8 Tips to Help Single Chefs Save on Shopping
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Penny Hoarder.
When it comes to grocery shopping for one person, saving money can seem like a daunting task.
Grocery store portions of things like meat or lettuce are often too big for one person, and many recipes are designed to feed a family of four or more.
Between throwing out expired food or overbuying unnecessary ingredients, sometimes it can feel like a single person is throwing away money in the kitchen.
But you can still save money even if you buy groceries for one person.
We’ve got some great tips to not only keep your food budget in check, but also help you save more on your grocery bill and create less food waste.
1. Use Coupons and Apps to Save Money on Shopping
Food prices are down and groceries are more expensive these days, but luckily there are tons of ways to save in small ways on each trip to the grocery store.
Credit Cards With Cash Back on Purchases
These days there are tons of credit card options that offer cash back and some that offer extra cash on purchases.
Check out our list of the best cash back credit cards to find the one that works best for you.
Money saving/money back apps
Did you know that there are different ways to save money by getting rid of your phone?
Upside is a cash back app that helps you get cash back on gas, groceries and food.
Are you an Amazon Prime member? Download the Whole Foods App to save on every grocery shopping trip.
Do you shop for groceries online? Just add Capital One Shopping to your browser for free, and before you check out, it will check other websites, including Walmart, eBay and others to see if your item is available for less.
Or better yet, use one of our favorite money-saving apps.
Coupon sites
Gone are the days of clipping coupons from the newspaper. These days, it’s easier than ever to find coupons before going to the store.
Before you go to your weekly grocery store, check websites like Rakuten or Coupons.com to see if you can save money on anything on your grocery list. You’ll be surprised how much you can save on your grocery budget.
2. Before Grocery Shopping, Plan Meals With Common Ingredients
You’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again: The grocery store always has a strategy. (And don’t go hungry!)
Before you go shopping, meal plan, compare prices at your grocery stores to find the best savings and make a grocery list. It is an important way for everyone to stay within their food budget and prevent food waste.
But, what is the best way to plan a meal for one person? We’ve all been there: Day four of the same leftovers, and it’s so tempting to ditch the leftovers and plan in half.
Our tip for getting the most bang for your buck: Choose two to three meals that use the same ingredients, and cut the recipe portion sizes in half. Not only will this keep you from overbuying ingredients, it will also prevent food waste.
Looking for a delicious meal that will make you want to eat leftovers?
For lunch, try something like this sun-dried tomato soup and this kale salad with pecorino. Both use Tuscan kale, garlic, and pecorino or parmesan and are easy to make in batches.
Or for dinner, extend the pork and pineapple further by making halves of this Pineapple Pork with Coconut Rice and Caramelized Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa.
Both recipes call for the same ingredients, but have completely different flavor profiles to keep you satisfied.
3. Use Your Fridge to Preserve Food
A refrigerator can be one cook’s best friend and can make meal planning a lot easier.
Not only are there tons of recipes you can make and freeze as individual portions for easy reheating, but the refrigerator also allows you to buy inexpensive products in bulk.
Are there any chicken breast sales? Keep it cheap and keep a few packages in the fridge.
The refrigerator is an ideal place to store fresh, ripe food. For example, if you find that your bananas are not going well, you can store them in a freezer bag for smoothies.
Just be sure to clearly label the food and contents as well as the freeze date to avoid throwing out unknown items in the future.
Don’t sleep with frozen food.
The frozen section of grocery stores is full of great products that can save you time and money.
Pick up frozen vegetables for easy stir-fry or save cooking time by buying a bag of frozen rice or zucchini noodles.
Frozen fruit is a great way to make sure you don’t waste expensive, fresh fruit and can go right into your favorite smoothie or even a fruit smoothie.
4. Shop Sales and Sell Your Pantry
If you’re trying to stay within your food budget, you probably know exactly how to shop for sales at your favorite stores.
For example, many stores have BOGO – buy one, get one free deals – that change regularly. Take advantage of these deals when grocery shopping.
Pantry staples like beans, lentils, pasta, pasta sauce, stock and canned goods are not only cheap, but they have an incredibly long shelf life, making them ideal for one-person households to keep on hand.
Buying pantry essentials when they’re on sale and simply storing them until you need them will also help keep your food budget intact. (But don’t forget to include them in your meal plans.)
Need a quick and easy protein option, but don’t want to risk it going bad in the fridge?
Canned fish like tuna and salmon are good to have for easy recipes like tuna salad or salmon burgers.
5. Use Food Saving Hacks
Eating healthy, fresh food? One of the main problems of a single eater is the inability to finish fresh produce before it spoils.
Fortunately, there are tons of hacks to keep food fresher for longer. Here are a few.
Store Your Lettuce With Paper Towels
Moisture is the enemy of vegetables, so to keep them from wilting, store vegetables uncovered in a glass or plastic, airtight container lined with paper towels.
Proper air circulation and lack of humidity will help keep them fresh in the refrigerator. Pat the heads of lettuce dry with paper towels before placing them in the warming drawer of your refrigerator.
Wash and Store Your Herbs Properly
Washing the herbs and removing any germs when you get home from the store actually keeps them fresher for longer. Just be sure to pat them as dry as possible on the back!
Place mild herbs such as parsley, cilantro, and mint in a pot with a little water on the bottom. Then, cover them with a clear plastic bag and put them in the fridge.
To get the last shelf life, basil can be stored in the same way, but it should be placed on the counter at room temperature. The refrigerator is the enemy of fresh basil.
And with strong herbs like rosemary, sage and thyme, wrap them in a damp paper towel before putting them in the fridge.
Store the mushrooms in a paper bag
Keeping mushrooms in their plastic containers will cause them to rot quickly. Transfer them to a paper bag before putting them in the fridge so they last longer.
Soak Ripe Avocados in Water
Avocados are one of the hardest foods to keep fresh but, luckily, there are hacks that can help.
Once ripe, store whole or half avocados in water in the refrigerator. This will slow down the ripening process and keep your avocados greener for longer.
6. Invest in Food Saving Tools
Good, airtight food storage is a must for one cook. Not only does it help you keep food longer, but most of it is stackable and allows you to create more space in your fridge or freezer.
Cooking one and not sure how much pasta to measure in one portion? Using a kitchen scale is a great tool to avoid overcooking and wasting food.
And if you need food-saving backup beyond our previous tips, there are tons of food-saving products to try.
Does your cilantro keep going bad after just a few days? Vegetable saver is here to help. Investing in a freezer can be a great way to properly store food you buy in bulk before putting it in the fridge.
Not sure what you need to preserve your food? Think about which items in your fridge tend to go bad first and find the right product to help you save on your dinner and your wallet.
7. Use a Meal Kit Service
Meal kit supplies are the perfect solution for the busy, single cook. Fresh food is delivered to your door already pre-portioned for one to two servings.
Also, there is no need to go grocery shopping much, which saves time.
Pre-ground spices are great if you’re only cooking one – no need to buy an $8 bottle of spice that you might never use again.
Eat one half for dinner and save the rest for lunch the next day.
8. Eat Vegetables
Going vegetarian is a surefire way for anyone to save on food at the grocery store, but it can be especially beneficial for one-person households.
Not only do nutritious vegetable leftovers last longer than their meaty counterparts, but vegetarian meals tend to be more expensive to make.
Vegetable proteins such as tofu, beans, and lentils also have a much longer shelf life than meat, allowing for more flexibility and less chance of you throwing out expired items.
Try substituting meat for tofu, mushrooms, or beans at your next meal and you’ll see how delicious and inexpensive vegetarian meals can be.
