c/budget-friendly-meals

Question about dried beans vs canned

I keep seeing folks say canned beans are cheaper, but a 2 pound bag of dried black beans for $2.50 makes way more food. You just have to soak them overnight. Has anyone else done the math on this?

Vent: My big batch of chili turned into a disaster last Tuesday

Honestly, I was trying to be smart and make a huge pot of chili to last the week. I was in my kitchen in Springfield, using a recipe that called for two cans of beans. I grabbed what I thought were kidney beans, but they were actually a can of baked beans in sauce. I didn't realize until I'd already dumped them in. Tbh, it made the whole thing way too sweet and the texture was just wrong. I didn't want to waste all that ground beef and veggies, so I tried to fix it. I added an extra can of diced tomatoes and a ton more chili powder and cumin to try and balance the flavor. It kinda worked? It's edible now, but it's definitely not my best work. Has anyone else ever grabbed the wrong can and salvaged a meal? I need some backup ideas for next time.

I was buying canned beans for years before I saw the price of a bag of dry ones

I was at the grocery store last week and a bag of dry pinto beans was 89 cents, but the same amount in cans would have been like $4. I cooked a whole pot for about an hour and they tasted way better than the canned stuff, plus I could season them myself. Does anyone have a good trick for getting the soak time right so you don't have to plan a whole day ahead?

My big bag of rice split open in the pantry yesterday

I was grabbing a can of beans and heard this weird tearing sound. The whole bottom seam of my 20 pound bag of rice just gave way. White grains went everywhere, all over the floor and even under the shelf. I stood there for a second just staring at the mess. I didn't want to waste it, so I got a big bowl and a dustpan and spent like 20 minutes scooping it all up. I had to check every handful for dust or bits from the floor before putting it into a clean container. It was a huge pain, but that rice is a staple for my meals. Has anyone else had this happen? What's the best way to store a big bag of rice so it doesn't rip again?

I made chili with ground turkey instead of beef for the first time

I did a side by side test last week, using the same spices and beans. The turkey version cost me about $4 less for the same size pot. Honestly, the taste was just as good, maybe even a bit lighter. Has anyone else found a cheaper swap that really worked for a classic dish?

My brother insisted I buy a $25 rice cooker to save money, and I finally caved after six months.

He said it would cut my electric bill and make meal prep easier. I was sure it was just another gadget that would collect dust. But honestly? I was wrong. I use it at least four times a week now for rice, steamed veggies, and even hard-boiled eggs. My power bill did go down a bit compared to using the stove, and a 20lb bag of rice is so cheap. Has anyone else had a kitchen tool they resisted that actually became a budget staple?

I keep seeing people throw away the liquid from canned beans and it's a huge waste

I mean, maybe it's just me but I see this all the time in recipe videos. People drain a can of chickpeas or black beans and just pour that cloudy liquid right down the drain. That stuff is called aquafaba and it's basically free food. I found out about it from a vegan baking blog like two years ago. You can whip it up with a little sugar to make a meringue, or use it to thicken soups and sauces instead of buying an egg or some cream. It's already in the can you paid for. I started saving it in a jar in my fridge and it's saved me from buying a dozen eggs over the last few months. Has anyone else tried using it for something besides baking?

A talk with my neighbor totally changed how I see canned tomatoes

She said she buys the big 28-ounce cans of crushed tomatoes for under $2 and uses them as the base for everything from soup to pasta sauce. I used to only buy the pricier jarred stuff, but her chili last night was amazing! What's your favorite cheap pantry item that you use all the time?

My sister just showed me her grocery receipt and I'm shook

She lives in Phoenix and we were talking about food costs. She said, 'I stopped buying those pre-cut veggie trays and just get a whole head of cauliflower now.' It hit different because she saved like $8 on one item. I always thought the trays were a good deal for the time saved. Anyone else have a simple swap that saved way more than you expected?

I thought making my own veggie broth was a quick win, but simmering it down to a decent concentrate took a full 3 hours, not the 30 minutes the blog post said.

What's a truly fast way to get good flavor for soups without spending half a day on it?

My neighbor told me to buy a whole chicken instead of just breasts, and she was totally right

She told me this about a month ago, and I was skeptical because a whole bird was $8 at my store. I roasted it for dinner one night, then used the leftover meat for tacos and the bones to make soup stock. I got three full meals for two people from that one chicken, which is way cheaper than buying packs of just breasts. Has anyone else found a cheap cut of meat that stretches like that?

My whole soup game changed after a trip to the local food bank

I went there last fall to help out, and they showed me how to make a huge pot of vegetable soup using whatever they had a lot of that week. We used a whole bag of carrots, some celery, and a giant can of tomatoes. Now I always check what's on sale or about to go bad in my own fridge before I plan a meal. What's your favorite 'use it up' soup recipe?

