Is it cheaper to make everything yourself?
Discussion
Is it cheaper to make or buy the following? (i'm not putting any value on time- purely ingredients- i enjoy cooking and i'd only be in front of the telly otherwise- oh and i've got all the right tools for the job)
Bread- Brown wholemeal from a breadmaker
Mayonnaise- made in quantities to rival helmans
Ham.
Pies- like a nice beef in beer or similar.
Wondering whether i start producing more of my own stuff to save a penny or two, or just shop smarter. thoughts?
Bread- Brown wholemeal from a breadmaker
Mayonnaise- made in quantities to rival helmans
Ham.
Pies- like a nice beef in beer or similar.
Wondering whether i start producing more of my own stuff to save a penny or two, or just shop smarter. thoughts?
I would say yes cheaper and healthier. Just posted about making curry sauce on the hairy bikers thread. When you think of a jar of curry sauce from a supermarket it has to be a quid or two and who knows what goes into it whereas making your own is far cheaper and healthier. Likewise for a pie you know what cuts of beef your using, how much fat is in it and what veg goes into it I would hate to think what goes into a shop bought pie, not a lot of meat I dare say.
Also cookign larger quantities and freezing has to make sense.
Also cookign larger quantities and freezing has to make sense.
I did some fag-packet maths for the breadmaker after I bought it. It was noticeably cheaper for broadly like-for-like. On plain white flour (79p for 1.5kg), you're looking at <45p for a half loaf, including all ingredients and electricity. Store cost would be 50-70p? (IIRC, 64p at Sainsbury, £1 for a full tin on offer, both before Christmas)
Pies are a bit more difficult - where's the match for ingredients? I suspect pie meat is often below what most of us can buy at the supermarket. But if you make in reasonable freezing batches (say four large pies for one or two people) you'd be looking at £1.50-2.00 each vs £2.50-4.00?
Pies are a bit more difficult - where's the match for ingredients? I suspect pie meat is often below what most of us can buy at the supermarket. But if you make in reasonable freezing batches (say four large pies for one or two people) you'd be looking at £1.50-2.00 each vs £2.50-4.00?
BoRED S2upid said:
I would say yes cheaper and healthier. Just posted about making curry sauce on the hairy bikers thread. When you think of a jar of curry sauce from a supermarket it has to be a quid or two and who knows what goes into it whereas making your own is far cheaper and healthier. Likewise for a pie you know what cuts of beef your using, how much fat is in it and what veg goes into it I would hate to think what goes into a shop bought pie, not a lot of meat I dare say.
Also cookign larger quantities and freezing has to make sense.
Cheaper? I doubt it. Also cookign larger quantities and freezing has to make sense.
9p Curry Sauce.
http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp?bm...
Healthier? Almost certainly, but then again bleach would probably be healthier and tastier.
If you're buying the raw materials yourself I think you quickly realise what poor quality ingredients are used in 'manufactured' food, in order to produce it for the sale price (and still make a profit). Whatever you make at home may well cost more, although it will undoubtedly be nicer and tastier.
However, there are some no-brainers:
Soups - buy a cheap hand blender and these are easy peasy.
Bacon - just buy cheap belly pork and rub it with salt and any spices you like. This will give a pancetta style bacon best used for lardons, but at a quarter of the price of the supermarket equivalent.
Ham / salted brisket / tongue - much cheaper to make your own from the fresh raw product. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage Cookbook has full instructions.
Pasta / curry sauce - make large batches of this and freeze it.
Pizza - the dough is easy to make and freezes well. Top it with whatever you have to hand.
Barter - swap gluts of anything you might have for anything a neighbour might have. Also club together and group buy on any commodities where savings can be made by buying in bulk.
However, there are some no-brainers:
Soups - buy a cheap hand blender and these are easy peasy.
Bacon - just buy cheap belly pork and rub it with salt and any spices you like. This will give a pancetta style bacon best used for lardons, but at a quarter of the price of the supermarket equivalent.
Ham / salted brisket / tongue - much cheaper to make your own from the fresh raw product. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage Cookbook has full instructions.
Pasta / curry sauce - make large batches of this and freeze it.
Pizza - the dough is easy to make and freezes well. Top it with whatever you have to hand.
Barter - swap gluts of anything you might have for anything a neighbour might have. Also club together and group buy on any commodities where savings can be made by buying in bulk.
You should be able to easily beat the prices of ready meals. You'll struggle with basic stuff like bread as the shops keep these 'headline' items cheap (customers notice them more). But you should be able to make better bread and e.g. mayo for about the same price.
To really push for value, buy seasonally in larger quantities (it's cheaper) and use your freezer so you don't get bored.
To really push for value, buy seasonally in larger quantities (it's cheaper) and use your freezer so you don't get bored.
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