Food can be expensive, especially if you’re not being careful with what you buy. But even if you’re a keen cook who loves to play with ingredients and prepare food, it doesn’t need to cost a fortune if you go about things in the right way. Here are some easy ways to save money.
Try meatless recipes
Since meat is always going to be the most expensive ingredient in your shopping trolley, finding ways to cook without it is always going to save you money. How about tasty homemade mac and cheese, broccoli and cauliflower bake or veggie curry? It doesn’t have to be boring, and if it is then you’re doing it wrong! With so many fantastic recipes out there, if you follow one you like the look of you won’t even realize the meat is missing from your plate.
Get to know different cuts of meat
Even if you’re a keen cook, chances are you use many of the same types of ingredients week in week out, because you’re familiar with them and know how to use them. But stepping out of your comfort zone here could be a great way to save money, especially when it comes to meat. Do you instinctively reach for chicken breasts at the supermarket every time you want to create a chicken recipe? Why not swap them out for legs or thighs instead, these cost less money tend to be much more flavourful and succulent if you cook them the right way. Whether it’s baked chicken thighs or fried chicken wings, it’s something a little different if you only ever use the white meat. When it comes to red meat like lamb or beef, save yourself some money and don’t reach for the ‘best’ cuts like steaks and roasting joints. Some of the cheap, fatty looking cuts can be absolutely delicious if you cook them right- pop them in the slow cooker low and slow all day in a stew or curry and enjoy tender, melt in the mouth meat that’s packed with flavor.
Utilise the store cupboard
Finding ways to turn dry ingredients like pasta, rice, and grains along with tins and jars into tasty food is an art- and a great way to save money. We all have leaner times financially, but if you always have a well-stocked store cupboard you never have the worry about running out of food between shopping trips. How about using pasta, tinned tomatoes, pasta, tuna and herbs, and spices to create a tuna pasta bake? If you have some leftover cheese in the fridge to top it then even better. Or you could have fun with fried rice dishes, cook and cool some rice and then fry it up in oil with some frozen peas and chopped frozen onion, soy sauce, and chili powder. If you know you can always make something nice with what you have in at home already then it can save you a ton of money rather than ordering takeaways or doing ‘top-up shops’ which always cost more.
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