3 Canned Foods Frugal People Never Put in Their Grocery Cart
Written by
Brooke Barley
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Canned foods might be some of the most budget-friendly items you can buy at the grocery store, but that doesn’t mean you should buy them. Some canned items aren’t great quality and you’d be better off buying them fresh.
Or the cans simply don’t offer a lot of value for what you’re paying. GOBankingRates asked Melanie Musson, finance expert with Clearsurance.com, what canned items shoppers should avoid if they’re trying to save money.
Read on to see what items to skip next time you’re at the store.
Carrots
Canned vegetables often cost less than fresh vegetables, but Musson said that’s not always the case with carrots. “In most instances, canned carrots cost more than fresh or frozen carrots. A frugal person will buy fresh or frozen carrots to save money.”
For example, at Ralphs, the Kroger brand of carrots cost $1.29 a can. Typically, a can of carrots equals around three whole carrots. To purchase three whole carrots at Ralphs, it would only cost about 66 cents.
Peaches
Canned peaches obviously have a longer shelf life than fresh ones. However, Musson said the canning process takes a lot of taste out of the peaches. “Canned peaches often have little flavor. Most people can buy fresh peaches that taste better and cost less than canned peaches,” she said.
Similar to carrots, it’s generally thought that one can of peaches contains about the same amount as three fresh peaches. Though it was generally a better deal to buy canned peaches at Ralphs and Target, there is still the lack of flavor that Musson referred to, which cannot be replaced.
Chicken
For dips and salads, shoppers might be tempted to use canned chicken. The unfortunate fact about canned chicken, Musson said, is that it can be expensive for what the customer is getting in return. “Canned meat has its place for backcountry backpacking trips and other situations with no refrigeration, but canned chicken isn’t something a frugal person would buy for everyday use,” she explained. “Instead, they buy Costco or Sam’s Club chicken. It’s less expensive per ounce and most would agree that it tastes better.”
For comparison, a Costco shopper could get 18 pounds of chicken breasts, thighs and tenders for $129.99. That comes out to 45 cents an ounce. At Ralphs, one can of chicken costs $2.29, which is 46 cents an ounce. Though that isn’t a big price difference, shoppers are getting a lot more types of chicken to make more versatile dishes and can freeze some to cook up for a later date.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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