Food costs keep squeezing household budgets across the country, with grocery bills still causing the biggest sticker shock. To help people cope, we’ve tested different money-saving approaches: rescuing discounted food through apps like Flashfood, pitting name brands against generic alternatives and investigating whether discount grocers like Trader Joe’s live up to their budget-friendly reputations.
Another proven approach is bulk buying. Loading up on household essentials at warehouse clubs like Costco can slash your grocery spending considerably. When I ran the numbers, the potential annual savings came to roughly $1,000 for the typical shopper who commits to buying in bulk.
But bulk shopping isn’t as simple as signing up for Costco or Sam’s. You’ll need to think about storage space, shelf life and whether you’ll actually use what you buy.
As Mary Ann Kelley, the meal planning expert behind AddSaltandServe, puts it: “Shoppers can ask themselves three questions:
- Will my savings be significant compared to the lowest price at all stores?
- Will I use the items before they expire or lose quality?
- Do I have room to store the items I buy in bulk?”
A great deal isn’t a deal if you end up throwing half of it away.
Read more: Here’s What an Expert Told Me About Food Expiration Dates
Accepting that bulk shopping is generally a financially savvy move, and given the considerations posed above, I asked a few shopping and meal prepping experts what the best foods are to buy in bulk. Here they are:
1. Canned or dried beans
Beans are packed with protein and they’re the perfect candidates to buy in bulk.
“Canned beans are a pantry staple and a smart bulk purchase, thanks to their long shelf life and affordability at warehouse stores,” says Kristen Markel, the bulk shopping expert behind Warehouse Wanderer. Beans also are incredibly versatile for food prep, as they can fit into just about any meal, including dessert. (Black bean brownies are worth your time.)
Plus they have real staying power. “Properly stored in a cool, dark place, canned beans can last up to five years,” says Markel. An eight-pack of canned beans at Costco retails for about $8, bringing the cost per can to under a dollar, and the cost per serving to about 30 cents. If you’ve got the time and wherewithal for dried beans, the savings are even bigger. A 10-pound bag of black beans costs around $18, for a cost per serving of less than 25 cents.
2. Frozen proteins
If freezer space allows, fish is far more affordable when you buy in bulk.
Meat and seafood in the freezer section are often frozen right after harvesting, so they can still be very high in quality. You can also process proteins bought fresh and freeze them yourself, and either way certain types of meat and seafood can stay in your freezer for up to a year. (This FoodKeeper app from the US Department of Health and Human Services is a handy guide to how long you can store various foods.)
“Shoppers can often find bulk-packaged fresh and frozen meat at a better price, or they may stock up on bulk amounts of normal packages of meat when they are on sale,” says Kelley. It’s possible to have a bulk shopping mindset even if you don’t have access to a traditional bulk store.
“Meat bought in bulk at a good price can be frozen as is, but shoppers can also save space — and make dinner prep less stressful — by cooking meats ahead that will be used later in cooked form in recipes. For instance, shoppers can cook bulk packages of ground beef or chicken when they bring them home, and then they can use the cooked meat for recipes like tacos, chili, and chicken soup.”
3. Butter
Butter is more shelf-stable than most people think, making it a good candidate for buying in bulk.
We typically think primarily of the pantry or freezer when it comes to buying in bulk, but “don’t overlook dairy, especially butter,” says Markel. “Butter freezes beautifully and can last up to a year in the freezer.”
Costco’s Kirkland Signature butter is considered one of its most economical offerings among fans, around $18 (in my region) for 4 pounds, which doesn’t come with an overwhelming space requirement in the freezer. At my nearest grocery store, the same amount of butter costs twice that much.
4. Dry pasta and noodles
Boxed pasta lasts for up to two years.
Boxed pasta may require some storage space, but if you’re able to bulk up on it, it has the longevity to make it worthwhile. “Dry pasta is another bulk-buy winner, with an unopened shelf life of up to two years,” says Markel. “For even longer storage, consider vacuum-sealing pasta to maintain freshness well beyond its typical expiration.” (Here are the best vacuum sealers we’ve tested.)
Eight pounds of Barilla penne cost $13 at Costco, which results in a savings of over a dollar per pound compared with buying individual boxes at my local supermarket. Italian American families, or carb lovers, take note.
5. Speciality items
Not all spices are good to buy in bulk, but whole peppercorns keep their pep for a while.
Items with the highest prices per ounce can be prime candidates for bulk shopping, on a case-by-case basis depending on longevity. “Specialty items that cost significantly less on sale can be worth buying in bulk, but only if they will be used,” says Kelley. “A good example of this is expensive spices that might be used frequently, like quality black peppercorns,” she says.
Other specialty items that can be pricey but can be stockpiled when they’re on sale include saffron, tinned fish and even caviar — which can actually be frozen when unopened and kept for up to a year.
6. Paper products
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, buy paper towels and other household products in bulk.
So long as you’re bulk shopping, here’s a bonus nonfood item. “Paper products are among the items that are less expensive to buy in bulk packaging, especially toilet paper and paper towels,” says Kelley.” “Since paper products do not need to be stored in a climate controlled area, utility spaces, attics and other unfinished spaces are fine for storage, making it easier to make room for them.”
If you have a paper towel dependency, as I do, consider a 12-pack of Kirkland paper towels for $23, versus single rolls that can be as much as $3 and up.
