I’m a Frugal Shopper: 4 Items You’ll Always Find in My Freezer
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Having a well-stocked freezer is the secret weapon of frugal grocery shoppers everywhere. Freezing food is one of the best ways to save money on groceries and reduce food waste. If you stock up on bulk buys when prices are low and freeze them for later use, it can transform the way you cook and shop.
Fill your freezer with the following staples to save yourself time, money and trips to the store.
Frozen Lasagna
For an easy and filling family meal, keep frozen lasagna on hand. Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com, recommends the Kirkland Signature Italian Sausage and Beef Lasagna.
“Costco has this frozen meal in a 2-pack and I always make sure to have it on hand for easy dinners,” she said. “Each pan weighs 3 lbs., so even if you don’t bulk it up with something on the side like bread and salad, it’s still plenty for two people to have multiple meals from.”
It only costs $16.99 in store. And better yet, keeping a lasagna in the freezer makes it simple to assemble a hearty Italian meal. Just bake while preparing a salad and bread, and dinner is served. Getting multiple portions from one pan makes frozen lasagna a budget- and time-saving staple.
“The best thing about this is that it’s so hands-off — you can even cook it in the microwave if you want, but I prefer the oven method to get crispy edges towards the end of the baking process,” added Ramhold. “It’s satisfying and filling, and while there’s also a beef-only lasagna available, I prefer the flavor and texture of the one with the Italian sausage.”
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ice cream sandwiches are another freezer staple as they’re the perfect way to satisfy a craving for a cool, creamy treat.
“These are a treat from Trader Joe’s and I always grab a box on my shopping trips,” said Ramhold. “You’ll get four ice cream sandwiches to a box for $4.99, which works out to $1.25 per treat.”
She doesn’t eat one every day, so the sandwiches can last up to several months in her freezer. Even then, Ramhold said, “they’re always delicious — the cookies are perfectly soft, the ice cream is smooth and the size is perfect for an after-meal treat without making you feel like you’re going to pop.”
The individual packaging of these desserts makes them perfect for grabbing one at a time.
Salted Butter
Salted butter is a must for baking and cooking, and Costco’s butter is a great value, according to Ramhold.
“I do a lot of baking throughout the year so I always make sure to keep Kirkland Signature salted sweet cream butter in the freezer, especially around the holidays,” said Ramhold.
The package from Costco is made up of 4, 16-ounce boxes, each filled with 4, 4-ounce sticks of butter. “It’s perfect for pulling out a stick or two to use for cookies, brownies, or whatever baking project I feel like tackling at the time,” she added.
All together, this costs only $17.42, making the price of each pound only $4.36. And by freezing the butter, you can take advantage of bulk pricing while keeping it fresh for months.
Frozen Pizza
For a quick and tasty meal, Ramhold likes to keep frozen pizza on hand, specifically Costco’s Kirkland Signature cheese pizza that comes in a box of 4. At $14.29, each pizza is less than $4.
“Sometimes you just want a frozen pizza, and these are great for keeping on hand for quick meals or snacks — one easily feeds both me and my husband — and personally I think the flavor is the best of any frozen pizza I’ve had, said Ramhold.
Ramhold continued, “These pizzas don’t take up much room, and they have cooking instructions on the plastic wrap of each pizza, so you don’t have to worry about storing a huge box in your freezer or keeping track of a picture of the instructions or anything like that.”
While she enjoys the pepperoni version as well, it’s a bit more expensive than the cheese at $17.40.
Frozen pizza from Costco gives you restaurant-quality flavor at a household-friendly price. Easy to store and prepare, having these on hand makes putting together a quick meal simple.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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