CHEF TALK
Learn How to $ave Money with Bulk Buying and Long Term Food Storage
We all like to save money, to some of us the ‘Buck Thrill’ is a way of life. Couponing is one favorite, takes a lot of time and being organized but it pays off. The fact is we do not all have the time to cut coupons and go to stores where the coupons are on offer at that particular time.
How to buy in bulk
Another good one is buying in bulk. This can be the ultimate bang for you. The warehouse type of stores are getting more and more “small” customer friendly and better still, they have quality stuff. Problem arises, what should I do with a 10 pound jar of pickles, there are only two of us in my house hold.
Well, you just have to be smart about ‘bulk’ buying and then
these warehouse stores will work for you.
First of all make a decent shopping list, if possible plan a
weekly menu (or at least have some recipes on hand before you walk through
those doors). Discipline yourself when you shop. With that, you do not overbuy
and come home with all sorts of stuff you do not need.
Buddy shop, go Dutch with a friend, family member, neighbor
or colleague and share things that are too much to handle for your family.
This
works definitely for dry goods like toilet paper and multi packed smaller
packaging (24 small packets of nuts in a big plastic bag). But how about large meat cuts you would normally avoid buying. Best 'to be vacuumed' money saver. The 7 or 8 Lbs strip loin below can be transformed into 24 or 25 great steaks in no time. Vacuum share, freeze and save money!
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Go with the treasure hunt idea in mind. This is what I like
and this is what I am going to cook with. Share your ideas with your buddy
shopper and share the purchase.
Learn about new ingredients and how they can
work for you. This is a great way to explore new foods, healthy and nutritious
produce that you would normally stay away from.
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| It works for him..... |
There was a time that the thought of buying meats in a
warehouse store would make ones stomach coil. Not anymore, times change and
these bulk stores are an excellent place to buy top quality meats. If you do
not see what you are looking for, ask. Bulk stores are realizing that people
are interested in cooking with local and seasonal ingredients.
Money savers
And then there is another great money saver. It is your vacuum sealer. Why? You just read the answer, your bulk buying pays of even more with the help of your vacuum sealer.
Studies reveal that that you may save up to $ 2.700.00 per
year with the help of your vacuum sealer.
Find them here: www.vacupack.com www.vacupack.ca
Find them here: www.vacupack.com www.vacupack.ca
One of the best aspects of storing vacuum sealed foods is that it is extremely economical. Vacuum sealed foods last 3 to 5 times longer than ordinary packet fresh foods. As a result the food maintains its color texture and appearance longer. Further, because vacuum sealed foods can last longer, you can buy in bulk, ‘save money’ and re-pack in the portion size that suits you.
Bring this to your advantage and make menu planning, buddy
shopping and idea exchange a fun thing. Larger packing sizes are no concern
anymore, vacuum and freeze perishables. Freezer burn is eliminated because
vacuum packed food does not come in direct contact with the cold air in the
freezer.
Advantages of vacuuming
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Dry foods, such as brown sugar that you do not use on a daily basis, do not become hard because there is no air to absorb the moisture.
Insect infestation is eliminated in the flour and sugar you
bought in bulk.
The pores in fresh protein foods, meats and fish, open up when
vacuumed. This allows better marinating and faster marinating times.
Less air in packaging will give you better organized storage
options.
Some problems may arise when vacuuming liquids. Here are two
tips to avoid that.
- 1 Freeze the product in a vacuum bag, then seal. The seal will prevent air from entering the bag.
- 2 Leave products like ready cooked meals and sauces to chill overnight. They will get a much firmer consistency. Many sauces will even gel up. When you vacuum the chilled products you will get the desired result.
By: Marinus Hoogendoorn
3 comments:
From my experience, I’ve learned to only buy what you need and not what you think you’re going to use. When I got my Sams Club membership, I stocked up on everything I thought I’d need and things I thought I’d use but wound up wasting a lot of money on food I didn’t really need and didn’t have the space to store.
I never thought of vacuum sealing food such as brown sugar – how clever! Would you recommend vacuum sealing rice as well?
This is an interesting post, Marinus! I never really considered how I using my vacuum sealer might save me money, but you’ve made some great observations. What are the drawbacks of vacuum sealing though?
“Leave products like ready cooked meals and sauces to chill overnight. They will get a much firmer consistency. Many sauces will even gel up. When you vacuum the chilled products you will get the desired result.” I can attest to this. I vacuum sealed my wife’s beef stew and when I came back to eat a few days later, the sauce was somewhat gelled and still delicious.
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