chopped onion chunks. Add a bit of hot sauce and/or soy sauce. I usually add a diced up tomato as well. To me that is satisfying and easy if I'm not in the mood to do real cooking. Probably similar in other countries too. A Filipino was the first person who gave it to me. Was a bit surprised I liked it but I do. PS quality matters. get good sardines. Costco sells good ones. Dollar Tree ones are kind of trash. "okay" but not as good.
Lauren S 2 years ago
I’m not a big fan of this but I’m sure there are a lot of people who enjoy these foods. If there wasn’t a market they wouldn’t make it! But I may eat before I come to your place, no judgement to you, just not a fan myself and I’m not going to put you out to make something different for me.
#24
You can do a lot with a few veggies and fruit. Individually it sounds boring and not fulfilling. But I like to make a salsa with cilantro, a red onion, a tomato, a mini pineapple OR a mango, and a lime. I’ve purchased one of each of these ingredients for under $5 and made a huge salsa out of it after chopping and stirring them all up (and squeezing the lime over). Along with tortilla chips it’s great or you can use it in fish tacos too.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago (edited)
Love salsa fresca! Such a handy go to for a party. Not sure about the pineapple though. If god wanted us to eat pineapple, why did he cover them in spikes? *sarcasm ;)
Lauren S 2 years ago
Lol! Pineapple is amazing so you’re missing out if you don’t eat it. Hot (like cooked, not spicy) pineapple is great too. My goodness, my mouth just filled with saliva! 🤤
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DeoManus Argentem 2 years ago
I love fresh pico de gallo! Roma tomatoes, onions, jalapenos (or habaneros), garlic, salt, cilantro, and a little lime juice. Sublime! Perfect for topping tacos/fajitas, or just with tortilla chips. However, I definitely wouldn't call it cheap!
Dash Junior 2 years ago
I love many ‘veggies’. I do not love the word veggies though. One of my least favorite words. Maybe because it is cutesy?
Greenmantle 2 years ago
Clearly you're not Australian 🤣. Seriously though, 4 syllables vs 2?
Load More Replies... #25
Peanut butter ftw
Lauren S 2 years ago
I do love my reduced fat JIF. Not sure why it’s better than other brands but it sure is. I remember the PB shortage of the pandemic. Those were dark days. I’m also very grateful no one in my house is allergic. That’s so common now.
lauralett50 2 years ago
Give me the crunchy / chunky peanut butter ,and no one gets hurt . One on the table, two in the cupboard I am good..
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Lauren S 2 years ago
Or bananas!! Mmm. But if it’s apples, gala is the way to go!
Load More Replies... kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago
PB is just BP spelled backwards. WHY HAVE WE NOT REALIZED THIS BEFORE NOW?
Joshua Moore 2 years ago
My go to has always been regular Jif. Well during one grocery trip they were out, so I went with Simply Jif. I truly can't taste any difference and it's supposed to be healthier for you. On a tight budget, pb&j or pb & honey is a regular during the week. 👍😁
Krystle Deschene 2 years ago
I think ftw may mean for the win. But when I grew up it did not stand for that. 🤣 either way it kinda works
Annette V 2 years ago
Once I had natural peanut butter (ingredients peanuts and <1% salt) I could no longer have regular processed peanut butter. The taste doesn't compare.
Auntriarch 2 years ago
If it's made with roasted peanuts, you don't miss the salt and sugar
Load More Replies... Brian Droste 2 years ago
Ibysed to eat Jiff crunchy pb, but then Jiff had a recall on there extra crunchy on. Had to go to a?store brand. Had a different taste but still tasted good. Seen the store I shopped at had extra crunchy pb but looked at their price then the store price. The store price was a lot more cheaper. Going to stick to The store brand from now on.
#26
Spinach! I made this really nice spinach and artichoke dip last night, and it's so much better homemade. The stuff you find it stores is like 50% mayo and i think that's gross lol
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
Another food i didn't learn to appreciate until I was an adult.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Fresh baby spinach with olive oil, a touch of butter and fresh garlic. Yeah man! And artichokes are the bomb!
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
I planted some spinach last year and I've been enjoying picking it and putting in the freezer until I have enough for a meal. So far added to lasagne, soup and salad
#27
Carrots.
Lauren S 2 years ago
I loved carrots for many years. When I was pregnant I was absolutely disgusted by them. They made me nauseous to smell them even. It’s taken me years since then to eat them. My kid is 6 and I can barely tolerate them. I didn’t know that pregnancy aversion could extend beyond actual pregnancy. (Side note: my kid HATES carrots)
Margaret H 2 years ago
Mine was cups of tea. I still hate the smell enough to be nauseous - and my child just had his 50th birthday.
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Sunshine Lady 2 years ago
Carrot soup, baked carrots with seasoning, cabbage and carrots salad... I put carrots in everything 😀
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
I like to slice them up and bake them like French fries 😊 so good with a lil spicy mayo dip!
Load More Replies... LooseSeal's $10 Banana 2 years ago
Most "normal" produce is relatively cheap, especially if you consider the nutrition value of what you're eating. I eat carrot, cucumber, and bell pepper at lunch every day and it's costs around $1 per day.
CindyLouWho1209 2 years ago
Carrot salad with pineapple and a few raisins and mayo is delicious. I only add raisins right before seving so that they don't get mushy.
Greenmantle 2 years ago
My ex insisted on cooked carrots for every dinner. I'm ruined for life. Snacking carrots (raw) is about my limit now. They aren't as soapy tasting
#28
I really love a cheap grilled cheese with American cheese (the processed kinda plastic stuff in individual sheets) just cheap white bread, cheese, and margarine. The American cheese almost tastes fluffy, like a cheese cloud.
Sarcastic Fringehead 2 years ago (edited)
But see here’s the thing, it’s better with actual cheese. Not “cheese product” or whatever c**p they say. Put real cheese then consider your opinion again my dude. EDIT: I am just stating my opinion here, I am well aware there are plenty of people who happily would disagree. I just prefer higher quality foods. Doesn’t make me “snobby”
Rostit . 2 years ago
No. It's true. I hate singles if cheese like that for anything other than that grilled cheese. It's their only real use. I'm a snob and won't eat wonder bread or Kraft singles. Unless it's grilled cheese.
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Kathleen Nelson 2 years ago
Our kids called American cheese "paper cheese" because it was individually wrapped!
