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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?
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angela_allen536mo ago
Honestly that pasta price is hard to beat though. A buck for a box that cooks up into a huge amount is tough to pass up. You can do a lot with pasta too, just toss it with some butter and garlic or a cheap jar of sauce. Potatoes are great but they take way more time and effort to cook. Sometimes you just need the faster, easier option after a long day.
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the_morgan6mo ago
But have you actually timed it? A potato in the microwave is done in like five minutes, same as boiling water for pasta. The real kicker is nutrition. Pasta just leaves you hungry again an hour later, it's all empty carbs. A potato actually has vitamins and fiber, keeps you full way longer. For a buck, you're buying actual food that fuels you, not just cheap filler.
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barbarac955mo ago
Microwaved potato is fine but you gotta poke holes in it or it explodes, learned that the hard way. Pasta you just dump in boiling water and walk away, set a timer. The real trick though is adding a can of beans or lentils to stretch the pasta into a full meal that sticks with you. Those cost like a buck too and you get protein and fiber. I keep a bag of frozen veggies in the freezer and toss a handful in the pasta water the last few minutes, makes it way more filling without extra effort.
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