Then McCord uses the leftover rice to whip up a variety of recipes including Rice Cakes , Leftover Rice Pudding , and Breakfast Rice Bake. So both of these ingredients can stretch your dollar and time as far as possible. While many people are hesitant to stock up on fresh foods because they are perishable—potatoes are the exception to this rule.

Sick of plain pasta again? Chef Chris Aquilino , director of culinary at Elior North America , likes to jazz up his meals with jarred items, including pesto, olives, jalapeños, artichokes, sardines, and anchovies. They also stay fresh for a long time.

According to Aquilino, herb purées, such as basil and cilantro, can even stay fresh for weeks at a time. So don't be afraid to open up that tube. Aquilino also suggests stocking up on tomato paste. There are numerous ways to cook with tomato paste including topping fish and making barbeque sauce.

While you can easily find canned tomato paste at most supermarkets, Aquilino prefers the kind available in a tube. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content.

Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. salt — Salt is a necessary nutrient for life, but also a great seasoning for meat, veggies, and baked goods. baking powder — Baking powder is required for a number of baked goods, but remember you can make your own baking powder if need be.

dry active yeast — Store bread is pricy, unless you buy it on clearance. Baking your own bread is the way to go! Start with something easy like Everything Hamburger Buns and work yourself up to a sandwich loaf, like Sourdough Rye Bread.

Shopping in the snack aisle can jack your bill up tremendously. Avoid impulse purchases and make your own snacks and treats at home. popcorn — Popcorn is a great snack that costs just a few pennies per serving!

You can even make your own microwave popcorn. This caramel corn recipe is currently on repeat at my house. Raisins and dried cranberries are generally affordable and a little goes a long way. saltine crackers — Many crackers can be incredibly expensive, but soda crackers are long lasting and generally the cheapest on the shelf.

Fresh fruit and veggies are an important component to a healthy diet. You can often find good deals on fresh produce if you buy items that are in season.

Remember canned or frozen fruit and veggies are a great option as well. canned crushed tomatoes — Crushed tomatoes are a key component in Marinara Sauce. Why buy canned pasta sauce when you can make your own in minutes.

canned tomato paste — Likewise, tomato paste is an important ingredient to pizza sauce which is so much more affordable to make at home. canned tomato sauce — Having canned tomato sauce on hand makes for easy soups, stews, casseroles, and pasta dishes. cabbage — Cabbage is one of the longer lasting vegetables.

Whether you buy it shredded or whole, make sure cabbage is on your budget grocery list. bananas — A nutrient-dense food, bananas are great for snacking, for homemade baby food, for baking, and for smoothies.

carrots — Another long lasting vegetable that is generally affordable, carrots are a staple to keep on hand for snacks, roasting, baking, and soup-making. They generally last long and can be used in so many dishes.

celery — One of the main components in stir-fries, veggie platters, and mirepoix, celery is typically a good cheap eat that will last you awhile in the fridge. onions — Onions are a building block of almost any savory recipe. Buy them in bulk, and load up when you see a sale.

garlic — Garlic packs a lot of flavor for a small price. It comes in a number of forms. Compare prices to see what works best for you. Even garlic powder can come in handy. fresh citrus — Prices of citrus will vary throughout the year, but having a lime, lemon, or orange on hand can add acidic flavor to any number of dishes.

Watch prices and when you see them on sale, enjoy! fresh green chiles — Buy your chiles fresh instead of canned to add heat to your cooking while spending less money. Focus on in-season, on-sale vegetables whenever possible.

Green peppers are usually cheaper than red or yellow, but you may see sales on a regular basis. Watch for marked down produce as well. frozen vegetables — In lieu of fresh, on sale veg, stock up on frozen vegetables.

They are generally just as nutritious as fresh and the prep work is already done for you! applesauce cups — Apples have become rather pricey of late, and while homemade applesauce is the better item, it can be expensive.

canned pumpkin — Available all year round, canned pumpkin can be used in sweet and savory. potted herbs — Fresh herbs can elevate a dish like nothing else. Growing your own herbs is a great way to do it! Cooking at home is often the best thing you can do to save money on food. Having a pantry stocked with basic staples will make it easier for you to cook at home.

If you just need a few teaspoons, head to a natural foods store and buy just what you need from their bulk jars. neutral cooking oil — While olive oil adds great flavor to sautes and salads, it does bring some flavor with it. vinegar — Vinegar brings much needed acid to sauces, dressings, and marinades.

ketchup — Keep to the standards when it comes to condiments, like ketchup. You can make spicy ketchup yourself. And as a former ketchup snob, I can verify that generic tastes just fine! mustard — The same goes for mustard.

Choose regular and maybe Dijon. Then dress them up with seasonings or honey as your whim suits you. Prioritize which is important to you, buy them whole, and then slice, spear, or chop them yourself. Skip the flavored varieties and make your own Homemade Chipotle Mayo or Herbed Mayonnaise.

soy sauce — Soy sauce is another budget food condiment that brings a lot of flavor to the table. It can be used to doctor up a number of sauces and dressings, eliminating the need to buy the pricier commercial bottles.

honey — Honey is a tasty sweetener for drinks as well as baked goods and morning oatmeal. Be sure to buy it in a size you will easily use to avoid its crystallizing too much before you can use it.

The dairy department can hold some great deals. Be sure to watch the sales and stock up with you see a good price on your favorite brands. butter — Butter knows how to bring the flavor to baked goods, especially Chocolate Butterhorn Pastry.

