c/budget-friendly-meals

Finally tried freezing ginger root and I'm kind of shocked

I was always one of those people who bought fresh ginger, used like a third of it, then watched the rest turn into a shriveled mess in the crisper drawer. My friend Sarah swore up and down that freezing it whole works, but I figured the texture would go weird and the flavor would fade. About two weeks ago I had a half-used knob about to go bad, so I just threw it in the freezer in a ziploc bag on a whim. Yesterday I pulled it out to make a batch of lentil soup, grated it straight from frozen with a microplane, and honest to god it tasted exactly like fresh ginger. No mush, no loss of heat, and I didn't have to peel it since the skin scrapes right off. Has anyone else had good luck freezing other fresh ingredients like lemongrass or turmeric this way?

Beans are better than I thought for budget meals

I always thought dried beans were a pain until I read the USDA stats last week. A pound of dried beans is like $1.50 and makes 6 servings, cheaper than any canned option. Am I missing something or is everyone just lazy?

My rice was always mushy until my coworker laughed at me

I've been making rice for years by just guessing the water amount, dumping it in a pot, and hoping for the best. Last week my coworker Dave saw me scooping water with my hand and said 'you know that's not a measuring cup, right?' He showed me the finger knuckle trick and now my rice actually comes out right. Anybody else have a cooking habit they just never questioned?

Spent 6 months comparing store brand beans to name brand and the difference was way smaller than I thought

I did a little test with black beans from Aldi vs Goya for my weekly burrito bowls. The Aldi ones were $0.89 a can and the Goya were $1.49, so I figured the cheap ones would be watery or mushy. Honestly after draining and rinsing both, I couldn't tell them apart in taste or texture across 3 different meals. Anyone else find that store brand canned goods hold up just as good as the pricier stuff?

Had to choose between frozen veggies and canned for my meal prep this week

I went with frozen since they were $1.29 a bag at Aldi and I figured they'd hold up better in my lunch containers. The broccoli did get a little mushy after reheating though. Anyone else have better luck with one or the other?

My mom said I was wasting money on fresh herbs - got me thinking

So I was making my go-to cheap pasta dish last week, and my mom watched me drop $3.50 on a bunch of basil. She shook her head and said I should just use dried herbs because they're way cheaper and last longer. At first I got defensive, but then I realized she might have a point. Fresh herbs do add something special though, you know? Like that pop of flavor you just can't get from a jar. But on a tight grocery budget, shelling out for fresh stuff every week adds up fast. I'm curious where other people land on this - do you think fresh herbs are worth the extra cost, or have you found a way to make dried work just as good for your budget meals?

I was a die-hard canned tomato snob until a $1.50 bag changed my mind

For years I refused to buy anything but San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes (you know, the $4 cans) for my pasta sauce. But last month our grocery budget got tight, so I grabbed a bag of store-brand Roma tomatoes for $1.50 on a whim. I roasted them with garlic and olive oil at 400 for 30 minutes, then blitzed them in the blender. The sauce came out way sweeter and thicker than my usual stuff, no sugar added. Has anyone else had a cheap ingredient actually beat the fancy version in a direct taste test?

Hit $50 a week on groceries and honestly it felt impossible at first

I started counting every single penny I spent on food for a month and was shocked when I hit exactly $50 for the week. That meant chicken thighs were my best friend and rice came in a 10 pound bag from the Asian market. My roommate laughed when I pulled out a scale to measure out olive oil, but hey it worked. Anyone else try to hit a crazy low number and find a secret trick that saved you?

My old rice cooker finally gave up after 12 years

Last Tuesday it just stopped heating mid-cook, left me with a pot of cold water and hard rice. I ended up cooking it on the stove in an old pot, took twice as long but saved me from ordering takeout. Anyone else have a kitchen gadget die at the worst time?

That bulk rice purchase at Costco was a bad idea

I bought a 25 pound bag of jasmine rice six months ago thinking I'd save money in the long run. After three months it got weevils in it and I had to throw half the bag away. Does anyone have a foolproof way to store bulk grains without bugs getting in?

Stopped buying pre-chopped garlic after checking the price per pound

I used to grab those jars of minced garlic from the store without thinking about it. Last month I actually did the math and realized I was paying like $4 for what amounts to maybe 3 bulbs of garlic. Now I buy a whole bag of garlic heads for $1.50 and chop them myself in 10 minutes on Sunday. I just toss the extra in olive oil and freeze it in ice cube trays. Works perfect for cooking and saves me about $30 a month. Has anyone else done the math on convenience foods and been shocked by the markup?

Switched from buying bagged rice to a 25 pound sack from the Asian market

That 25 pound bag of rice I bought ended up costing me way more than I saved

I saw a huge bag of jasmine rice at the Asian market for $18 and thought I was being so smart. Saved like 30 cents a pound compared to the small bags. But I live alone in a tiny apartment with a weird pantry situation. After 4 months I found bugs in it. Had to throw out probably 15 pounds of rice. So I actually paid more per pound than if I just bought the small bags as I needed them. Anyone else have bulk buys backfire on them?

