Let’s Discuss

Money Talks News posted a video titled “The Ultimate Grocery List: 10 Items You Should Always Keep Stocked: Maximize your grocery budget and minimize your stress by keeping these essential items on hand for easy, versatile cooking.”

I agree and disagree with these for various reasons. Let’s review them, and I’ll explain my reasons for or against them. Disclaimer: I’m no math whiz, but some of these 10 items don’t add up when trying to “maximize your grocery budget and minimize your stress” for me.

1. Rice and Pasta: I’m all for this one. Rice and pasta are great staples. They keep for a long time; you can find them on sale and buy them in bulk. They also come in a wide variety of shapes. You can make them ahead when you have time or make a double batch to store in the fridge or freezer for later—all good things. 

2. Pizza Dough: This is a big nope for me. How does this save you money? One of those tubes of pizza dough (store brand, of course) will run you about $2.75. A box mix is considerably cheaper at $.96, but one look at the ingredients would send me running. Making pizza dough in the food processor is much more affordable and easier, and it doesn’t have all the additives. Make it on a weekend and store it in the fridge for a quick weekday dinner. (Google: Food processor pizza dough and a ton of recipes will appear) Don’t have a food processor? No problem! Use your mixer, or go old school and do it by hand. I find kneading dough to be very satisfying. 

3. Rotisserie Chicken: I wouldn’t call this a money saver, but I’m sure it may be a time saver for those who don’t have time to roast a chicken over the weekend. Sometimes, saving time is more important than money. There is no judging here. Okay, maybe a little, but everyone needs to do what works for them. 

 Today at my local Walmart, a hot rotisserie chicken costs $5.97 for 36 ounces. $5.97/2.25 pounds equals $2.65 a pound. An uncooked whole chicken is $7.68 average price or $1.46/pound. If you are trying to save money, try roasting your own.  Recipe: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/simple-roast-chicken-recipe-7866976

4. Eggs: No question here. Eggs are not the bargain they used to be, but they are still a great form of protein and very versatile. At my local store, Cage-free large brown eggs, 18-count, are $8.98 or 49.9 cents each. I use one egg per person with a ton of veggies and some cheese for a filling frittata. 

5. Tortillas: I love and use them, but they aren’t a bargain unless they are homemade. What they are is convenient; sometimes, that is just as important. I buy the large, high-fiber, soft flour tortillas. They are the right size to make wraps, enchiladas, tacos, etc. 

6. Cheese: Yes, yes, yes! I love cheese. I keep and use a lot of it. Most cheeses freeze amazingly well, so stock up when they go on sale.

7. Canned beans: cheap, easy, and time-saving compared to dried beans. These are always in my pantry. If you want to save some serious money and don’t mind taking the time to make beans from dried, this is when you hit up the big box store or the Mexican Markets. I don’t have the time, so canned is best for me.

8. Whipping cream: Nope. The video suggests splashing it into soups or eggs, but milk works well. Whipping cream costs 0.17.7 cents per ounce, compared to whole milk, which costs 0.2.7 cents an ounce. I only buy whipping cream when topping a dessert. Canned condensed milk is great for adding some decadence to sauces. It is shelf-stable.  

9. Shallots or green onions: Okay, I’ve been known to buy them once a year, but only as starts for planting. After that, I head out to the garden. Green onions will winter over in my area, but yours may not. These onions are in their third year. I’ve started some new ones, but these are still going strong.

10. Chicken stock: Yep, but not the kind in the paper box. Make your own from the chicken you roasted (see number 3). It freezes well. We are vegetarians, so chicken stock isn’t our thing. I make and freeze a ton of veggie stock using the cuttings and ends of vegetables and the water that canned veggies are packed in. Someday, I’ll write a whole post on veggie water.

I’m going to add

11. Canned tomatoes, green beans, and corn are cheap, easy, and versatile. I’ve been known to make whole meals out of canned veggies. 

12. Lentils: These fantastic protein-packed, fast-cooking, and versatile legumes. I make a mean lentil sloppy joe. 

13. Frozen veggies – see canned veggies. 

14. Butter or very good olive oil. These two are must-haves in my fridge or pantry. I don’t use much butter, so I buy the good stuff. A small pat of butter will make a sauce or gravy from yum to Wow! 

That is my take on  “The Ultimate Grocery List: 10 Items You Should Always Keep Stocked: Maximize your grocery budget and minimize your stress by keeping these essential items on hand for easy, versatile cooking.” 

I don’t mean to be alarmist, but I believe we will be forced to prioritize our purchases in the coming months. Groceries will need to be organized according to needs, wants, convenience, and cost. I’ll work hard to find that balance and stay within my food budget, and I hope you can find that balance within your own. 

I’ll be posting more about using leftovers, making the most of what I have on hand, and decorating and gardening by shopping my house. It will all be about getting by and making do.