Food is one thing every household cannot do with and while buying it in bulk might seem like a great way to cut cost and save more, there are no point stocking items that would go to waste.
Food items such as whole grains, condiments, fruits and vegetables, fresh produce etc… are few among the list. Below are some of the foodstuff you should not purchase or store in large quantity.
Whole Grains and Nuts
This includes whole grain flour – wheat flour, corn. Nuts contain substantial amount of oil and just like cooking oils, the oil naturally found in these foods can go rancid if not properly stored in the freezer or consumed in a short-ranged of time.
Any food you won’t freeze or eat before it goes bad
In a large family, this might not be a problem. But if the food is just you or perhaps one or two other persons, you shouldn’t join the list of global food waste which has become a major problem in the United States. Once you know your family’s eating habits you can save more if only you consume the things you buy in bulk, otherwise it a waste of money.
Condiments
Condiments such as mayonnaise, ketchup, barbecue source, salad dressings, mustard are shelf-stable if not refrigerated. They’ll even last longer in their unopened state, yet they eventually go bad. According to the United State Department of Agriculture, USDA, condiment like Mayonnaise is safe to consume for two months after opening.
Except for vinegar which can last indefinitely, others are only good to purchase in bulk if you’ll be using them in bulk as well.
Ground Spices
One of the reasons spices are dried and grounded is to preserve them, however, they tend to lose their potency over time and you’ll end up adding more of them into the meal to get the desired taste or flavor.
Nevertheless, whole spices stay more flavorful for longer than ground spices so long as you can store them properly not to shrivel and spoil.
See Also: 7 Amazing Health Benefits Of Eating Dietary Fiber Packed Foods
Bread and Bakery Items
Perhaps in a large family that eats a lot all the time, you’ll probably need to get bread and bakery food items in bulk. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a hassle to occupy the refrigerator with all those cakes, muffins and bread? Unless you have immediate plans for those, it’s better to buy in little quantity enough to consume right away.
Cooking Oil
Yes, this might seem very surprising but all types of oils go bad over time and should be stored in a cool, dark place in air-tight containers – usually, the ones they come in are perfect for this. So, unless you operate a restaurant/fast food outlet, or deep fry on a regular basis don’t bother buying in bulk.
Storing in a fridge can help prolong its shelf life, but some may solidify under cold temperatures.
Eggs
Try to resist the urge to buy eggs in bulk if you only use them occasionally or you’re not planning to do a lot of baking with it. According to the American Egg Board, raw whole eggs in their shells will last about 3 weeks from the date of purchase.
Unfamiliar food brand
Whether it’s new-to-you snack food, snapping up large quantities of products you’ve never tried is a risky move. You can only love a food product when you’ve tried it once, otherwise, if it turns out to be yuck, it’s a game loss for you. And it gets worse if no one else wants it.
Fresh Produce
Meal prepping changes the way you shop. If you’re planning a whole week (or more) worth of meals and prepping them at once, you need ingredients on hand.
Still, unless you have a huge number of family and friends to cook for, buying fresh produce in bulk is rarely a good idea. Most produce won’t stay fresh past a week – if that. Some produce goes bad in just a few days. About 25% of the fruits and vegetables we purchase ends up in the trash, according to a study by University of Arizona researchers.
Therefore, If you know you love banana pancakes, bread, cakes, or bananas smoothie and you see a great sale, buy them – as long as you have room to stock them in your freezer.
If you love eating tomatoes and spot a give-away sale on the products you need, cook a big batch, portion it out, and stash them in your freezer as well. Think of it as a present to future-you from present-you – and it’s healthier and cheaper than most ready-made frozen entrees, too.
