c/cheap-eats-club

Overheard a neighbor call a bag of lentils 'emergency food' at the store

She was telling her kid they were just for the pantry, but I use them for a cheap soup with carrots and onion that costs maybe $3 total. It made me wonder how many people skip the basics because they seem boring. What's your favorite way to make lentils actually exciting?

I had to choose between a bag of potatoes or a box of pasta for my main cheap carb this week.

The potatoes were $2.50 for five pounds, and the box of pasta was $1. I went with the potatoes because I realized I could roast them, mash them, and even make a simple soup. It worked out great, and I got four different meals from them. Anyone have other cheap ideas for a base ingredient that can be used in a bunch of ways?

I bought a $12 jar of fancy 'gourmet' pasta sauce and it tasted exactly like the $1.50 can from the store

My $15 slow cooker from a yard sale finally gave up the ghost last night, turning my planned bean stew into a cold, watery mess.

I mean, I guess I should've seen it coming after three years, but has anyone found a truly reliable cheap cooker that won't die mid-meal?

My rice cooker broke right before dinner and I had to improvise

I was at home last Tuesday, about to make a big batch of beans and rice, when my cheap rice cooker just stopped heating. I had already soaked the beans overnight. I ended up boiling the rice in a regular pot with extra water, then drained it like pasta. It worked fine and saved the meal. Has anyone else had a kitchen gadget die and found a cheaper way to do the same thing?

Walked past the old diner on 5th Street and the burger is now $18. Remember when it was $6?

PSA: I thought dried beans were a waste of time until I tried them last winter

For years, I only bought canned beans because I thought the dried kind were too much hassle. Then my budget got tight, so I bought a 2-pound bag of black beans for $2.50. After soaking them overnight and cooking for an hour, I got way more food than four cans would give me. The taste was better, and I saved over $5 on that one meal. Now I'm split, is the extra time really worth the savings, or should you just grab the can?

I always thought dried beans were more trouble than they're worth

For years I'd grab the canned ones, figuring the extra dollar was a fair price to skip the soaking. Then my buddy, who cooks for a family of five on a tight budget, showed me his system. He buys a 2-pound bag of pinto beans for about $3, soaks a whole batch overnight, cooks them in his slow cooker while he's out driving, and freezes them in old yogurt containers. He gets about six cans' worth for half the price. I tried it last month and the texture is way better, plus you control the salt. I've been making a big pot of chili every other week with them. What other cheap staples are people prepping in bulk like this?

My big batch of lentil soup turned into a salty mess last night

I was making my usual pot, a recipe I've done a hundred times, and I added my stock cube like always. I guess I didn't taste it before I dumped in the whole bag of lentils, because after it simmered for an hour, it was almost too salty to eat. I had to add two whole peeled potatoes and let it cook another 30 minutes to soak up some of that salt. It saved the soup, but it was a close call and used up my last potatoes. Anyone have a good, low-sodium veggie stock trick that doesn't cost a fortune?

My pressure cooker seal split right before I was about to cook a big pot of beans.

It happened Tuesday evening, right as I was getting dinner ready. The rubber ring had a clean tear, so it wouldn't hold pressure at all. I didn't want to buy a new seal right then, so I just cooked the beans in the pot without the lid locked, like a regular pot. It took about two hours on a low simmer instead of 45 minutes, but they turned out fine. Anyone know a good place to get a cheap replacement gasket that won't fail in six months?

Was totally wrong about using canned mackerel for fish cakes

Always thought it would be too fishy or weird, but a friend in Seattle swore by it. Tried it last night with some potato and onion, cost maybe $2.50 total for two big patties. Who else has a cheap protein swap that actually works?

Why does everyone overcook their lentils into mush when a 20 minute simmer gets them perfect?

I finally nailed my red lentil soup after 3 tries by pulling it off the heat the second they were tender, not after they'd turned to paste, and now my $2 pot of soup actually has texture.

A simple trick with dried beans that saves me about $40 a year

I see a lot of folks skip soaking beans because they think it takes too long. The key is you don't need to soak them overnight. I put 2 cups of dried pintos in a pot, cover them with boiling water from a kettle, and let them sit for just one hour. They cook much faster after that, which cuts my gas bill. Does anyone else have a quick soak method they like?

Hot take: my $3 lentil soup from scratch last night beat any canned stuff I've ever bought.

I boiled a bag of brown lentils I got for a dollar with an onion, a carrot, and some bouillon cube I had left over from a pack I bought three months ago, and it made enough for four huge bowls.

