Let's not beat around the bush: things are expensive out here. The average cost of eggs is higher than it has been in a decade. Shrinkflation is impacting some of our favorite packaged foods. Fast food value meals stopped being valuable a long time ago. No matter what you buy during your weekly grocery haul, you're probably feeling the pain of soaring food prices.
Those of us who can't spare the strain on our budgets have had to pivot our shopping strategies. Whether that means buying less prepared food or subsisting solely on canned beans, we're all adapting our eating habits accordingly. We offer plenty of cheap dinner recipes that can help ease the burden, but we also think you shouldn't have to sacrifice your favorite foods.
We can't put more money in your wallet or fix the global economy...but we can offer some helpful money-saving shopping suggestions. All you need is a bit of creativity. Many grocery staples can be swapped for alternatives that are more affordable, more versatile, or more shelf stable. Our team of food editors rounded up some of the most useful substitutions that you can incorporate into your own shopping list.
Instead Of Broth, Buy Better Than Bouillon
Boxed broth is one pantry ingredient you can find in almost any kitchen, but we'd argue that it's more trouble than it's worth. For one thing, it takes up a lot of space on your shelves. Plus, we often only use a portion of the broth for a recipe, which leaves the remainder to sit in the fridge and be forgotten.
A more affordable and customizable choice is buying a jar of Better Than Bouillon. Our team swears by the product because you can simply dissolve one teaspoon of the paste to create a cup of broth—at a fraction of the price compared to a cup of boxed broth. You can make exactly the amount you need without wasting any, and the compact jar can sit in your fridge for months without going bad.
Our favorite part, though, is the fact that you can adjust the amount of bouillon paste to customize the flavor of your broth. Following a low sodium diet? Use less. Want a stronger flavor? Add a bit more! It's one product that we'll recommend again and again.
Instead Of Fresh Milk, Buy Powdered Milk
Some people start each day with a glass of milk. But for the rest of us that use milk more sparingly, buying a carton every week may not be the most cost-effective choice. Milk can quickly spoil, effectively wasting your money if you don't end up using it in time. Powdered milk, on the other hand, is the best way to get your dairy without worrying about expiration dates.
A dash of milk powder is perfect for adding a bit of creaminess to your coffee, making your oatmeal more decadent, or completing any baking project. It is technically more expensive than a carton of fresh milk, but the amount you'll save by not wasting ingredients makes up for it.
And while we're at it, the same applies for coconut milk. Buy a bag of powdered coconut milk and never let a half-empty can go bad again.
Instead Of Canned Tomato Sauce, Buy V8
Our Senior Food Director, Rob Seixas, swears by this unconventional grocery swap. "I am obsessed with V8 instead of canned tomatoes when I make soups, stews, stuff like that," he says. "I think it lasts a long time once opened."
Not only does it last a long time in the fridge, but it also contains nutrients from other vegetables that you wouldn't otherwise get from a can of plain tomato sauce. And shockingly, V8 actually costs less per fluid ounce on average than canned tomatoes.
Instead Of Fresh Fruit, Buy Frozen Fruit
We already know that frozen fruit is typically more affordable than its fresh counterpart, but there are a lot of other benefits that you shouldn't overlook. For one, it's usually pre-chopped, which is a serious time saver. That same benefit comes at a premium when buying fresh fruit.
Frozen fruit is also superior in terms of flavor and nutrition, depending on when you're buying it. Before it drops to subzero temperatures, the fruit is picked at peak ripeness—which means it has the best flavor and the highest concentration of nutrients.
Instead Of Granola, Buy Oats
As much as we love starting our day with a bowl of granola, we have to admit that the granola industry is a huge racket. Sure, they may throw some nuts, dried fruits, or chocolate chips in there, but it's ultimately just a bag of oats. Our Emerging Platforms Editor, Halle Burns, strongly recommends buying oats and repurposing them for homemade granola or making your own oat flour.
We cosign that suggestion not just for cost reasons but also for flavor. Making your own granola is a low-effort, high-reward project that allows you to customize it exactly how you like it.
Instead Of Sour Cream, Buy Yogurt
Sour cream is one of the MVPs of the dairy aisle. The rich, lactic tang is an essential chili topping, a heavy hitter in cake recipes, and a chef's secret weapon for creamy scrambled eggs. But when it comes to saving money and getting more use out of your groceries, yogurt is the superior ingredient.
Whole milk yogurt has less fat content than sour cream; while that means it's less ideal than sour cream if your goal is adding richness, it also means that it has far more versatility. It balances the burn of a spicy chili just as effectively, but the same tub can also be used for breakfast parfaits, meat marinades, smoothies, and dips.
Depending on the brands you buy, a tub of yogurt is often more affordable than sour cream too. And if you're feeling especially resourceful, Delish contributor and cookbook author Halle Burns offers a hot tip: when you're nearing the bottom of your container, add in some milk. The cultures left behind in the tub will do all of the heavy lifting and create more yogurt to use again and again.