I used to think buying ground beef in bulk was always the smart move, but now I'm team small packs

Ngl, for years I was that guy buying the 5 pound tube of ground beef from Costco every month. It felt like a no-brainer since the per pound price was way lower than the grocery store. But I finally stopped doing it after I realized I was wasting almost a pound and a half every time because I couldn't use it all before it turned. The tipping point was last October when I opened a pack that had been in the freezer for 3 months and the texture was just off no matter how I cooked it. Now I just grab the 1 pound packs from Aldi when they're on sale for $3.49 each. Sure it costs a bit more per pound but I end up with zero waste and the meat tastes fresher every single time. Has anyone else ditched bulk buying for smaller portions for the same reason?

Question about using canned beans to save money on chili

I noticed at the grocery store last month that dried beans are about $1.50 a pound but canned ones are nearly $2.00 for a 15 ounce can. So for my usual Sunday chili recipe that calls for three cans of kidney beans, I decided to try cooking a pound of dried beans instead. I soaked them overnight and simmered them for about 90 minutes on Saturday. The texture came out firmer and they absorbed the tomato sauce better than canned ever did. This saved me around $4.50 on that one meal, which adds up over a month. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a difference in how your soups or stews turn out?

Found out my 'cheap' rice and beans meal costs more than I thought

I was adding up my grocery receipts from last month and got curious about my go-to budget meal. Turns out, the bag of dried beans I buy is $2.50, and the rice is $1.80, but I use about half a can of diced tomatoes at $1.20 each and spices that add up quick. I read a breakdown on a food blog that said the average cost per serving is closer to $1.75, not the 50 cents I always assumed. That surprised me because I thought I was saving way more. Has anyone else done the math on their staples and found it's not as cheap as they figured?

Had to decide between bulk beans or canned for chili this week

I was staring at a 5lb bag of dried kidney beans for $4.50 versus cans at 88 cents each at Kroger. I went with the dried ones since I had a slow cooker and some time on my day off. After soaking overnight and cooking for a few hours I got enough chili to freeze 4 portions. Anyone else find the extra effort worth it for the savings?

Spent months buying canned beans until I figured out dried are cheaper and taste way better

I used to grab a few cans of black beans every week at the grocery store. Last month I finally did the math and realized I was paying about $1.50 per can vs $1.50 for a whole pound of dried beans. That pound makes like 6 or 7 cups of cooked beans which is way more than what you get in a can. Plus the texture is firmer and they don't have all that extra salt or preservatives. I just soak them overnight and simmer for an hour or two. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a difference in your weekly grocery bill?

Question about why people buy bagged salad kits instead of making their own dressing

Honestly, I noticed at my local grocery store on 82nd Street that bagged salad kits are like $4 each and you get maybe two servings. I decided to buy a head of romaine for $1.50 and whip up my own dressing with oil, vinegar, and a little mustard I already had. Tbh, that one kit costs more than a whole head of lettuce plus the dressing ingredients that last for weeks. Ngl, I think people are missing out on saving like $2 per meal just by skipping the bagged kit. Why does everyone keep buying those kits when making your own is way cheaper and tastes the same? Has anyone else priced out the difference and switched?

Tried making my own pasta to save money, wasted $12 on ingredients

I bought a bag of semolina flour and some eggs last week thinking I'd save cash by making pasta from scratch. After 2 hours of kneading and rolling, the dough came out way too sticky and I ruined half of it. Ended up throwing it all out and ordering $8 of boxed pasta anyway. Between the flour, eggs, and time, I probably lost around $12 and a whole evening. Anyone else have a DIY kitchen project that cost more than just buying the cheap version?

My pressure cooker lid flew off mid-cook last night

I was bragging about how my $20 thrift store Instant Pot was a steal, then the seal gave out and blasted lentil soup all over my kitchen walls. Anyone else keep using budget stuff after a fail like that?

My 'Savory' Lentil Soup that lasted Three Full Days

I tried that lentil recipe from the old lady at the store last week. It was supposed to be budget friendly and stretch for days. But I messed up and added too much smoked paprika and way too much salt. By day two, the entire pot tasted like a campfire and a salt lick. I had to eat it anyway because I can't waste food on my tight budget. Has anyone else ruined a whole batch of something and just forced themselves to finish it?

Old lady at the grocery store taught me about lentils

I was at the Aldi on Elm Street last Tuesday. Saw this woman picking through bags of dry lentils. She saw me staring at the price tags. Told me one bag of lentils costs $1.29 and feeds her family of four for two meals. Asked her how she cooks them. She said just simmer with a bay leaf and some salt. No fancy techniques. Anyone else got a cheap trick like that from a stranger?

My mother in law told me to stop rinsing my ground beef and I thought she was crazy

She said I was washing away all the flavor and that she just drains the grease and cooks it. I kept doing it my way for years until I finally tried it her method last month and honestly the tacos came out way better. I still dont rinse it for chili since I need a leaner meat, but for tacos she was right and I was wrong for 12 years. Anyone else have a family member that gave you cooking advice you ignored forever?

Vent: That 'meal prep in 2 hours' advice is a straight up lie

Tbh it took me 5 hours my first Sunday trying to prep breakfast, lunch, and snacks for 5 days. Between chopping veggies, cooking chicken, and portioning everything out, I was in the kitchen until 9pm. Has anyone else found this actually takes way longer than people claim?