Fact: Buying in bulk is one of the best ways to save money on groceries. That’s because the unit price (which is total cost divided by the number of units) is cheaper when you buy a larger version of a product. That’s just one reason the big box membership stores (Sam’s Club, BJ’s, Costco, etc.) are often so popular. You can get a lot of your favorite products for a lot less money.
You don’t have to be a member of a warehouse store to buy in bulk, but you do need to be smart about it. It’s so easy to look at the potential savings and think you just have to get it without considering that it might go to waste. "If you don't take a list to a warehouse club, you end up buying a bulk pack of cotton candy!" Ree Drummond jokingly warns. And that’s why you should always make a shopping list and know the best ingredients to buy in bulk.
Where to start? Well first, check out Ree’s handy dandy printable for stocking up. Then head over to your food storage and take a peek. A well-organized pantry will make it easy to see what you use most and what you need to stock up on. Then cross-check Ree’s list for items and curate your own list based on your needs. And reference below! You’ll find the most common ingredients to buy in bulk and a few to avoid, so you can make the most out of your budget.
The Best Ingredients to Buy in Bulk
The Pioneer Woman’s strategy? “I try my best to structure things so that I have a stockpile of basic essentials that I buy in bulk once, twice, three times a year,” she says. “Then I just fill in the fresh things (milk, bread, eggs, fresh produce, meat, etc.) as needed.” In shopping terms, she’s referring to “non-perishable” or “shelf-stable” items that can be stored at room temperature for months to years at a time.
Canned Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes are really only good for a few months out of the year and they can be pretty pricey. On the other hand, canned tomatoes are consistent year-round and easy to incorporate into your cooking. Ree likes to buy a variety of canned tomatoes: crushed, whole, diced, and tomato paste. Not only do they last for years, but they are extremely versatile.
Dried Pasta, Grains, and Beans
You can save a lot of money by buying dried ingredients like rice and oats in bulk. But here’s the caveat: Be honest with yourself and know what you will and will not eat. If you don’t have time to soak beans or your kids won’t eat them, don’t buy them just because they’re inexpensive. Or if you’re more of a pasta-eating household, you don’t need three types of rice you’ll only eat once every couple of months.
Baking Essentials
If you are a baker, the two items that you should buy in bulk are flour and granulated sugar. Transfer and store them in airtight containers for maximum freshness. You may also want to consider buying chocolate in bulk if you use it a lot. The larger bags of chips will have a much lower unit price.
Perishable Items to Consider Buying In Bulk
Not all perishable items are worth buying in bulk, but a few are! Stock up on several items when they are on sale and/or offered in bulk. The key is to make sure you store them correctly.
Frozen Vegetables
Fresh veggies can get pricey, particularly when they are out of season. Frozen vegetables, on the other hand, can be a more affordable option all year-round with peak flavor. Simply open, take out what you need to defrost, and pop the rest back into the freezer for next time. You’ll get the biggest bang for your buck with corn, peas, and spinach.
Meat
If you’ve got a lot of freezer space, you can absolutely buy meat in bulk. Ree does it all the time! Chicken, beef, and ground meats in general freeze well. If you’ve got the time, it’s best to wrap individual pieces so you can take out what you need and leave the rest in there so you don’t waste. Because while they freeze well, you shouldn’t refreeze meat that’s been defrosted.
Vegetable Oil
If you use vegetable oil on a regular basis, you’ll save a good amount of money when you buy it in bulk. An open bottle can stay fresh up to a year, whereas olive oil is best for the first three to six months only.
Ingredients to Avoid Buying in Bulk
Again, this is a general list, and you know your family’s eating habits best. If a gallon of milk lasts just a few days in your house, you know that buying a larger size won’t go to waste. But in general, perishable items are best bought as needed. That’s how Ree does it, and she fed a family and a whole ranch full of cowboys for years!
Perishable Dairy Products
While you can freeze milk, cheese, and other dairy products, their quality will deteriorate pretty quickly in the chill chest. If you want to stock up on milk, consider the shelf-stable kind that you can store outside of the refrigerator for up to nine months.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Sadly, fresh fruits and veggies go to waste more often than we’d like to admit. While some do freeze well for smoothies and baking like strawberries and blueberries, they most often end up in the trash. It’s best to buy these on an as-needed basis.
Spices
Bad news: Spices can go bad as early as one year after you open them. So, unless you’re using tablespoons of cinnamon every week, it’s best to buy the smaller jars in this case because you will end up throwing them out.
