Food Items that Cost as Much to Make as to Eat Out

[dioxide45]

There are several food items that I have determined seem to cost just as much for me to buy the ingredients as it does to order in/carry out.

Pizza - I went to the store to buy ingredients to make pizza. After filling my cart with pepperoni, sausage, pizza shells/dough mix, mushrooms, pizza sauce and cheese. The cost was far higher than if I just ordered a couple of pizzas out. Now perhaps I could squeeze an extra pizza from my ingredients and I would know what is actually in/on my pizza, but the cost savings really just isn't there to make your own pizza.

Subs - After buying fresh bakery buns, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and worst of all deli meat. The cost of a sub is at if not higher then buying out. Of course my sub will be loaded with lots of meat where the restaurant will have skimped on that expensive ingredient. But overall I find subs just plain expensive to make at home.

I am sure there are others. Perhaps I am doing something wrong with not being able to make these items for less than I can order them out for.

 

[pjrose]

There are several food items that I have determined seem to cost just as much for me to buy the ingredients as it does to order in/carry out.. . .

I am sure there are others. Perhaps I am doing something wrong with not being able to make these items for less than I can order them out for.

I suspect some of the difference is that they are buying in bulk, need high volume sales to make money, and rely on big profit items like soda to make up the difference.

Your home-made items will probably be fresher and lower in sodium and chemicals!

 

[timeos2]

Maybe its the math

Subs - After buying fresh bakery buns, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and worst of all deli meat. The cost of a sub is at if not higher then buying out. Of course my sub will be loaded with lots of meat where the restaurant will have skimped on that expensive ingredient. But overall I find subs just plain expensive to make at home.

Actually the true cost for a single sub should be at or below the sub shop price. We have lettuce, tomato, cheese and condiments around the house. So the cost is a single slice or two of cheese, tomato and lettuce not the full cost of each. Then we get a six pack of rolls for $3 - $.50/roll. The meat - 1/2 lb for $3.50. $7/lb. We only use a couple slices per sub so maybe $1.50 in meat. So roughly $3.50 or $4 tops per sub - vs $5-$8 at the sub shop (maybe Jimmy Johns?). I think you are over estimating the quantity needed per sub or over pricing the items.

 

[heathpack]

When we make pizza at home, our ingredient list is flour, yeast, water, olive oil, salt, one 28 oz tomatoes, basil (most of the year from the garden), mozzarella cheese, and if we feel like living large, some Boars Head pepperoni. In the summer when we have tomatoes from the garden, we might add some roasted tomatoes. Or fresh cherry peppers- they really rock on pizza.

The tomatoes cost around $2, ditto for the cheese, if we need to buy basil it costs $1 at the Farmers market. A stick of pepperoni lasts for more pizzas than we can eat, amoritized out maybe $1 per recipe. Say $1 for the flour, yeast etc from the pantry stocks and it costs us maybe $6-7 to make two small pizzas that feed Mr. H & I for two meals.

It would probably cost us $10 or more to buy 2 pizzas prepared, so for us it is more cost effective (and tastier) to make pizza. In a pinch, we can churn two of these pizzas out in a little over an hour and it's pretty easy to do. No
opinion on the subs as we are not big sub eaters.

If you like to cook and are interested in this recipe/technique, PM me and I will write it up. I totally get the fact that many people have no interest in making pizza from scratch at home, however.

H

 

[csudell]

I had the same thought around thanksgiving when I thought about making a pumpkin pie. but when I could buy it for 1.99 or 2.99, the ingredients cost way more than that!

 

[geekette]

interesting discussion.

I agree with John on cost of subs at home, it is cheaper at home because of the quantity of subs that can be made from the bulk ingredients. I think I can make 6 subs for the cost of ingredients. stuff like mayo, dressings, ketchup, I don't count those since they last for thousands of meals.

pizza - growing up we made our own and it was always on a Sunday with football. the best dough is homemade and it's not hard or time consuming if you build in the rise time and rollout time. You can get Boboli or the Jiffy mix or whatever to skip it. the sauce is a recipe with at least a dozen ingredients. shred the cheese, slice the pepperoni or pre-cook the sausage ... slice the veggies ... if there are enuf helpers. by myself? not from scratch the whole way. unless I buy the newest Magic Bullet gadget.

it's rare I go to the trouble to make my own, but I like my own the best.

Pumpkin pie - definitely cheaper to buy. I love the giant costco ones.

tacos, other mx food - depending on the price/quality you are used to and specific ingredients, I believe I can crank out much more medium quality chow on the same money than purchase out. on occasion, I can make GREAT QUALITY but let's assume I'm generally medium.