My neighbor told me dried beans are a waste of time and I completely disagree

Honestly, I was in my apartment building's laundry room about two months ago, and my neighbor Sarah saw my grocery bag with a 2-pound bag of pinto beans. She said, 'Ngl, I don't get why people bother with those. They take forever and never taste as good as the canned kind.' Tbh, it really stuck with me because she's usually so chill. I told her that a bag costs $1.89 and makes like 12 meals worth of beans, while canned is at least triple the price. I soak mine overnight and then cook them in my slow cooker with some onion and garlic while I'm at work. The texture is way better, and I can control the salt. Has anyone else had to defend cooking from scratch to save money?

My pressure cooker's seal gave out right before I was about to cook a big bag of dried beans I got for $2.

I just wrapped the whole thing in a towel to keep the steam in and it actually worked, but has anyone found a reliable cheap replacement seal online?

My pressure cooker's seal gave out right as I started a big batch of beans

Happened last Tuesday, right when I was about to save a ton on dried chickpeas. Had to pivot fast and soak them overnight, then simmer them for three hours on the stove, which totally blew my gas budget for the month. Anyone have a good source for replacement gaskets that won't cost more than the beans?

Spent 45 minutes trying to make my own veggie broth from scraps before I figured out the trick

The great canned bean debate is missing a key step

Everyone says to just rinse them, but that washes away flavor and nutrients. I simmer mine in their own liquid with a bay leaf for 10 minutes, and the resulting bean broth makes soups way better. Am I the only one who does this?

Rant: I dropped $35 on a cheap mandoline slicer and it was a total waste

I thought it would be a game changer for making big batches of coleslaw and potato dishes on a budget. The first time I used it, it shredded a carrot unevenly and the guard slipped. Last week, it took a chunk out of my thumb while I was slicing onions, and I spent more on bandages than I saved on veggies. Now it just sits in a drawer, and I'm back to using my trusty old knife. Has anyone found a kitchen gadget that actually works without costing a fortune?

Why does nobody talk about the bulk spice section at the Sunrise Market in Phoenix?

I was there yesterday and saw you can get a little bag of cumin for 89 cents, which is way less than the jarred stuff. It made me wonder what other basic spices are way cheaper if you buy them loose like that. Has anyone else found a good spot for bulk herbs or spices that saved them cash?

My grocery bill went from $120 a week to under $70 in about two months

I started really planning meals around what was on sale at my local store, especially the meat markdowns. Instead of buying whatever I felt like, I'd grab a cheap pack of chicken thighs or a big thing of ground beef and build the week's food from that. I also stopped buying those little snack packs and started making my own stuff, like a big batch of hummus for the week. The biggest change was buying dry beans and rice in bulk, which is way cheaper than the cans and boxes. Has anyone else cut their food costs by half and what was the one thing that helped you the most?

Remember when everyone said dried beans were too much work?

I used to avoid them because of the long soak time, you know? But a couple years back, I was really broke after a slow winter for the business, and I needed to cut my food bill down. I found a tip online about using a pressure cooker, which I already had for canning. I tried it with a bag of pinto beans from the discount grocery. Instead of soaking overnight, you just rinse them, cover with water in the pot, and cook for about 35 minutes. They came out perfect, and a one-pound bag, which cost maybe $1.50, made enough for a week of meals (like bean bowls, soups, and burritos). It totally changed my view on cheap staples. What's your favorite 'too much work' food that actually has a simple shortcut?

The week I lived on a $20 bag of potatoes and learned a hard lesson

Last month, my truck needed a new part and my food budget for the week was just gone. I had a five-pound bag of russet potatoes I got for $3.99 and about $16 left. I thought, how hard could it be? Monday was baked potatoes with butter. Tuesday, I fried the leftovers with an onion. Wednesday, I made a thin potato soup with some bouillon and the last of an old carrot. By Thursday, the smell of potatoes made me feel sick. I was so tired and hungry for something green. I finally caved and bought a bunch of kale for $1.50 on Friday, chopped it fine, and mixed it into mashed potatoes with a lot of garlic. That one change saved the whole week. It taught me that the cheapest meal plan fails if you don't plan for variety, even if it's just one cheap veggie. Has anyone else ever tried to stretch one ingredient too far and found a simple fix?

Walking past the fancy grocery store made me see my pantry differently

Honestly, I was in the Whole Foods parking lot yesterday and saw a guy loading his cart with a single bag of fancy rice for $18. Tbh, it hit me that my local Asian market sells a 20-pound bag of jasmine rice for $15, and it lasts my family two months. I used to think those stores were just for special stuff, but their bulk bins and produce are way cheaper for basics. Has anyone else found a spot like that where the normal stuff is half the price?