Sparkysheep 2 years ago
I like grilled chs with pepperjack with a side of tomato soup. Used to hate pepperjack and tomato soup when i was a kid but then when i got older plain mild-med cheddar was just boring and this really made it better
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
Would never never use plastic cheese, but grilled cheese (aka toasted sandwiches, toasties, or jaffles in Oz) sandwiches are a great filling lunch, especially in winter. I like them with Vegemite, or sweet chilli sauce and mayo. Also if you use a jaffle maker you can put in tinned spaghetti or baked beans!
#29
Dried jarred herbs and spices. Yes, they don't compare to fresh, and yes they lose some oomph the longer they sit. But modern cooking trends have resulted in people feeling like jarred seasonings are automatically inferior. But the truth is they are comparable to fresh (you may need to use more) and while I wouldn't suggest making dinner for the King of England with them or for your Michelin Star restaurant, for Saturday spaghetti, you absolutely can throw in jarred dried oregano instead of spending a ton on fresh. In my area buying Badia brand seasonings is typically the cheapest way to go, plus they carry large sizes. And while we're at things in the spice cabinet, get yourself some MSG, buying it from the Asian grocery store (or online even from Amazon in the asian brands) is cheaper than buying a jar of Accent from the grocery store, because its that secret ingredient you are missing from your meals!
Rebekah 2 years ago
In the US, bags of spices in the "Spanish" section are way cheaper than the ones in the spice isle.
Deborah B 2 years ago
when you do buy fresh herbs, chop them all, and freeze them - spread them on a tray lined with baking paper, then once they're frozen, pour them into a zipseal bag, that way they don't freeze in one solid lump.
33Possums 2 years ago
If you don't mind them in a lump (for larger meals) you can freeze them in ice cube trays.
Load More Replies... HotDog Water 2 years ago
i always moosh my dried spices up in my mortar and pestle. seems to help release the flavor
Lauren S 2 years ago
MSG? That’s a spice? Somehow I thought that was something products advertise not having in their foods. I must be thinking if something else, like GMOs. I’ll have to google what this is. I’m certainly open to trying things!
Jim 2 years ago
The no-MSG campaigns are the result of xenophobia drummed up in the 60s and 70s. Glutamates are fine to consume and naturally present in foods like mushrooms, seaweed, tomatoes, and cheese.
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A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Badia here too... onion powder, garlic powder, Sazon etc. Good in a pinch if you can get it used withing a few months.
WillowRoseL 2 years ago
Accent for the win! It's been a staple in my pantry my whole life. Great way to add umami and depth to any dish. The whole "MSG allergy" scare was just not based on reality. And all the people that are "allergic" have never read the ingredients in any processed food they eat. You'll find MSG in most processed foods because it's a cheap way to add flavor. Just like anything else, use in moderation - but don't tell me that you got a migraine because you saw me add a little MSG to my dish!
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
Nice tip with the Accent! I never thought of finding alternatives. I have a massive Asian grocery store about 20 blocks away.
Diana Pahule 2 years ago
Sorry I hate cooking so dried works better for me with the longer shelf life.
Danie G 2 years ago
If you have a yard, or even a balcony or good windowsill, you can grow a lot of herbs yourself. I grew a good variety for years on an apartment balcony and got enough out of them to use fresh in the warmer months and to dry some for the rest of the year. Now I have an actual garden and can grow and dry even more (the oregano is even invasive and I'm constantly pulling it out and giving it away because we have so much of it). I haven't paid money for herbs in like a decade.
#30
Bananas
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
Where's the banana for size comparison. Oh I guess that joke doesn't work here... Damn it.
LeighAnne Brown-Pedersen 2 years ago
Bless you! For that contribution today
Load More Replies... Lauren S 2 years ago
Yes!!! Staple in my house. We buy them in varying stages of green so they don’t all go bad at the same time.
OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago
Funny. I find they "catch up" and all go overripe at the same time 🤷🏼♀️
Load More Replies... 3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
For a long time I would buy a bag of plain oats and a bunch of bananas, make oatmeal in the morning and mash the banana into it to sweeten it (with cinnamon too) so I didn’t need to add sugar - it was really tasty and SO FILLING that I had to start making half-portions because I couldn’t finish it. I had so much energy though, I should do that again.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
I don't like bananas terribly much, but sometimes I'll have one with coffee.
Auntriarch 2 years ago
I don't care for them myself, but a friend gave me banana bread with my coffee, and it did go well together
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Huddo's sister 2 years ago
Depending on weather etc, bananas can be expensive. I remember the mid '00s there was a cyclone or something in QLD and the price of bananas rose about 4x!
Greenmantle 2 years ago
Laziest breakfast ever: spead PB on a wrap, insert peeled banana and eat. Healthy too.
#31
Baked beans for me. If you buy them just in tomato sauce you can doctor the sauce and make just about any breakfast and add them to different meats with a little thought using seasonings and sauces. No its not gourmet but it is an imitation food I suppose that can make you quite a few BS versions of meals. Im not advocating making a hummus by straining them, just things like left over duck with baked beans and a salad is sort of cassoulet like, or adding the mornings bacon is pork and beans, or tossing tobacco and smoky sauce puts you into a tex mex breakfast territory with some eggs... lots of reasons to buy a 12 pack when they are on special because when you dont have power you can have a small fire and go different places with a relatively cheap canned food.
Sleepflower 2 years ago
I'm British and I've never ever seen anyone put scrambled eggs on their beans on toast before. I feel utterly cheated :-D
Load More Replies... Lauren S 2 years ago
When they say tobacco, do they mean Tabasco? Or actual tobacco that you turn into cigarettes? I’ve never heard of the latter being used in cooking but I guess it could be possible.
Thomas Gilfoyle 2 years ago
Bake your own for dirt cheap. An onion, a bit of clove, molasses, mustard, 2 bags of dried beans washed, soaked and pre-boiled, bake overnight or use slow-cooker. Plenty for freezing, and thaws into a thicker almost paste great so any ways.
#32
Dried pasta slaps when prepared correctly.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
I take boiled spaghettini and add garlic, butter/oil, Italian seasoning and salt & pepper. If you have nothing else but dried pasta and a spice cupboard, it’s definitely good enough 😊 the one time I happened to have Parmesan cheese was a game changer.
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Jennifer Sheppard 2 years ago
One of the easiest and fanciest pasta dishes you will ever enjoy goes like this: - Cook one box of pasta to your preferred tenderness - add one jar of pesto (regular size - most are close to or roughly one cup) and toss - sprinkle grated or flaked parmesan on top to your own tastes Voila! You can dress this up further by adding things you like. You can't go wrong by adding some leftover shredded rotisserie chicken, canned mushroom, and halved cherry tomatoes. Just fry up the chicken, mushroom, and tomato a bit first and then top off pasta & pesto with this first and cheese last. Enjoy!
