Wednesday, December 29, 2010
This week our reader Susan asks:"LMKIA, I've learned from you how to save money on lots of items, but produce is one area where I just can't seem to save any money! I must spend at least $30 a week on produce alone! I know you like to eat healthy foods - can you give me some tips on how to save on produce?"Susan, produce is one of the biggest costs of a healthy diet, but it doesn't have to be a budget-breaker! My family eats a lot of produce - my husband even loves to "juice" quite a bit. (He makes homemade juice drinks from organic or fresh produce for a meal.) Yet we keep our budget to about $20 for every 2-3 weeks of produce. Here are some of my favorite tricks:
- Buy canned or frozen whenever you can. Canned is good, but I think frozen is better. Several times a year there are sales on frozen produce that will make it FREE (or nearly free) after coupons! That's when I stock up on staples like green beans, brussel sprouts, broccoli, corn and any others I might steam or cook or use to add flavor in recipes. When I want organic veggies, I will usually look for canned or frozen organic deals first.
- In fact, most of the time frozen foods are actually healthier than the "fresh" variety you find in most grocery produce sections. Most "fresh" produce was picked well before it was fully ripe, sometimes as much as 14 days before it lands on the grocery shelf. It loses lots of vitamins through that process. But frozen produce is picked at the height of its ripeness, and then typically flash-frozen within 48 hours of being picked. That means it retains more of its natural vitamins than the "fresh" variety you pay so much more for!
- Take advantage of the sales. Just like all other foods, you want to stockpile whenever you can. Learn proper storage techniques for the produce you buy to prevent them from becoming overripe before you use them. We never put tomatoes or apples in with other produce as they put off gasses that will ripen other fruits. We also keep our fridge crisper drawers extra cold, and then use the "green" storage bags that allow the fruits to breathe better. I've found I get 2-3 times the shelf life out of my produce that way! Apples, onions, garlic and potatoes can go into the basement, where it is cool and dark, for longer shelf life.
- Look for produce coupons in stores and online. No matter the reason I'm going into the store, I always cruise through the produce section, the deli and the beer aisle. I can often find coupons hiding in those sections on tearpads for produce savings! If you don't find any there, try searching eBay for 'produce coupon.'
- Many fresh fruits and vegetables can be frozen and used later for cooking. Now, some fruits and veggies aren't so good frozen, but you might be surprised at the ones you can freeze! Check out this list:
- Potatoes: Kroger has had them $0.99 for a five pound bag before. This is a stock-up price! Either store them in a cool, dark place, or cook them up and freeze them! I love to make baked potatoes to freeze - or even mashed potatoes. Just make sure freeze them with the sour cream - blech!
- Onions: When Aldi or Kroger have them at three pounds for $0.69, I'll rough chop them all up and freeze them.
- Mushrooms: Quick-sauté them and freeze!
- Bananas: They turn black instantly when you stick them in the freezer, but when you pull them out, they're perfect to use for baking or cooking!
- Lemons, limes, oranges: Citrus peel shrivels a bit on the outside, but they freeze just fine. Perfect for using in recipes when they're thawed!
- Avocado: I've never done it, but I've read online that avocado freezes well.
- Apples: I buy pre-peeled and sliced apples at GFS all the time! They are a little softer than fresh-cut apples, but are perfect for baking, cooking or juicing. I also found that my kids loved them frozen during the summer!
- Grow your own produce. I keep a large herb pot in my kitchen window, but during the summer I will often grow strawberries and tomatoes in hanging baskets on my deck. In the past I've also grown green beans, brussel sprouts, potatoes, salad greens and watermelons.
- Trade with friends who grow their own or can their own. While I love to garden and wish I still had the time (and back muscles), I don't. But, I have a good friend who has a large garden. She will grow and can veggies for me, and then she swaps veggies or fruits for things I have that she doesn't.Like coupons. Or free toilet paper and toothpaste. Bartering can be fun! I've gotten some pretty amazing homemade apple butter, sauerkraut, sundried tomatoes and others from her garden, while she's gotten cereal, toothpaste and more from my stockpile.
- Watch your local farmers' market. I'm lucky enough to live five minutes from a thriving farmers' market. Cincinnati also has the wonderful Findlay Market. Get to know your local market sellers, and find out when they mark down their wares. You can get some fabulous deals!
- Watch for other savings with your produce purchase. You may not be able to find a discount on your fresh produce this week, but will it earn you fuel rewards? Remke bigg's often has bonus Pump Perks on their produce. Count those discounts into your purchase price.
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