5 Low-Cost Grocery Staples You Should Always Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk is a double win for your grocery budget: You spend less per unit while also locking today’s lower price as a hedge against tomorrow’s inflation with a purchase that lasts. Other benefits include reduced packaging and food security in the event of disasters or emergencies.
To make it work, you have to choose only frequently used items that store well for extended periods. The following budget-friendly pantry staples are nearly universal in their appeal and have some of the highest per-package markups at the retail level, so buy them in bulk whenever you can.
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1. Dry Beans
Healthline noted that beans are among the cheapest, healthiest and most versatile foods on the planet. Cans are quick and easy, but they’re packed with weapons-grade sodium levels and, compared to dried beans, they’re pricey despite being one of the cheapest proteins in the supermarket.
Shoprite sells 15.5-ounce cans of store-brand pinto beans for $1.49 and 16-ounce bags of dried pinto beans for $1.29 — but the savings are much greater than 20 cents per pound. As the American Heart Association notes, one pound of soaked and cooked dried beans makes 6 cups, or four standard cans. They have an apocalypse-proof shelf life, and, while flavor is technically subjective, anyone with a functioning mouth can attest that freshly cooked beans are infinitely better in both taste and texture.
2. Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are among the healthiest and most satisfying alternatives to potato chips and other salty junk food, but Fritos are a whole lot cheaper. A 15-ounce can of Planters mixed nuts retails for around $11.50 or 77 cents per ounce.
However, a 2.5-pound store brand bulk bag of nuts from Costco sells for $18.49 — that’s $7.40 per pound or 46 cents per ounce. You can do even better with online wholesalers like the Superior Nut Company (38 cents per ounce for 4 pounds) or in your grocery store’s bulk barrels — and don’t be shy about stocking up. Even the fattiest nuts and seeds can keep in the freezer for years, according to PackFreshUSA.
3. Dried Spices
According to McCormick, most ground and unground spices last for up to four years, while leafy dried herbs like basil and oregano keep for up to three years. Vanilla extract and salt retain their mojo indefinitely. That’s good news for budget-focused shoppers who detest bland food, considering the retail markup for spices is as notoriously severe as that of nuts and seeds.
A 5.37-ounce jar of McCormick garlic powder retails for around $11, or $2.05 per ounce. That’s a dollar more than an 18-ounce container of Kirkland Signature garlic powder, which Costco sells for $9.99, or 56 cents per ounce.
4. Flour
Avid bakers should buy flour in bulk because, according to Bon Appétit, it keeps for months on the shelf if stored airtight and can last for years in the freezer.
Then, of course, there’s cost.
Flour value plummets as packages get smaller. Walmart sells a 5-pound bag of King Arthur bread flour for $7.87, or nearly 10 cents per ounce. A 12-pound bag of the same King Arthur bread flour goes for $11, or 6 cents per ounce, at Costco. Those willing to level up to 50-pound purchases of King Arthur bread flour can whittle the per-ounce price down to around 4 cents through online wholesalers like Bakers Authority.
5. Pasta
According to Barilla, pasta joins beans as a pantry staple with rock-star shelf stability. A box you buy today will be fine to cook in two years. Also like beans, it’s cost-effective — and the value grows with the package size.
A standard 1-pound box of Barilla elbow macaroni retails for $1.84 at Walmart. Multiply that by 20 boxes and your bill is $36.80. However, a 20-pound bulk bag of elbow macaroni from WebstuarantStore sells for $15.49, saving you nearly 60%.
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Editor’s note: Pricing and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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