Denise B. 2 years ago
Try spaghetti with just olive oil, walnuts, and garlic. Food of the gods!
Jake B 2 years ago
Hate me but this is good: spaghetti, peanut butter, hot chili oil or flakes, a half hand full of green onion chopped and sesame seeds. Ramen also works well for this.
CGZ 2 years ago
You're almost into Pad Thai curry territory there. You might want to look into it. I always have a couple cans of red curry paste on hand, the ones made by a company called Maesri.
Load More Replies... #33
Really any “salad” involving mayo. And I don’t even like mayo on it’s own. But a good tuna salad SLAPS and it’s cheap as hell
rodger coghlan 2 years ago
I make my potato salad with a shot or 2 of really cheap tequila - adds a pepper flavor that can't be duplicated
Load More Replies... OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago
Homemade mayonnaise is 1000 times better than store-bought
Jennifer Sheppard 2 years ago
I was shocked to learn people thought I was weird any time I made turkey salad. Apparently people are generally only familiar with chicken salad and had never considered making the exact same thing with turkey. IMO turkey salad sandwiches are far superior to chicken salad sandwiches.
Kel_how 2 years ago
I could definitely see that! My sister loves turkey, so maybe we'll try it soon.
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Sami-Jo Ross 2 years ago
My favorite summertime meal is canned tuna, mayo, and boiled shell pasta. Add salt, pepper, and a lil celery salt, and I can and will get three bowls of it.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
Pasta salad- I haven't had it in years, but would love to have it again. It used to be present at all our bbqs, along with potato salad and 'asian' salad.
#34
Spam
Bruh, i dont give a damn what time of day or night it is you put spam masubi near me and ill be scarfing that b***h down before i can say thanks.
Noname 2 years ago
Spam musubi is a classic snack in Hawaii and Japan. Guess you're not very epicurios, mate. You don't know what you're missing. Like vegemite is something to brag about.
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Tomato Smudge 2 years ago
Spam's nice to have in the pantry. Can chop up a bit to throw in the pan with eggs.
Edda Kamphues 2 years ago
I do apologise in advance, but I just can't do Spam. It reminds me of dog food.
Noname 2 years ago
What do you feed your dogs? Spam fed troops during WWII.
Load More Replies... Zelda Fitzgerald 2 years ago
A Filipino friend of mine taught me how to make spam fried rice and it is AMAZING. I was never a fan of spam before that. It's a super cheap meal too.
Kim Kermes 2 years ago
Spam diced small in bean soup adds more flavor than ham and is way cheaper. Browned in a frying pan is even better. Cold spam right out of the can is not appetizing, but neither is raw chicken or egg. Slice thin and fry, totally different.
Ches Yamada 2 years ago
It's a salty breakfast meat - fry it up and it just tastes like ham steak
#35
I just made an imitation crab salad sandwich and it was quite good. It definitely doesn't taste like crab, but it's good nonetheless. I consider it its own food product and not a substitute. It has a really nice flavorful sweet taste. No-Dirt-8737 added Oh yeah imitation crab and lobster is often made from pollock and are really good.
David 2 years ago
pollock - sugar - dyes - some flavors. Does not taste like crab but it has its uses.
BasedWang12.7 2 years ago
I wish they didn't dye it. Other than that, people get on their high horse about kani, but its still fish. Its like the chicken nugget of fish. Doesn't make it bad
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Debby Keir 2 years ago
A war time recipe (WW2) that my mother used to make, was 'mock crab'. Scrambled eggs with some chopped tinned tomato and seasoning. Often made with dried eggs, as fresh weren't available due to rationing.
Mer☕️🧭☕️ 2 years ago
That sounds like it would be really good served over brothy ramen...I'd say some "innovative" restaurant has already marketed it as a "bowl".
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François Carré 2 years ago
Now got scared a second time by misreading "doesn't taste like crab" with a p... what's wrong with me ?
Load More Replies... Karen Tyas 2 years ago
My friend used to warm up imitation crab in a pan with some olive oil then wilt fresh spinach and put it over pasta. I normally can’t stand fake crab but that’s when it’s being sold to me as real, that pasta dish worked and was easily tweaked to make it better.
R Dennis 2 years ago
I go to a Japanese market near me... if you weren't looking at it, you would swear one was crab and another was lobster. Not the super basic "krab", but good surimi is a whole other thing!
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
We call that 'seafood highlighter' in Australia. Used to make crab/seafood sticks in fish and chip shops.
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Mary Kelly 2 years ago
krab-with-a-k is good in seafood pasta salad for a crowd...doesn't fall apart like real crab and just works better for that purpose....but, obv. not as good as real crab in a side by side...
Katy McMouse 2 years ago
Imitation crab, some diced celery, diced banana peppers and a bit of the juice, diced sweet peppers, diced onion, Old Bay seasoning and mayo - perfect for crackers or just eat it from a bowl (my kids do). It's delicious and filling.
#36
Frozen veggies
Instant mashed potatoes
Canned tomatoes
Okatango 2 years ago (edited)
Frozen veggies are ok if prepared correctly, often even higher vitamins because frozen at peak. Greek Style Stew: Saute onions, add some garlic, thyme, can of tomatoes, quartered potatoes, bay leaf, salt & pepper. Cook until potatoes almost done, then add frozen green beans on top, cook until everything is done: add some crumbled feta to melt and voila, a superb meal.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Oh hell! NOW you are speaking wisdom! Awesome dish full of protein and just really damned good!
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Greenmantle 2 years ago
Sheesh. No need to be rude. It's actually pretty healthy and with the right seasonings would be tasty.
Load More Replies... Karen Tyas 2 years ago
Canned tomatoes are a pantry staple in my home. Fresh have their place but too many grocery store tomatoes are so bleh and flavorless. I know the flavor of the canned tomatoes will be consistent and actually exist.
33Possums 2 years ago
I agree. I love fresh tomatoes but the ones in the store - even the expensive ones - are tasteless. Canned tomatoes are canned when ripe and are just the bruised or unpretty tomatoes. Canned tomatoes are among my favorite pantry staples because of their versatility and vitamins.
Load More Replies... Judes 2 years ago
Instant mashed potatoes are probably more expensive than making them from scratch (although this may depend where you live).