Avoid paying full price which can get really high. plain yogurt — Plain yogurt is a budget food that can double for sour cream and buttermilk in recipes, but is also so much cheaper than the flavored varieties at the store. Buying a larger tub will also be more budget-friendly than the single serve cups.

evaporated milk — If the price of fresh milk is giving you sticker shock, consider using evaporated milk. It can be diluted to use as milk or used straight from the can as a substitute for cream.

cottage cheese — Cottage cheese is a protein-rich budget food that you can include in baking, smoothies, casseroles, and for snacking. And it will melt better, too. Parmesan — A little goes a long way to add flavor when it comes to Parmesan.

Buy it in a block to grate yourself or get the green can variety for the biggest bang for your buck. dry milk powder — Dry milk comes in handy when the price of fresh milk is out of sight.

Sodas and booze will drive your grocery bill sky-high. Same with bottled drinks and Starbies. Avoid the extra cost by making your favorite beverages yourself.

tea — Tea is one of the most budget foods when it comes to drinks you can make yourself. The price per serving is incredibly low, so feel free to make your own Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea or iced tea.

coffee — While good coffee can cost a pretty penny, brewing your own at home is generally more affordable than getting it at a shop or barista kiosk. cocoa powder — Keeping cocoa powder on hand allows you to bake cookies and brownies and to make Homemade Chocolate Syrup for so much less!

You can also make your own Malted Hot Chocolate Mix. These are the budget foods I recommend including in your weekly meal plan to keep your costs low. Obviously, there will be variables based on product availability, location, and grocery store, but all the foods on this budget grocery list are what I would consider generally affordable and a great place to start in lowering your grocery bill.

Spoiler: these same foods have been on this list for more than 20 years. Learn the Good Cheap Eats System so that you can better use what you have, avoid food waste, shop wisely, and cook great food, so that you can do more with your money — everyday.

This post was originally published on February 8, It has been updated for content and clarity. A fantastic resource!

Aldi is probably your best bet for inexpensive food. They have gluten free and organic choices if that's something you need. There is a Some categories that I found to be cheap in some grocery stores were: Fresh fruits and vegetables, grocery staples, and packaged foods and Missing

Budget-friendly grocery deals - The Ultimate Cheap Grocery List to Save You Money · Meat and meat alternatives · Seafood · Dairy, dairy alternatives and eggs · Pantry staples Aldi is probably your best bet for inexpensive food. They have gluten free and organic choices if that's something you need. There is a Some categories that I found to be cheap in some grocery stores were: Fresh fruits and vegetables, grocery staples, and packaged foods and Missing

Buying plain yogurt in large containers is most economical. Yogurt can be topped with affordable granola or fruit for a balanced breakfast or snack. Check Out: 8 Best New Items at Five Below in January. In-season fresh fruits like bananas and apples are usually available at low cost.

Fruit provides important vitamins and fiber and gives an energy boost. Keeping a stash of frozen fruit means you can always have berries, mangos, etc. Frozen fruit is nutritious and more affordable.

Sweet potatoes are inexpensive, versatile and nutritious. Roast them with olive oil or make them into fries, add to soups and stews, or mash them as a side.

Pre-packaged breakfast bars are inexpensive and portable, and they provide protein and fiber to start the day off right. Related: 11 Pantry Items To Buy at Dollar Tree. Granola bars contain whole grains, protein and other nutrients. They provide energy on the go and keep you satisfied between meals.

Buying store brand boxes in bulk keeps costs down. Pre-made breakfast bowls offer an affordable way to get a hearty, balanced morning meal with protein, grains and fruit without the restaurant price tag.

Frozen breakfast burritos offer an inexpensive way to enjoy a hot breakfast sandwich at home. They have eggs, cheese, meat, and veggies wrapped up for convenience. Potatoes are very versatile and affordable. They can be prepared mashed, baked, fried or roasted and included in many different meals to add bulk and nutrients and to fill you up.

Canned tuna is an inexpensive source of lean protein to keep on hand. It can be used to make tuna salad, included in pasta dishes, mixed into salads or eaten straight out of the can in a pinch. They keep a long time in the freezer. Rice is a pantry staple that provides energy and fills you up.

Rice keeps for a long time and goes with sauces, beans, meats and veggies. Basic pasta sauce is inexpensive when purchased in cans or jars. Transforming pasta into a tasty meal is as easy as heating up some sauce and tossing with noodles.

Add protein or veggies if you have any. Read: 7 Must-Buy Grocery Items at Aldi in January. Black beans provide protein and fiber. Black beans can be used in tacos, burritos, salads, soups and more.

Bread is an affordable basic for sandwiches or toast. Opt for whole wheat when possible for added nutrients. Even plain bread provides carbohydrates for energy. Bananas are one of the cheapest fruits. Keeping bananas on hand prevents grabbing a more expensive snack when hungry.

Heather Taylor contributed to the reporting for this article. I'm a Shopping Expert: 9 Items I'd Never Put in My Grocery Cart.

Luxury Living on a Budget: 6 Tips for the Upper Middle Class. Experts: Make These 7 Money Resolutions If You Want To Become Rich on an Average Salary.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates. markets close in 11 minutes. There are numerous ways to cook with tomato paste including topping fish and making barbeque sauce.

While you can easily find canned tomato paste at most supermarkets, Aquilino prefers the kind available in a tube. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content.

Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content.

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