We get it: convenience is great. But a lot of store-bought staples come with extra sugar, preservatives and markups that you don’t need. The good news? Some of the overpriced items in your cart are super easy to make at home. These 10 foods are worth making from scratch. No chef skills required!
10. Guacamole
Store-bought guac is often bland and brown quickly, costing you around $7 to $12 for a small container. Meanwhile, homemade guac costs you way less and takes no more than 10 minutes to make. The best part? You can control the texture and flavor. The ingredients are easily accessible: ripe avocados, lime juice, onion, salt, and optional extras like cilantro or tomato.
9. Muffins
Many grocery store muffins are considered healthy breakfast, but in reality, they can be loaded with sugar and low in fiber. At home, you can make your own by using whole wheat flour, oats, and fruit for a healthier bite. You can bake a dozen in under an hour and freeze extras for quick breakfasts.
8. Nut Butters
Store-bought nut butters, on the other hand, are priced as high as $12 a jar. Homemade nut butter may cost $3 less per jar and just needs roasted nuts and a blender. No palm oil, sugar, or preservatives. It takes around 10 to 15 minutes of blending, and you can control the taste by adding a touch of honey or cinnamon.
7. Breadcrumbs
There’s no doubt that buying pre-made breadcrumbs is convenient. However, they’re often bland, overpriced, and loaded with sodium. At home, making your own is a nice way to use up stale bread and it’ll cost you basically nothing. Just toast leftover bread, blitz in a blender, and season as you like. You’ll be done in 10 minutes.
6. Flavored Yogurt
Flavored yogurts may seem like a healthy snack but they’re often loaded with added sugars and artificial flavors. The healthier alternative? Make your own! Just buy a large tub of plain yogurt and add your own fruit, cinnamon, or honey. You can save around 50% per serving and get to control the overall taste.
5. Tomato Sauce
You’ll find jarred pasta sauces under $10 but let’s be honest…these too are loaded with sodium, sugar, and hidden oils. A homemade version will just need canned crushed tomatoes, garlic, onion, and herbs. The best part? They just take 20 to 30 minutes to simmer. You get to control the salt, skip the sugar, and customize the spices.
4. Pancake Mix
One of the most popular shortcuts known to man is boxed pancake mix. But really, it’s so easy to make at home; it’s just baking powder, flour, sugar and salt. Boxed variations have a few preservatives tossed in. When you make a homemade mix, you can skip the artificial stuff. Bonus tip? You can also customize with whole wheat flour or oats for added nutrition!
3. Hummus
Store-bought hummus can be tasty, but over time, the costs add up. Homemade hummus, on the other hand, costs less than $3 per batch and all you need is canned chickpeas, plus lemon juice, tahini, and garlic. More lemon and less garlic? You’re free to make tweaks and skip the additives, too.
2. Granola
Many brands of granola have been under attack for sneaking in added oils, sugars, and preservatives. That means, you’re better off making your own at home. You can control everything from oats and sweeteners to spices and mix-ins. One batch of granola can last up to two weeks in an airtight container. Plus, your kitchen will smell amazing!
1. Salad Dressing
While convenient, store-bought salad dressings are also loaded with preservatives, added sugars, and low-quality oils. A typical bottle may cost you around $5 (or more), but you can make a fresh batch for under $3. What you need are just pantry basics like vinegar, olive oil, mustard, and herbs. It takes about 5 minutes to create a small batch; no blender needed, just fork and a jar.