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
I buy bags of flavored mashed potatoes that serve 2-3 for just over a dollar. Add hot water and stir. They're delicious. You can add bacon bits, or other meats. Sometimes I'll cut up hot dogs in them and add cheese. You can put veggies in. Broccoli and cauliflower go especially well, if you want to add meat or cheese. Best stuff ever!
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Kimberly Wiltshire 2 years ago
Instant mash also zero nutrition. Pop.some.potatoes in a pot, you can leave the skins on and make proper mash. The day after add some flour and make potato pancakes and have that with a fried egg, beans what have you. Instamt mash is literally starch just starch.
Antz Online 2 years ago
Fresh veggies are best, the frozen veggies taste as bad as it looks in the picture.
Jake B 2 years ago
Depends where you live I think. Canned and frozen are less than an hour out of the field. Some fresh is days old. Fresh is best if it is fresh though. You are right on that.
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Carol Emory 2 years ago
Cheapest and easiest way to make a good meal. Brown hamburger in a fry pan, put it in a large crockpot, chop 1 cup celery, put it in the crockpot. Add a 2-3 cups of frozen mixed veg (no lima beans), a cup or two of frozen southern style hashbrowns, 1/2 cup pearl barley, 1 packet of Lipton Onion soup mix, 8 cups of water, two beef boullion cubes a 16 oz can of crush tomatoes and 3 bay leaf. Salt and pepper to taste. Whack it on low for 6-8 hours. Hearty vegetable soup that will rival anything in a restaurant...and lots of it.
Carol Emory 2 years ago
And if you want to make it vegan, remove the hamburger, switch the beef boullion cubes and four cups of water for a four cup carton of veggie broth. Add mushroom or lentils if the desire hits you.
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TheKitKatLizard 2 years ago
Frozen is cheaper, often more nutritious, and most of the time even easier and quicker to prepare than fresh! (Cutting broccoli can be a b***h)
#37
Chicken drumsticks. I can get them for 49 cents a pound on sale sometimes.
rodger coghlan 2 years ago
Yes! Back when I was a kid, I liked turkey hindquarters - they were like $0.49 per lb
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
That’s what I did for Christmas dinner this year! Way cheaper than a whole Turkey and it was just my bf and I anyways :)
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Donald Crocker, Jr. 2 years ago
Ymmv, a lot of bulk chicken ends up not refrigerated somewhere in the cycle, bag bloating is a warning sign.
Maple Porkly 2 years ago
Chicken has gone up to turkey prices where I live. It was my go to meat but no longer. Can't afford the "cheap" cuts when they are $5/piece
#38
Pork Carnitas are really easy too. Drop a big chunk of butt in with 1% salt by weight and put water up to its shoulders. Black pepper, Lime, garlic, cumin, bay leaf, anything you want adds to it but just salt is fine. Simmer it til the water is basically gone, 2 hours or so. It falls apart and is incredible pan fried for putting in tacos all week.
Zelda Fitzgerald 2 years ago
You forgot the orange/orange zest. That's a must have for authentic tasting carnitas.
Manic Mama 2 years ago
Ummm. What actual cut of meat is this? I'm dead-certain it's not called "Butt" at the butcher's.
33Possums 2 years ago
Pork shoulder is often called Boston butt. It can be confusing.
Load More Replies... Kim Kermes 2 years ago
Once shredded, keep cooking uncovered and the top will caramelize. Stir it under until there's enough caramelized to your taste.
Lauren S 2 years ago
This sounds delicious but you can’t use words like chunk of butt and shoulder in your description without cannibals crossing my mind. I understand that these are genuinely parts of animals but I just need you to make it something else please. Like how veal sounds very different than baby cow… (Ps, I don’t think I’ve ever had veal, that’s just my name example). But now that I think about it… why is cow called beef, pig called pork or bacon, but chicken still called chicken and we’re all okay with it?
Captain Kyra 2 years ago
The food words we use come from French. It's because for a long time the rulers of England were French speakers. Chicken wasn't served to the upper echelon, but poultry was, so it still received the French treatment.
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#39
I have loved liverwurst since I was a kid, and it's very cheap. I can get a pound of it at my usual grocery store for $2.49, whereas any sliced lunchmeat will cost me at least double that.
David 2 years ago
Weird - body memory - have not had it in forever but I could almost taste it while reading that. I do like it once in a while but I forget about it.
Mer☕️🧭☕️ 2 years ago
Slice the roll into halves or even thirds then freeze what you don't need to eat now for later - lasts forever.
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Sue From Michigan 2 years ago
I love it too. My dad loved it when I was growing up and I developed a taste for it. A sandwich with lettuce and mayo is how I usually eat it.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
Liverwurst I've never tried, but I've had liver sausage. I don't know whose liver it was, but I think pork.
David A Paterson 2 years ago
Four and a half times that price here. Microbiologists tell me that liverwurst is the one food closest to a complete set of vitamins and minerals for healthy eating. I have it regularly for medicinal purposes.
Temporary Dork 2 years ago
Microbiologists are wrong. As it is made of offal, it contains A and B vitamins, iron and selenium. But not much else, and it's very high in sodium and fat.
Load More Replies... A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
I. LOVE. LIVERWURST!!! Braunschweiger, etc... any liver sausage with mustard and onions. AND let's go with Wunderbar bologna! about $3.00 US for a metric ton and it's just so good!
michael hale 2 years ago
If ever in Long Beach, CA, try out the oldest bar in town Joe Jost’s. There you can order up a liverwurst sandwich on white bread, a pickled egg and a pitcher.
#40
Cuban black beans. All day every day.
#41
Bolognese, classic dish, everybody likes if. Cheap.
Margaret H 2 years ago
Especially those frozen ones so many people look down on. A good peas, carrots and corn mix is brilliant for this.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 2 years ago
We had it so much as a kid, I rarely cook it for myself anymore, except when I go camping with my siblings, as it's one of the few things we all eat
Irene Donovan 2 years ago
Nope. Not everyone likes it. I hate the taste of just about anything made with wheat flour, but especially bread and pasta. Always have. Mixed with enough strong flavors to mask the taste, I can manage to eat it without gagging, but I still won't like it. I'd much rather spend my calories on something that tastes good to me.
WindySwede 2 years ago
I would not say "cheap" nor fast (as it 'must' simmer 5 - 6 h). But it's a go to dish! Serve with spaghetti. Something good to keep in the freezer!
Lori Rommel 2 years ago
I don't know why somebody downvoted you, but I canceled it out, even if I'll probably never take this particular culinary suggestion to heart.