My neighbor Greg's 'fancy' bean soup recipe

He came over last Tuesday with a big pot, saying he'd made a 'gourmet' version of my cheap bean soup. It was the same thing, but he'd added exactly three capers and called it 'Mediterranean style'. He was so proud, said it 'elevated the whole dish'. Has anyone else had someone try to improve a budget meal in a way that just made it more expensive for no reason?

Bought a 10 pound bag of rice for $8 and it's the best kitchen choice I've made in months.

I was at the store and saw this huge bag of plain white rice on sale. I almost didn't get it because it seemed like a lot, but I'm so glad I did. It's become the base for almost every dinner this week, from stir fry to beans and rice. It stretches a small amount of meat or veggies so far. What other big, cheap staples do you guys lean on to make meals go further?

Finally got my weekly grocery bill under $50

I used to just grab whatever looked good at the store, no plan, and it was always over $80. About three months ago I started making a big pot of lentil soup every Sunday with carrots, celery, and a ham hock from the butcher counter. That one pot feeds me for four lunches. Anyone have other cheap, big-batch recipes that keep well?

I was throwing away the liquid from canned beans for like a decade until my neighbor in Phoenix saw me do it

My cheap chili night almost ended in disaster

Back in my old apartment in Dayton, I tried to double my mom's chili recipe to freeze some. Forgot to adjust the spices. Used a whole 4oz can of chili powder by mistake. Had to dump in three extra cans of beans and two big cans of tomatoes to save it. Anyone have a good fix for when you over-spice a big pot of something?

Can we talk about the great lentil explosion of last Tuesday

I was making a big pot of soup in my kitchen and the bag of lentils I got from the discount bin had a tiny hole I didn't see. Poured them in and they went everywhere, like a brown waterfall all over the stove and floor. Spent 20 minutes picking them up one by one because my vacuum is broken. Anyone have a better cheap protein that doesn't require a hazmat suit to cook?

Question about dried beans versus canned for chili

I picked a bag of dried pinto beans over the canned kind for a big pot, and it saved me about $3.50 total. Anyone have a good trick for getting them tender without a pressure cooker?

I gave up on fancy meal kits and went back to my old way of planning

I tried one of those weekly box services for three months, thinking it would save me time and cash. It was costing me about $75 a week for just three dinners. Last week I went back to my old method of writing a list based on the store flyer and buying basics like rice, beans, and whatever veg was on sale. I spent $45 and got food for five nights, plus lunches. The difference was just looking at the actual prices instead of letting someone else pick for me. Anyone have a good go-to recipe for when chicken thighs are on sale?

Hot take: My 'cheap' dried beans cost me a whole afternoon

I decided to save cash and cook a big pot of dried pinto beans from a 2 dollar bag. The recipe said 'soak overnight or do a quick soak'. I picked the quick soak, which was supposed to take an hour. My beans were still like little rocks after 3 hours on the stove. Turns out my beans were super old from the back of the store shelf, and old beans just won't soften up right no matter what you do. Anyone else had a cheap ingredient totally backfire on your time?

TIL a trick for cheaper soup from a guy at the food pantry

I was picking up a box at the community center last Tuesday and a volunteer showed me how to make a big pot of bean soup with just a ham bone and some old veggies. I made it for about $3 total and it fed us for two days. What's your favorite way to use up a leftover bone?

My brother called my chili 'sad' and it changed how I shop

About two years ago, my brother came over for dinner and I served my usual ground beef and bean chili. He took a bite, looked at me, and said 'Em, this tastes sad. It's just brown.' That stuck with me. I realized I was so focused on cheap protein I forgot about flavor and color. Now, I always grab a red bell pepper and a yellow onion, even if they add a dollar to the cost. I roast them first for a deeper taste, and I've learned a single chipotle pepper in adobo sauce makes a huge difference for almost no money. It's still a budget meal, but it feels and tastes like so much more. What's one small, cheap ingredient that totally changed a basic meal for you?

My freezer inventory hit 15 different meals last night

I started batch cooking back in March to save cash, and I just counted everything. I have 15 separate, labeled containers in there, from chili to veggie stew. It hit me that I haven't bought a rushed, overpriced lunch in over two months. What's your best 'freezer surprise' meal that still tastes good after a month?

Showerthought: My freezer is now a budget meal goldmine

I used to waste a lot of veggies that were about to go bad. Last month, I started chopping and freezing them right away. Now I have a bag of mixed peppers and onions ready for omelets or stir fry, and it cut my grocery bill by about $15 a week. Anyone else have a go-to freezer trick?