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Frugal Cooking Ideas and Recipes

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Frugal Cooking Ideas and Recipes

Everybody has to eat, and unfortunately, eating can be very expensive

However, there are ways to make eating less expensive, so you have money left over for other things - like rent or your mortgage payment, or for fun.

Whether you're a coupon queen, a frugal guru, or just someone trying to save a little money on the side, we've got something from you!

We're also always eager to learn your favorite frugal cooking tips, so type your blurb, and leave a comment sharing your tips with us.

If you've got a question you can also leave a comment or contact me, and I'll do my best to answer it.

Here are a few thrifty tips to keep your cooking on a budget.

Please add your own tips to the list.

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Make extra for later

Double up batches of food that can easily be frozen, or saved for another meal later in the week.2 points

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Don't shop when you're hungry

If you're like most people you'll come back with a ton of food you don't need because it looks so good, if you shop when you're hungry.1 point

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Buy foods in season

Buy foods in season, so you don't have to pay premium prices for them.

Try to arrange your meal plan around the in season items as well.1 point

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Make your meal plan according to what's on sale

Check out your weekly circulars or coupon inserts, and try to plan your meals around what's on sale this week.1 point

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Make a meal plan

This one is really hard for me.
Make a meal plan for the week, or the month, and try to stick to it.

This way you won't have to run out to a restaurant or the grocery store at the last minute.0 points

Do you you try to practice frugal cooking?

If you do, then tell us your favorite recipe!

Do you you try to practice frugal cooking?

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Yes

TheresaMarkham says:

yes - pot roast in the crock-pot - perfect for a busy, 2-self-employee-ed professional home

winnermidnight says:

yes

simplegirl says:

yes. I try to buy in bulk when things are on sale and cook meals in bulk and store them in the freezer.

StephanieB-Writer says:

I grow my own herbs and I shop for produce at a local flea market. HUGE savings!

DavetteB says:

I do freezer cooking or double cooking and I just started making our own bread.

No

princess10_08 says:

No. We eat out 1 to 2 times a day. It is becoming too much!

 
view all 9 comments

Frugal Cooking Amazon Plexo

Vote for your favorite frugal recipe book, or add your own to the list!

What are some of your favorite frugal recipes, or frugal foods to cook with?

  • Oct 1, 2010 @ 5:36 am | delete
    Planning ahead is my budget savior.
  • waterlesscookwareguy Aug 25, 2010 @ 8:44 pm | delete
    We always try to buy in bulk from the local farm and try to cook large portions so that we have plenty of leftovers. To accomplish this we had to get a separate freezer (about $100 at Home Depot) and a couple of large waterless pots, but both of these paid for themselves rather quickly due to the fact that we save so much on food each month.
  • StephanieB-Writer May 13, 2009 @ 8:00 am | delete
    Substitute beans and rice for your protein at least once a week. You usually have quick leftovers with these and can flavor them so many ways so that you save time during the week too.
  • RolandTumble Feb 5, 2009 @ 1:05 am | delete
    When my garden's in season, I use homegrown produce.
  • marsha32 Dec 4, 2008 @ 8:09 pm | delete
    cook with a lot of pasta to make the meals stretch farther.
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Frugal Cooking Links Plexo

Check out these great frugal cooking resources, then add your favorite frugal cooking resources!
You can even rate them!
Is your favorite at the top of the list?

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McCormick - Spice Encyclopedia

The McCormick Spice Encyclopedia is the definitive more...2 points

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Recipezaar's Frugal Recipes

Recipezaar:Recipes with Frugal in the title1 point

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Cheap Family Meals

Cooking can be cheap, easy and delicious!1 point

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Thrifty meals for small families

Thrifty Recipes: Main Dishes<br /><br />
more...0 points

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The Hillbilly Housewife

Welcome, I'm Miss Maggie, the owner and creator of more...0 points

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CheapCooking.com: Cheap recipes, easy recipes, chicken recipes

Get loads of free easy, cheap recipes plus article more...0 points

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Better Budgeting Frugal Recipes

Try our FREE quick and easy FRUGAL RECIPES!0 points

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Cooking on a Budget: OAMC, Make Ahead, Freezing & More

Community Forums - Cooking on a Budget: OAMC, Make more...0 points

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CookingByNumbers.com

Cook great meals - tell us what you've got, we'll more...0 points

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The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book - Online

This classic American cooking reference includes 1 more...0 points

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Kraft Diabetic Choices Home Page

Lots of great information and recipes for people l more...0 points

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The Official Ramen Homepage

Ramen Noodle Recipes0 points

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Chinese Cooking for Kids

Chinese cooking has always held a prominent place more...0 points

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HealthyHomeRecipes.com - Easy Recipes & Dinner Ideas

Choose from hundreds of appetizing dish recipes, d more...0 points

Frugal Living

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Frugal Cooking and Food Storage Guidelines

One of the most important things to do when you are trying to cook more frugally is to only buy things that your family will eat, and that you will be able to use before the food goes bad.

