Frugal Cooking
A Guide to Frugal Cooking
When times get tough financially, everyone looks for the secret way to cut back on their daily costs; frugal cooking. It is possible to achieve good nutritional value while still cutting back in the grocery department, and put a good meal on the table.
One of the first steps in frugal cooking is to eliminate as many packaged meals as possible, and go back to the basics of cooking. Purchasing a large bag of natural rice is much more economical than the frozen packages of rice and vegetables in the freezer section. From this single large bag, you will be able to make a variety of pilafs to accompany meat dishes, or to take center stage as the main meal. You can easily make your own baking mix, using staples that you probably already have on hand; flour, shortening, baking powder, salt and nonfat dry milk or powdered buttermilk. The homemade baking mix yields a greater amount than a purchased brand for a fraction of the cost, and you now have a mix on hand from which pancakes, rolls, sweet rolls, breads and more can be made; frugal cooking at its best!
Many people use the convenience of prepackaged spice mixes in the grocery stores to flavor their casseroles, soups and stews. A far better, and cheaper, frugal cooking alternative is to make the one time investment in a variety of spices and bouillons and create the same mixes at a lower cost and getting better flavor. Besides chicken, beef and vegetable bouillon, basic spices to have on hand are salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, basil and oregano. You will then be equipped to rival even the most popular spice brands.
When it comes to frugal cooking, purchasing in bulk when possible is a key component. Watch the grocery stores for great bargains on ground beef and chicken, and be prepared to buy in quantity when they appear. Various sized freezer storage bags will prove to be a valuable tool, as the bargain meats can be packaged in meal sized portions and frozen until needed. The sale may be gone, but your stocked freezer will still reflect the bargain prices.
Another key to frugal cooking is in the type of meals prepared. Casseroles yield greater servings than a meat and potatoes meal would, and use less of each ingredient. Pastas and rice are great meal stretchers, and can still be healthy choices by using whole grain. Soups and stews are hearty meals that also seem jam-packed with ingredients, yet can be prepared by assigning leftovers double duty.
A final note on frugal cooking: switch name brands for store brands when possible. Many name brand products cost up to .50 more than their store brand competitors, and provide the same product.
Implementing these frugal cooking tips into your lifestyle will soon be reaping big rewards where you need them: your pocket. Without sacrificing taste or quality, you can become a homemade cook – and probably be serving a healthier meal to your family.