30 Things You Never Buy at the Grocery Store—But Should
Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about 30 Things You Never Buy at the Grocery Store—But Should and hope the blog can help you.
It’s winter, time to hibernate and stock up on essentials. Keep your pantry full of goodness—and your home shipshape—with this list of 30 high-quality budget products for home and kitchen. Next time you go shopping, don’t strain your bank account. Instead, stick to this list of healthy, inexpensive solutions.
Dried Beans
If you’re one of the many home cooks who prefer canned beans, it may be time to reconsider your purchasing habits. Canned beans often have additives like salt and calcium disodium EDTA, making them less healthful than their dried counterparts. Not only that, canned products are usually more expensive than the dried versions.
Whole Produce
Time-saving products, including packaged produce, are more expensive. Buy seasonal whole fruits and veggies, especially bulk bags of apples, oranges, grapefruit, onions, and potatoes, to maximize your savings. Get even more for your money by simmering your vegetable peels and trimmings with herbs and water for an hour or so to make a rich broth for use in soups or risotto.
Related: How To: Grow Fresh Produce from Your Leftover Groceries
Whole Chickens
Follow Epicurious.com’s easy guide to buying whole chickens to cut costs and increase your culinary options. Be aware that cheaper poultry may be raised on less humane farms than organic or free-range options. If that’s a concern, consider visiting your local farmers market and asking vendors about their cheapest cuts.
Local Fish
According to Cooking Light’s guide to buying fish, “When local fish are abundant, the price goes down and the quality goes up.” If you can’t get local fish, try for American- or Canadian-caught. Avoid seafood from China or Southeast Asia because of regulatory concerns.
Related: 15 Things Never to Put in the Fridge
Bulk Oatmeal
If you’re buying boxed cereal or single-serve packets of microwavable oatmeal, give bulk oatmeal another look. Not only is raw oatmeal healthier and longer lasting than refined cereals, it is also cheaper and has a greater variety of uses. Add it to meatloaf in place of breadcrumbs, use it to soak up an oil spill in the kitchen or garage, or simply cook it and drizzle it with maple syrup for a satisfying breakfast.
Related: 10 Best-Bet Kitchen Buys from Ikea
Potted Herbs
Cut and packaged herbs are expensive, especially when you consider that much of the bunch will probably go to waste before you can use it. Instead, scan the produce section for potted herbs that are easy to grow and maintain, especially basil and mint. Avoid buying herbs potted in overly dry soil or with very thick roots, which are stress indicators.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This all-star vinegar can be used for dietary purposes as well as house cleaning. If you intend to use apple cider vinegar in salad dressings or drinks, choose a brand that contains “the mother”—which means it’s raw and unpasteurized, with live and active cultures.
White Vinegar
White vinegar can be mixed with water, lemon juice, and essential oils for a cheap and effective surface and glass cleaner. For the biggest bang for your buck, select a generic store brand.
Coffee Filters
Even if you’ve switched to a Keurig machine or you don’t even drink the stuff, you may want to add coffee filters to your shopping list. There are many things you can do with a coffee filter, from cleaning windows to fashioning your own tea bags.
Clearance Candy
Before you know it, it’ll be Halloween again. Stock up on holiday favorites that have a long shelf life like lollipops and Tootsie Rolls. Avoid chocolate or anything that might melt or go rancid.
Castile Soap
Why buy a separate specialty cleanser for every surface in your home when an all-purpose soap can clean almost everything? Save money by switching to a product like pure Castile soap in bar or liquid form. It can be used to wash anything from dishes and laundry to your own hands and body, if it’s properly diluted.
Generic Salt
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Sea salt and table salt have the same basic nutritional value, despite the fact that sea salt is often promoted as being healthier.” So it’s fine to choose regular Morton salt or even a generic brand.
Turmeric
One of the less common spices in the average American’s pantry, turmeric is also one of the most versatile. In addition to its culinary uses, turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries.
Bounty Paper Towels
There’s no contest: Bounty paper towels are consistently rated highest by Consumer Reports. Buy a family pack and keep a roll in the car for emergencies.
Freezable Sale Items
Fresh blueberries are just 90 cents per container? Stock up, then freeze what you don’t immediately use. Lots of products are freezable, including dairy, baked goods, and meat.
Related: 10 Unexpected Things to Put in Your Freezer—And Why
Popcorn Kernels
Skip the microwave popcorn with its questionable preservatives, and pass on the expensive, buttery bags of the pre-popped stuff. Instead, buy a big bag of popcorn kernels. Then, for your next movie night, put a pot on the stove, add a little high-heat oil, and pop your own. It’s cheaper, more satisfying, and a lot more fun.
Organic Eggs
Should you buy eggs or egg whites? According to Prevention magazine’s side-by-side comparison, whole eggs win. What about organic vs. conventional? Prevention’s take on it is that organic eggs are the safer bet.
Bar Keepers Friend
In the world of cleaning products, Bar Keepers Friend, a powder made of oxalic acid, is a cheap, nontoxic, all-around winner that’s great for scrubbing pots, sinks, bathtubs, and toilets to shining perfection. An equally versatile alternative is Bon Ami, which is slightly less abrasive.
Parchment Paper
If you love to bake but hate scrubbing cookie sheets, it’s time to try parchment paper. Lay a sheet over your cooking surface to make your life easier by cutting down on cleanup after baking.
Toothpicks
An unlikely household hero, these little wooden sticks are good for more than just cleaning teeth. They’re great for scraping dirt out of crevices, and if you keep a pack around the house you can make sure you never again lose the end of a roll of tape.
Related: 13 Totally New Uses for Toothpicks
Trimmed Steak
Don’t pay for what you won’t eat. Ask the grocery store butchers to trim your steak of excess fat before they weigh it.
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