I recently made taco salad, just the basic browned meat with spices over Fritos, pre-shredded cheese(which I say does not taste as good as if you shred it fresh), tomatoes (expensive now because out of season), lettuce (cheap), sour cream (moderately expensive). won't count taco sauce.

we got a large meal for 3 and my brother went for seconds, so that's 4 servings. then dh and I had the leftovers, also substanial portions. that's 6 with leftover: Fritos, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream. everything but the meat, which was 2#. I won't count spices from my shelf.

you can cruise taco bell for less, probably, but if I get another pound of meat, I can get at least another 3 servings from remaining ingredients. My servings are more generous and less on teh chemical crap and grease.

if you buy the tortilla shells in bulk at Costco, you can cut the cost greatly on whatever you're making. bulk steak and veggies for fajitas, I have a giant bag of pintos in my basement that I have been hitting for 2 years now...

My own baked spaghetti is borderline expensive because lots of tomato, lots of cheese. but serves 8 or so very large portions.

Salads - depending on how fancy you get, should be cheaper at home. Even adding fruit and nuts, a can of mandarin oranges is maybe 4 salads or two huge ones, head of lettuce is many servings but we'll say 4. croutons - ours are free, made by me, but factor in crouton cost if you need to. veggies - I won't use entire bag of carrots or stalk of celery, onion, carton of shrooms, bottle of dressing, hunk of cheese, pkg of raisins, nuts, berries etc., in one salad, or even necessarily 4.

It would be interesting to know what the numbers really are but I will go on believing that in most cases, I do better on my own. We don't eat out much and I generally like to cook. when I feel like it. a Costco Take n Bake is appealling to me now .... and sometimes I will get the cheese pizza and buy veggies to slice and add to it.

 

[mo1950]

Cheeseballs

I haven't added it up, to be honest. But to be sure, my homemade cheeseball is more expensive than the "cheapies" I can buy at the grocery store.

But the difference in taste is tremendous - well worth the cost.

My four sisters and I all use the same recipe and have for over 30 years. We all agree it is the best cheeseball we have ever had. The secret ingredient is some crushed, drained pineapple. When I first looked at the recipe, I thought "no way" - I am not a big pineapple fan. But it adds just the right touch.

It also freezes very well, so I can make it ahead of time.

In fact, the cream cheese is on the kitchen counter at this very moment, coming to room temperature - am getting ready to make another one. The one I made at Christmas lasted no time at all, and the family has been requesting another one ever since.

 

[Elan]

I haven't added it up, to be honest. But to be sure, my homemade cheeseball is more expensive than the "cheapies" I can buy at the grocery store.

But the difference in taste is tremendous - well worth the cost.

My four sisters and I all use the same recipe and have for over 30 years. We all agree it is the best cheeseball we have ever had. The secret ingredient is some crushed, drained pineapple. When I first looked at the recipe, I thought "no way" - I am not a big pineapple fan. But it adds just the right touch.

It also freezes very well, so I can make it ahead of time.

In fact, the cream cheese is on the kitchen counter at this very moment, coming to room temperature - am getting ready to make another one. The one I made at Christmas lasted no time at all, and the family has been requesting another one ever since.

I believe it's against TUG rules to make a post like this and not share the recipe.

 

[falmouth3]

I believe it's against TUG rules to make a post like this and not share the recipe.

Yes, I'd like the recipe too.

Sue

 

[mo1950]

Hey, you got it!

Gail's Cheeseball (Makes either 1 large cheeseball or 2 regular size)

(2) 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
10 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
2 Tablespoons finely chopped green onion blades
2 Tablespoons worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup chopped pecans

Bring cream cheese to room temperature and mix in cheddar cheese, worcestershire sauce and green onions.

Fold in drained pineapple.

Chill in refrigerator about 2 hours.

Remove from refrigerator, form into a ball, and roll in the chopped pecans.

Refrigerate again 2-3 hours.


I actually just use 1 tablespoon of worcestershire sauce, but my sisters use
2 tablespoons. So, it is whatever you like.

And the cheeseball does have more flavor when it comes to room temperature.

If you want to freeze it, just wrap it in aluminum foil first.

 

[cindi]

I believe it's against TUG rules to make a post like this and not share the recipe.

Totally agree.

Care to share the receipe?

 

[mo1950]

Hey, Cindi. Our posts must have crossed. Look just above your post - I put the recipe on.

I don't care how many I make of these, it never seems to be enough - my family eats its up right away and keeps begging me to make another one.

So I hope all of you like it too.

 

[mo1950]

Forgot to say something:

Some people use a blender or food processor to mix the cream cheese in with the cheddar, green onions and worcestershire sauce. Then they fold in the crushed pineapple. The flavors are more blended together that way.

I do not do that - I prefer the ingredients a little more separated.

But you can try it both ways to see which way you like best.

 

[mo1950]

So sorry, just want to make sure you don't get too much pineapple.

Make sure it is about an 8 oz. can - then drain it. Don't use a full 8 oz. of crushed pineapple.

Okay, I'm done. Unless you have a question.