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#42
Canned tuna, pasta with butter and garlic, chicken, beef or veggie broth (can be used for so many things), dried/canned beans or any other canned items that will be used. These are all things that we always had on hand when we had very little money. Never went without, but we didn't each steak, much meat or went out for food.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
Pasta bake and tuna casserole are two of my sister's favourite meals.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago (edited)
I like mixing canned tuna or salmon with breadcrumbs, egg, spices, onion, etc and forming little “tuna/salmon patties” to freeze. Fry up 2 of those with a little homemade “lemon aioli” (lemon juice, lemon pepper, mayo, garlic) and serve with whatever you have to stretch it out, rice, potatoes, pasta, beans etc. Cheap and easy, especially if you make your own breadcrumbs from stale bread.
#43
Tin cornbeef with some cabbage and onion over rice what a treat.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
I love corned beef! We have it with mashed potatoes and steamed cabbage. I used to have mustard pickles on top, but I can't eat it anymore, but now I've discovered whole mustard grain I'm just as happy :)
#44
Canned salmon for salmon patties and canned chicken for casseroles and chicken salad.
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 2 years ago
My mom used to line a cupcake pan with slices of white bread (crust removed), and fill each bread cup with canned salmon, and bake. Was okay (not a huge fish fan). The soft bones kinda grossed me out a bit.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
Canned chicken definitely has a place in my life. A can or two of that, a bag of soup starter, and a bag of egg noodles gives me a week of very nice soup. All the veggies and stock are in the soup starter, so I don't have to fuss with all of that. Add Mrs. Dash to your pot, and it's even better.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
My Mom would make a salmon cake to knock you on your a*s! LOL! So good!
CGZ 2 years ago
I've always wanted to do things with canned salmon, but I've always experienced bones in with the meat. I never want to deal with that. Any tips? Anyone?
MarieTDr 2 years ago
Pick out any big spine bones. The rest are easy/soft to eat and supposedly add calcium.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 2 years ago
My stepdad makes patties with tinned tuna, called poonas. I have made some with tinned salmon too.
Emma London 2 years ago
Canned salmon is okay but I've yet to find canned chicken tahat wouldn't smell and taste like cat food.
Jude Laskowski 2 years ago
You can get Trident frozen salmon burgers at Costco. They're fabulous with a squeeze of lemon.
#45
Nothing makes me happier than a tuna sandwich and an orange. My favorite lunch.
cutie 904 2 years ago
Can't go wrong with this one. Add some cucumber, mayo, pepper to taste, mix up, spread in bread and you have a delicious lunch 🤤
Jill Allen 2 years ago
My mom would toast almonds in the oven and add to tuna fish sandwiches. So, so yummy!
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 2 years ago
My sister's favourite lunch is a tuna and cucumber sandwich or a chicken loaf and cucumber sandwich.
Jude Laskowski 2 years ago
When I was in grade school, everyone brought lunch from home. You hit the jackpot when mom made you a tuna fish sandwich.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
Hey that sounds pretty good, oranges are my favourite fruit. I’d do I it on whole wheat bread with some cucumber and lemon, and bring some roasted seasoned chickpeas as a snack along with the orange. Cheap and healthy :)
#46
SAR-F*****G-DINES.
Healthy, delicious, eco-friendly and CHEAP!
bagelmaster3000 added:
I get the mustard sauce ones and eat them over hot multigrain bowl (one of those 90 second pouches from Aldi). Or just over crackers: I like the mustard sauce ones.
I've heard people sauté them in their own oil and toss them with pasta, you could break them up in pasta sauce for a fishy kick.
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
I love sardines, but I found out the hard way they don’t like me. Highly allergic. Not fun finding that out.
Jeremy James 2 years ago
I always keep a tin of sardines in my backpack for when I meet stray cats.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
That’s really cute of you! I grab a $2 can of sardines in water once or twice a month from the dollar store for my own kitties, they both get some mashed sardine on their dinner a couple times a week 😊 kitties love sards
Load More Replies... Edda Kamphues 2 years ago
I had a colleague who put them on his toast every lunchtime. The staffroom cleared pretty quickly. They are super healthy, but, man, they smell.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
Love sardines in oil or mustard... on rye with onions! But as I said in a prior post, do NOT get close to anyone! LOL! Delicious but the ultimate bad breath sandwich!
Kelly Aitken 2 years ago
My 9 year old son and I can kill two tins in minutes together. An old tradition my English mother and I use to have, that is now passed down to my son. Now my 16 year old daughter won't even go near them! LOL
#47
Hamburger Helper. Use to make it in college cause it was all I could afford. Now decades later I still enjoy it.
Amanda 2 years ago
So very very little pasta in box for the same or more money now-a-days. Smh I swear when I was young mom made two boxes fed all 6 of us now would take like a box a piece for full bowl each of the pasta
Mary Hiers 2 years ago
When my kids were growing up, I'd stretch Hamburger Helper with some extra egg noodles and spices.
Load More Replies... Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 2 years ago
All the helpers! There's chicken helper and tuna helper too. You can add veggies to stretch it even further. I agree there's less in a box nowadays. For a large family skip the boxed stuff and just buy the dried noodles in big bags. You're really just paying for the spices anyhow.
Kimberly Wiltshire 2 years ago
Hamburger helper and rixe a roni are an advertising scam. Rice a roni is.kiterally rice, chicken cube, ang hair pasta and butter. Just buy rice, buy smmime small angel hair or risoni pasta and brown it in butter in a saucd pan add chixken cube water and atir, put lid on and let cook on kow heat for 30 mins. You can get 20 ricd a roni for the lrice of 1 box. Also hamburger helper, just a simple spice mix in a satchet. Just use your own soices and a bit of starch you'll get.the same dish with the remaining ingedients. Copy cat recipes are very helpful.
Analyn Lahr 2 years ago
I don't care for it personally because of a nightmare I had when I was about six. A giant Hamburger Helper hand ate my dad. Couldn't stand the taste of it after that. It's been almost thirty years. Maybe I should give it another try...
#48
Boiled peanuts, i get a large cup of cajun peanuts and they’re only $3
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 2 years ago
OMG thank you!!! I moved to the Midwest US a few years ago and was sad because no one ate these. Oddly, Walmart has them canned in the canned veggie aisle and I was happy to find them. Some folks don't like the texture; ex hubs called them "alien eye balls" lol more for me 😋
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
Is a boiled peanut not crunchy? Is it mushy? I don’t think I’ve ever had one but I’m very curious!
