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