 

[Timeshare Von]

What a great thread/discussion. I wish I had something pithy to add, only that I agree that the subs are one thing I always feel is best bought out especially when they are offering deals like $2.99 for a 6" at Cousins Sub here in Wisconsin.

 

[MichaelColey]

Cheap burgers are tough to beat. A McDouble is $1, and most fast food places have something comparable for $1.

I can't think of much else (that hasn't been mentioned). Must stuff is MUCH cheaper to make than to eat out.

 

[Passepartout]

I don't know if it's exactly the same, but for convenience' sake and reduced waste (on my end anyway) I buy mixed bag salad greens. For the two of us- even though we eat 1-2 salads a day, the cost of buying Romaine, iceburg, radicchio, endive, grate some carrot, slices of radish etc, may cost less to buy and make, but it would go bad before we ever got it all eaten. Instead I buy a mixed bag for about a buck that makes us 4 generous servings.

Sometimes paying for convenience is worth a few more cents.

On the whole, we prefer to cook in. DW's undergrad and Master's is in home EC, and I'm a pretty fair home chef.

Many of today's under 30 (heck, under 50) set just never learned to cook and the only thing they can make is reservations if they are lucky- or pick something up at fast food or a deli if they aren't.

Jim Ricks

 

[laurac260]

I guess I've just gotten too picky as I've gotten older, because too many times when we have gone out to dinner I have left a restaurant with the same opinion, "We should have stayed home and cooked."

We've all but given up on the TGI Friday's, Applebees, Bob Evans, Outback, you name its of the world. I'd so much rather eat whatever I've prepared at home than most of what's out there being served in restaurants. When we DO go out with the kids, it's typically either Bonefish, Maggianno's, or Bravo, the occasional mexican restaurant, or chinese takeout. Our "going out" is typically limited to no more than twice a month. When DH and I get a babysitter, which is pretty rare, we like to go to a higher end restaurant, something we wouldn't take the kids to, some place where the experience and ambiance is as nice as the food. I used to love to go to restaurants, but I am finding it less and less appealing to me. Our grocery bills aren't cheap, that's for sure, but the food's good, and I know what's in the recipe.

 

[cindi]

Hey, Cindi. Our posts must have crossed. Look just above your post - I put the recipe on.

I don't care how many I make of these, it never seems to be enough - my family eats its up right away and keeps begging me to make another one.

So I hope all of you like it too.

Thanks! Can't wait to try it out.

 

[stmartinfan]

I guess I've just gotten too picky as I've gotten older, because too many times when we have gone out to dinner I have left a restaurant with the same opinion, "We should have stayed home and cooked."

We've all but given up on the TGI Friday's, Applebees, Bob Evans, Outback, you name its of the world.

I agree! There are some local restaurants I enjoy, but for the most part the big chains and fast food places are making pretty poor quality food these days. I used to like TGI Friday's, but the last time I was there the heavy-handed and odd mixtures of spicing of the food really didn't work for me. It was like they were trying too hard to be "inventive."

I do like adventuresome food, but done well and with quality ingredients. I'm willing to pay for the quality at a good restaurant, but many of the chains just don't deliver good food. I can make more interesting and better tasting food myself. I grew up with a mom who was a tremendous cook, and have become a decent cook myself. But I think lots of people grow up eating only convenience foods or inexpensive restaurants meals, and don't realize that food can really taste better! I think your taste buds can also get accustomed to heavy-handed salt and seasoning use and expect that in all food. I'm far from being a food snob, because I like lots of plain meals as well, but as I try to keep my weight down as I age, I've decided it's not worth it to waste calories on food where the taste isn't there.

 

[regatta333]

Quite honestly, I don't see how ANY bakeries can stay in business when I look at the breads, pastries, muffins, cookies, desserts they have available at Costco! Pies are something I never trouble to make any more.

 

[sfwilshire]

Even though we buy the pizza dough, my favorite pizza in the summer is very cheap. We don't use any sauce at all. Just whatever veggies we have in the garden and lots of cheese. YUM! I hope to start making my own crust by next summer.

Sheila

 

[Big Matt]

They stay in business because only about 10-20 % of folks are members of Costco.

In many urban areas there are NO Costcos at all.

Quite honestly, I don't see how ANY bakeries can stay in business when I look at the breads, pastries, muffins, cookies, desserts they have available at Costco! Pies are something I never trouble to make any more.

 

[Texasbelle]

Water

One way to save money at restaurants is to drink tap water. Iced tea, soft drinks cost $10-15 for a family of four. When we took our family to lunch the food was less than at night, but not the drinks. We carry bottled water in the car, but drink tap water at home. We eat out too much. We prefer non-chain restaurants. We go to a deli with fresh food, Greek and American. It helps that the owners/workers are friendly. A new find is a Mexican restaurant with fresh ingredients and again friendly service. There are so many Mexican restaurants in Houston, but none with fresher food. Today we had home-made potato soup. It is good out, but not nearly as healthy or as cheap.