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Budget Kitchen Staples - For the Long Haul
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items Learning to save money and cook at home has never been a more valuable skill. Here are many items I use everyday in my small kitchen, cooking for my family.
Sections
5
Storage Options
Bulk Foods
Inexpensive Tools
Cookbooks
Recipes
Storage Options
These buckets are cheap, and hold food for years. Think rice, flour, noodles, etc.
5-Gallon White Food Grade Bucket with Lid
Bulk Foods
This saves you a lot of space and a lot of waste. Just a tablespoon or 2 per recipe and you've got an excellent binder, no fridge required.
Egg Powder
This turns into pancakes, biscuits, cake, bread, flour and water can be a whole meal if you're creative.
Great Value All Purpose Enriched Flour, 25 lb Bag
While this isn't a necessity, it makes everything taste better!
Great Value Pure Granulated Sugar, 25 lb
This really makes anything pop with flavor, making simple ingredients delicious!
(12 pack) Great Value Iodized Salt, 26 oz
This is only 4 cents and ounce and will allow you to be creative, make it into desserts or even flour. Not to mention adding it to everything to stretch those meals.
Great Value Long Grain Enriched Rice, 5 lbs
This shape stretches the furthest, but all pasta is pretty cheap. To build up your stock just add one box to your order every time you visit the store.
Great Value Elbows Pasta, 32 oz
These are rich in nutrients and easy to hide in recipes. Check out the recipe section of this list for ideas.
Great Value Lentils, 4 lb
These are my favorite bulk buy because they can substitute meat in a lot of dishes! They also blend well into desserts.
Great Value Black Beans, 1 lb
These make anything stretch. Use them under a can of soup or to thicken up any sauce.
Great Value Instant Mashed Potatoes, 26.7 oz, Box
Inexpensive Tools
The perfect item for your gift list! This will save you hundreds of dollars a year, and allow you to bake a variety of family treats.
Amazon Basics Programmable 2lb Bread Maker
Keeping foods from going bad and using everything to it's fullest are budget basics. Canning can really help with that!
GraceKit 21.5 QT Stainless Steel Water Bath Canner Kit
These are sold as disposable, but I've used them over and over. Solid deal for those on the go days!
50 Pack 32oz 3-Compartment Meal Prep Containers
Take those food bank veggies and blend them into a delicious pasta sauce! Can add your spices into the mix, creating a heat and eat situation!
Hamilton Beach Smoothie Blender for Kitchen, 48 oz Jar, Great for Smoothies, Shakes and More, Mint - Walmart.com
Cookbooks
I love this book because it values both time and money. A few tricks out of here will cut your budget way down!
Taste of Home Budget-Friendly Cookbook: 220+ Recipes
Many, many cookbook authors have done a budget version of their favorite meals. Here's a few of my favorites!
Budget cooking, Cooking - General & Miscellaneous, Books
Extending the life of fruits, vegetables, and meat (especially when they are bought at a discount) will save you a ton of money throughout the year.
Complete Guide to Pressure Canning Meats & More
Recipes
Cooking for large families can be difficult because imagination runs out. These recipes can Kickstart your creativity.
35 Cheap and Easy Dinner Ideas for Large Families on a Budget (Easy Budget Recipes [Video] in 2025 | Cheap easy meals, Cheap dinners, Budget meals
Pasta is all about the sauce, and sauce can be made cheap! Try a few of these out.
20 Best Weeknight Pasta Recipes in 2025 | Easy pasta recipes, Recipes, Easy pasta
Lentils are a fabulous addition to a budget kitchen because they are both healthy and versatile. Once you learn to use them you'll never go back!
How to Hide Lentils in Food: Save Money and Eat Healthier