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Todd Campbell 2 years ago
Oh man. Forgot about these. Cajun is 10x better. One thing I miss from when I lived in the South.
Punk Princess Sheena 2 years ago
We boil huge batches during season and then freeze them. Boiled peanuts all year long!
#49
Canned pumpkin is great for pumpkin pie and other pumpkin desserts. Why bother carving out a fresh pumpkin when canned pumpkin can be just as good, if not better.
Canned pork liver pate. I especially love using it for banh mis.
Canned corned beef hash is great when pan-fried until it gets ultra-crispy. I haven't had homemade corned beef hash that was better than the canned variety.
K Tigress 2 years ago
But you get more bang for your buck with a pie pumpkin. How about the seeds? You don't get that with a can of pumpkin.
Alexej Dvorak 2 years ago
Well I guess you could cut a face out of the can and put a light inside on Halloween, but I imagine it doesn't give the same atmosphere.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
We can' buy that in Australia (that I can find). Plus the only dessert I've used pumpkin in is scones. I do use it in a lot of savoury dishes though. Been trying to grow my own from the scraps too.
Diana Pahule 2 years ago
I bought a can recently. I found it pretty gross. The flavor was muddy.
Marilyn Russell 2 years ago
Canned pumpkin is so expensive and hard to find where I live in Canada now, like over $5.00 for a can. Crazy.
Carol Emory 2 years ago
1 can of pumpkin mixed for 2 minutes on medium with one Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix or Vanilla Cake Mix and whack it in a greased 9x9 pan. Bake it @ 350 for 30-35 minutes and you have vegan pumpkin cake. The Duncan Hines vanilla frosting is also Vegan.
D-m Keilman 2 years ago
Box of Spiced cake mix, can of purée pumpkin, little water. Mix and bake. Awesome cake with zero cholesterol and 1ww point per slice.
Wendy O'Shea 2 years ago
It is great to add to chili and soups, and pancakes. There are so many things to add a bit to add moisture,vitamins, and fiber to recipes without overwhelming flavor.
#50
Not sure if it counts as "cheap", I've never seen anyone else even own (let alone prepare) a can of Vienna Sausages. So many great recipes with those things. My favorite is rolling them up in a Pillsbury croissant dough to make pigs in a blanket. But my "cheapest" preparation is slicing in half lengthwise and frying them and having them with eggs and toast.
Noel Bovae 2 years ago
I like Vienna sausages, but as an adult, I can only eat 1-2 before I start getting the ick. Never even considered actually COOKING them before 🤦♀️ I'll definitely be trying this out.
A Bobcat From Philly 2 years ago
They were awesome when fried! Never cared for them out of the can but fry them up or as said, wrap in croissant dough and yeah! Also, do a hot dog in croissant dough but add cheese and bacon. Mom called then "Dog Biscuits!" LOL!
Sleepflower 2 years ago
American pigs in blankets use pastry as the blanket? Oh dear, that's nowhere near as appetising. Over here in the UK, we use bacon, not pastry.
33Possums 2 years ago
We use biscuit or crescent roll dough. Bacon sounds like pigs in a pig, which also sounds tasty.
Load More Replies... Paul Pienkowski 2 years ago
Yay! Another fan of Vienna sausage! Gotta love processed meat product.
Analyn Lahr 2 years ago
When I worked at Wal-Mart, I was on break sitting on a bench at the front of the store. I saw a lady take a can of Vienna sausages out of her bag, open it and DRINK the liquid. Then she proceeded to eat the sausages. All before leaving the store.
Linda Wilson 2 years ago
When I was a teenager growing up in rural NE - I worked in the fields to make money in the summer. We would grab a can of Vienna sausages and 2 slices of bread in the morning. When we got to the job we would set our cans on the roof of the car - so that they would get warm and we could stab them onto our bread and have lunch for cheap. Still love them but not so good for me in my old age.
Jaithesaint 2 years ago
You have to add them to Spanish rice. Yellow rice (made with sazon, tomato paste, and sofrito) sliced Vienna sausages, and canned corned. Steamed to perfection..childhood ✨
#51
You could put turkey here, especially after turkey day. If you plan your shopping budget and wait till mod November lots of stores will give you a frozen bird for a 100 or 150 dollar purchase. That's hardly a week's worth. You could get two or more shopping different stored. Even buying one is cheap enough. And they go on clearance after Thanksgiving
K W 2 years ago
They weren't on clearance after Thanksgiving here. A small turkey breast was $23 USD and the turkeys were at least $40. And unfortunately they stopped doing the free turkey thing because that was awesome. None of the local groceries offered it this year.
Kiss Army 2 years ago
That's because in addition to the bird flu, the increased cost to raise turkeys due to inflation also affected turkey prices. The price of feeding turkeys increased more than 10% from August 2021 to August 2022, according to USDA data.
Load More Replies... Jennifer Sheppard 2 years ago
Walmart here sells turkeys by weight category. They're $15/$20/$25/$30. I used to stock up on $15 turkeys - always had at least three in my freezer. So many possibilities with a turkey.
Anne Van Staden 2 years ago
I don't understand the America's obsession with turkey. Had it once it was dry and tasteless.
#52
Pollock is a legitimate fish to eat on its own.
Nadine Debard 2 years ago
Pollack/pollock is one of my favorite fish, cheap and delicious. Also hake is wonderful.
Aranora 2 years ago
No it's not. It is a white fish like cod or haddock. It's become more popular in the UK because cod has been over farmed and is often used in fish fingers and fish cakes. It's cheaper than cod or haddock.
Load More Replies... #53
Channa masala. Cheap to make, but that’s only if you already have the spices. Very underrated vegetarian dish.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
Mmm I used to live down the street from a tiny vegetarian Indian food restaurant (think your typical cheap mom&pop pizza/curry place but all vegetarian) and I could spend $40 with them and get a week’s worth of veg Indian food including Chana masala, chaat papri, veg pakora, all the good stuff! Can’t wait to move back home just for this haha
#54
Lots of great ingredients listed, but I’m gonna shout out local street food and equivalent. Could be street tacos, tamales, your local laborer lunch truck, Baltimore’s chicken box or pit beef or lake trout, Seattle’s Teriyaki, NY and Boston’s Halal Chicken carts. Many others I don’t know or don’t know yet. Love em.
David 2 years ago
Street food is often good but topic of thread is saving money / food on a budget. I can make several meals for what it costs for a meal from a food truck.
Kiss Army 2 years ago
Agreed. I have only bought from a food truck a few times and it was EXPENSIVE!
