The cost of food convenience (ouch!)

A jar of pasta sauce is a great time-saver, but when it comes to certain 'convenience' items, are we paying far too much?

July 24, 2024

Food that is pre-packaged or portioned is an appealing options to save a minute or two, but how much is convenience really costing you? Here are a few price comparisons for common items, so you can decide if convenience is worth it. 

(All prices are approximate – you may pay more or less, depending on where you shop)

For example:

Popcorn

400g bag popping corn kernels: $4.90 per kilo

100g bag microwave popcorn: $10 per kilo

(Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. It’s healthier and cheaper than the store-bought variety). 

Lettuce

Whole iceberg lettuce: $3.50

200g bag shredded iceberg: $10 per kilo ‍

Rice

1kg bag long grain rice: $1.80

Microwave rice:  $7 per kilo

(Instead of buying pre-cooked rice, make a large batch of rice and freeze in individual portions. Microwave each portion as required and fluff up with a fork)‍

Cheese

1 kg block of cheddar cheese: $10 per kilo

Sliced cheese: $16 per kilo

Grated mozzarella cheese: 16.00 per kilo

Tasty cheese and cracker snack packs: $35 per kilo

Onions

Fresh onions: $2.20 per kilo

Diced onions: $6 per kilo

Mushrooms

Loose mushrooms: $12 per kilo

Sliced mushrooms: $16 per kilo

Pumpkin

Whole pumpkin: $3.90 per kilo 

Diced pumpkin: $10 per kilo

Potatoes

Potatoes from $2.00 per kilo

Mashed potatoes $15 per kilo

Carrots

Whole carrots: $2.50 per kilo

Shredded carrots: $11 per kilo

Garlic

Whole garlic bulbs: $10 per kilo  

Peeled garlic cloves: $20 per kilo


If you do go for the more cost effective option here are some tips for storing vegetables so they last longer and reducing vegetable and fruit waste

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