These Food Storage Guidelines from the Virginia Cooperative Extension will be able to help you determine if you are storing your food in the best manner.

Of course your mileage may vary with some of their methods.

They say that you should only freeze bread for two or three months, while I know people who use it after a year in the freezer.

Cooking Resources

So maybe you're just looking for some good cooking information? Which foods are best, what should I make? Well here you go! Enjoy these resources, and add them to your own frugal cooking mix.

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MyPyramid.gov

One size doesn't fit all. MyPyramid Plan offers you more...2 points

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High-Fiber Foods

Looking to add more fiber to your diet? Fiber moves more...1 point

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What's in Season

A list of fruits and vegetables, and when they are more...1 point

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Diabetic Butterscotch Cookie Recipe | Diabetic Recipes

Easy butterscotch cookie recipe for diabetics.1 point

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Diet Recipes

A complete guide to good and healthy food1 point

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Gourmet Food

Blogging about new recipies and healthy food1 point

We'd love to hear what you think about the frugal cooking lens!

Or feel free to share your favorite frugal recipes!

  • mamamia2011 Aug 14, 2011 @ 3:07 pm | delete
    i love this idea but it is so hard to follow with many tempting recipes to try
  • RolandTumble Feb 5, 2009 @ 1:10 am | delete
    Nice lens. 5*, favorite & lensrolled to my foodie lenses.
  • Wang Dec 28, 2008 @ 8:31 am | delete
    Very nice tips :) love the idea. kinda fun to feed big family and how to manage the budget. "Don't shop when you're hungry" this is new for me and really makes sense :)
    thanks for the great info. You also can check out this Home Cooking Idea site to get more idea.
  • machelle Nov 30, 2008 @ 4:51 pm | delete
    Great Info! I am always looking for new ideas when it comes to feeding my big family. We all need resources and your have great information here. Thanks!

    Machelle at www.cheapfamilymeals.info
  • Sarah Feb 25, 2008 @ 9:06 am | delete
    MarcyG, thanks, that's a great tip!
  • MarcyG Feb 25, 2008 @ 8:42 am | delete
    Here is a frugal baking tip. A lot of recipes call for whipped egg whites. What you can do is buy a large quantity of eggs on sale. Then when you take them home separate them (egg whites and yolks). Freeze them in ice cube trays. When completely frozen put them in freezer bags and remove all the air with a drinking straw. They will keep for months. And always make sure to store the whites and yolks separately so your recipes turn out.
  • GrillGirl Jun 11, 2007 @ 7:34 pm | delete
    Yeah. Food is expensive and getting more so. This is a super lens idea. Yay. I like it and thank you.
  • GramaBarb Jun 4, 2007 @ 6:04 pm | delete
    Thanks for leaving your carmel-apple recipe on my guest book at http://www.squidoo.com/crockpotcookingdaily/
    What a good idea! Love this lens on frugal cooking!
  • Sarah Jun 4, 2007 @ 1:16 pm | delete
    Thanks, that's a good idea yoursmiling chef!
  • YourSmilingChef May 12, 2007 @ 10:55 pm | delete
    You could put this info into an ebook for newlyweds... it's great!
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Recipes!

All of these sites don't necessarily focus on frugal cooking, so you might have to dig through them to find some frugal recipes, but they should give you some cooking ideas!

Sometimes you just have to share, so add your own recipe links as well.

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The Pioneer Woman Cooks!

I'm a desperate housewife. I live in the country. I love to cook delicious, abundant, satisfying food using the simplest of ingredients. Welcome to my kitchen!0 points

by

Sarah

I'm Sarah, and I am am having fun trying new frugal, tasty meals. 
Of course it helps to have a husband who will eat anything :-) more »

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