Load More Replies... Sami-Jo Ross 2 years ago
Baltimore-born here and can confirm that the chicken box is absolutely delicious, filling, and cheap!
#55
Batchelor Chow: a starch potatoes/stuffing/rice/pasta, vegetables, a protein sausage/chicken/egg/beans. Terrific with Tabasco sauce.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
Bonus points if the "tobasco" is some weird off brand you never heard of from Grocery Outlet.
#56
Mussels! Cheapest food in the seafood counter, easy to make and delicious with frites and/or crusty bread
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
Bread them, deep fry them and serve them to me with some kind of sauce - only way I truly enjoy mussels, oysters, clams etc 😊
#57
Organ meats! Heart especially. It takes a bit of etra effort to trim down, but it gives a fantastic beefy flavor, and as red meats go its very lean and comparatively healthy. I'll usually chop it up and throw it in the slow cooker for a stew. Occasionally I'll slice it thin and cook it more fajita style, but the stew is my go-to. I've been out of the states for a bit now so not sure if the price is still the same, but it used to be about $5-6 a pound, not a bad price at all for meat.
Debby Keir 2 years ago
Quite difficult to source in the UK anymore. It got 'banned' during 'Mad cow disease' and even when that was over, few places bothered to stock heart, liver, sweetbreads etc any more.Think it mostly goes into our pet food now.
XenoMurph 2 years ago
Morrisons still sells it, where I am in North England. We have a butchers counter, so maybe that's why they still have it. Instead of steak and kidney pie, steak and heart pie is better, to me. Slightly more subtle offal flavour, but still the extra depth.
Load More Replies... Nadine Debard 2 years ago
When I was a broke student, I couldn't afford steak so I grilled beef heart slices and it was not bad. Sometimes I enjoy grilled chicken/rabbit livers, served with onions cooked with Porto, that's delicious.
Anne Van Staden 2 years ago
My mom makes the best liver cakes. And I absolutely love cow tongue. Absolutely delicious
Nadine Debard 2 years ago
I don't mind eating cow tongue but I hate the texture.
Load More Replies... Edda Kamphues 2 years ago
Make your own stock, using bones. Time consuming, but delicious. And pigs's stomachs filled with sausage meat, potatoes and seasoning is amazing.
David A Paterson 2 years ago
Offal and bone. Cheap and healthy. But needs an expert to coax a "fantastic" flavour out of them.
#58
The humble chicken Maryland (thigh and drum together). When I bbq them with charcoal and make a good sauce people get excited vs a ho hum another steak. $4.50 per kilo vs $30 ish for the steak.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
We call them quarters here, but totally agree. They come out juicier too because they aren't cut in half.
#60
Pork neck bones. Super cheap, adds lots of flavor and extremely versatile
#61
Velveeta. It’s delicious. It may be a “cheese product” and have a strange consistency, it it’s delicious and goes fantastic as a dip or with veggies. Vienna sausages. They’re dirt cheap, and for all intents and purposes, they are pate. Pate is an expensive culinary delicacy- Vienna sausages are the exact same thing, but dirt cheap and in an easier to get ahold of format.
David 2 years ago
Last time I checked, Velveeta cost as much per pound as "real" cheese. In my childhood it was a cheap alternative.
Daffydillz~ 2 years ago
You're exactly right. The large standard size box is about $10 on average where I live. I think it weighs 3lbs but I'm not positive about that. I only buy the small one for a sausage dip on rare occasions.
Load More Replies... Jennifer Sheppard 2 years ago
I'm sorry. I have to say something. These products only taste good if your palate is already accustomed to such things. It's usually Americans who come to the defense of their flavour. Canadian folks who grew up poor will as well (no hate - I'm a member of the demographic). But I assure you it doesn't actually taste good unless you're used to your food supply being heavily adulterated with salt, sugar, fat, etc.
Noel Bovae 2 years ago
Velveeta shouldn't even be on this list. It's outrageously expensive, like $8+ for a block of Velveeta!
Sarcastic Fringehead 2 years ago
Velveeta is an interesting choice for this thread. I mean there are a lot of weird things on here. My younger sister loves their Mac n cheese and I never rlly knew what to think of it. It’s so processed it’s not even funny. Idk might just be me but I can’t agree. It might be cheap but still nasty
#62
Chicken feet are cheep and good if done right
Edda Kamphues 2 years ago
I think I might pass on this one. I'm a fairly adventurous eater, but this is a step too far for me.
#63
I buy the cheapest hotdogs I can find (my grocery store sells packs for $1 made from chicken by-product) and pickle them. Makes them actually taste good, and you can eat them on some sardines. For the record, I cut them into quarters so they are more akin to vienna sausages.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
Either OP is messing with us, or they’ve found the ultimate ambrosia
Load More Replies... Temporary Dork 2 years ago
Anything in moderation. Don't eat processed foods every day - processed meat is particularly bad for you. Rice, beans, and slooooow cooked onions ftw!
What do you think ?
ZeroCapacity 2 years ago
Half these things you can't buy where I am at or are three times the price of anything else. The things I enjoyed as a kid and were cheap for my parents people have ruined by buying it all up so stores around me raised prices.
Duh 2 years ago
You think the people buying it up ruined it, not the corporations that raised the prices? The corporations that can buy things in bulk cheaper, so now that they're selling more they have a fatter margin? You're not mad at them?
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Mabelbabel 2 years ago
Look at portion sizes-we've lost touch with what a "normal" portion size is. A standard chicken thigh, without bone or skin, yields about 3oz of meat. For nutritional purposes, that's a standard adult serving. One large chicken breast yields enough for two adults. We don't need to be eating huge steaks or other large helpings of protein, 2-3oz is sufficient.
Kendra Miller 2 years ago
I make my own frozen microwave meals. In the last year I found my 2 cup size made me too full, so I switched to one cup. It's been perfect and everything I make goes twice as far. At Christmas I made the big mistake of trying to eat like my teenage self... It was awful, I felt gross for a week! My coworkers comment that it doesn't look like a lot of food and frown in concern. But I've come to this conclusion based on what my body wants. Now when I look at other people's plates, it just looks like so much food, it can be sickening.
Load More Replies... Weasel Wise 2 years ago
Not a one of these are "tricks" nor "tips", this is a list of foods that people think are cheap and it's solely applicable to where someone lives. Boo.
Rachel Ainsworth 2 years ago
Soup is a great budget meal as you can put in almost any veges or meat that are cheap or old. Dried beans or lentils or rice or pasta can be added (beans increase the cooking time though). Also good to use up old dry bread to dunk in soup.
Wombat1985 2 years ago
So the key is buying ingredients and actually cooking stuff yourself. I feel enlightened.
Celeste Grant 2 years ago
Having serious food allergies makes food so expensive. Having to be gluten free, wheat free, milk and lactose free plus low residue makes for limited options that come at a cost. I have no option to buy food that isn't going to make me ill, especially as I can go into full anaphylaxis if I eat something I'm allergic to. But it means I have to cook from scratch and if I want bread or biscuits it's often £3 for a tiny amount. Rice is my saviour! Also learning to make corn tortillas from scratch is easy, quick and cheap when compared to paying £3.50 for six tiny ones. I wish I could eat "normal" food. I'd like to grab a take away or order food to be delivered occasionally but it's too risky. Going out to eat is stressful and takes so much research. I'm a good cook now because I have to be!
Rachel Ainsworth 2 years ago
Consider trying Thai food for takeaways, it is often free of wheat and dairy as they are not typically used in thai cuisine.
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Okatango 2 years ago (edited)
Polenta (corn grits) made with a little sharp cheese and nutmeg, served with sauteed mushrooms sauce made with garlic, parsley and onions, couple of tablespoons of red wine. Cheap and delish!
Helena 2 years ago
Polenta with parsley, oregano, basil, chunks of mozzerella, formed into a brick and sliced with a good marinara over it. Grew up on it. Love polenta
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Naomi Williams 2 years ago
Ok hear me out... frozen berries. I'd get them fresh but where I live they go bad quick
Hyrule26 2 years ago
Bro chicken and potatoe stew easy af to make and u can make so.much of it. You just need a s**t ton of potatoes and a packet (or a few packets if u wanna splurge) of chicken thighs as well as an onion or two. Chop it up, throw it all in a big pot, put a ton of fresh ground pepper into it, about a cup of soy sauce and enough water to cover it. Boil until the potatoes r soft. Eat a little bit of the stew with a lot of rice otherwise its too salty. It freezes and it will last for long time.
LillieMean 2 years ago
I have to mention chickpea flour. Classics include farinata and socca. You can also make a kind of tofu from the flour. Sweet crepes can also be made from the flour. Affordable and filling. If you don't use eggs with black salt, you get a bit like an omelet. It also works well as an egg substitute, e.g. in baking. It is also gluten free. If you have an efficient mixer and hearing protection, you can make flour yourself at home.
ZeroCapacity 2 years ago
Half these things you can't buy where I am at or are three times the price of anything else. The things I enjoyed as a kid and were cheap for my parents people have ruined by buying it all up so stores around me raised prices.
Duh 2 years ago
You think the people buying it up ruined it, not the corporations that raised the prices? The corporations that can buy things in bulk cheaper, so now that they're selling more they have a fatter margin? You're not mad at them?
Load More Replies... Mabelbabel 2 years ago
Look at portion sizes-we've lost touch with what a "normal" portion size is. A standard chicken thigh, without bone or skin, yields about 3oz of meat. For nutritional purposes, that's a standard adult serving. One large chicken breast yields enough for two adults. We don't need to be eating huge steaks or other large helpings of protein, 2-3oz is sufficient.
Kendra Miller 2 years ago
I make my own frozen microwave meals. In the last year I found my 2 cup size made me too full, so I switched to one cup. It's been perfect and everything I make goes twice as far. At Christmas I made the big mistake of trying to eat like my teenage self... It was awful, I felt gross for a week! My coworkers comment that it doesn't look like a lot of food and frown in concern. But I've come to this conclusion based on what my body wants. Now when I look at other people's plates, it just looks like so much food, it can be sickening.
Load More Replies... Weasel Wise 2 years ago
Not a one of these are "tricks" nor "tips", this is a list of foods that people think are cheap and it's solely applicable to where someone lives. Boo.
Rachel Ainsworth 2 years ago
Soup is a great budget meal as you can put in almost any veges or meat that are cheap or old. Dried beans or lentils or rice or pasta can be added (beans increase the cooking time though). Also good to use up old dry bread to dunk in soup.
Wombat1985 2 years ago
So the key is buying ingredients and actually cooking stuff yourself. I feel enlightened.
Celeste Grant 2 years ago
Having serious food allergies makes food so expensive. Having to be gluten free, wheat free, milk and lactose free plus low residue makes for limited options that come at a cost. I have no option to buy food that isn't going to make me ill, especially as I can go into full anaphylaxis if I eat something I'm allergic to. But it means I have to cook from scratch and if I want bread or biscuits it's often £3 for a tiny amount. Rice is my saviour! Also learning to make corn tortillas from scratch is easy, quick and cheap when compared to paying £3.50 for six tiny ones. I wish I could eat "normal" food. I'd like to grab a take away or order food to be delivered occasionally but it's too risky. Going out to eat is stressful and takes so much research. I'm a good cook now because I have to be!
Rachel Ainsworth 2 years ago
Consider trying Thai food for takeaways, it is often free of wheat and dairy as they are not typically used in thai cuisine.
Load More Replies... Okatango 2 years ago (edited)
Polenta (corn grits) made with a little sharp cheese and nutmeg, served with sauteed mushrooms sauce made with garlic, parsley and onions, couple of tablespoons of red wine. Cheap and delish!
Helena 2 years ago
Polenta with parsley, oregano, basil, chunks of mozzerella, formed into a brick and sliced with a good marinara over it. Grew up on it. Love polenta
Load More Replies... Naomi Williams 2 years ago
Ok hear me out... frozen berries. I'd get them fresh but where I live they go bad quick
Hyrule26 2 years ago
Bro chicken and potatoe stew easy af to make and u can make so.much of it. You just need a s**t ton of potatoes and a packet (or a few packets if u wanna splurge) of chicken thighs as well as an onion or two. Chop it up, throw it all in a big pot, put a ton of fresh ground pepper into it, about a cup of soy sauce and enough water to cover it. Boil until the potatoes r soft. Eat a little bit of the stew with a lot of rice otherwise its too salty. It freezes and it will last for long time.
LillieMean 2 years ago
I have to mention chickpea flour. Classics include farinata and socca. You can also make a kind of tofu from the flour. Sweet crepes can also be made from the flour. Affordable and filling. If you don't use eggs with black salt, you get a bit like an omelet. It also works well as an egg substitute, e.g. in baking. It is also gluten free. If you have an efficient mixer and hearing protection, you can make flour yourself at home.
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