Most people assume cooking at home is always more budget-friendly. But is it really? While making meals from scratch can be healthier, some foods are surprisingly more expensive and time-consuming to recreate at home.
These 15 foods are best left to the professionals or grabbed off the grocery shelf.
Pizza
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Making pizza at home may seem like a fun weekend project, but it can quickly become pricey. High-quality ingredients like fresh mozzarella, specialty toppings, and a pizza stone for baking add up fast. On the other hand, store-bought or restaurant pizzas benefit from bulk buying and professional ovens that deliver that perfect crust. While homemade pizza allows for creativity, the convenience and cost-effectiveness of ordering one outweigh the effort.
Doughnuts
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Doughnuts are deceptively simple but require a lot of work and specialized tools. Between buying yeast, flour, sugar, and oil for deep-frying—not to mention the cost of toppings like glazes or sprinkles—the expenses climb quickly. Plus, frying doughnuts at home can be messy and risky. With bakeries offering fresh doughnuts at low prices, it’s much simpler and cheaper to pick up a dozen.
Croissants
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Croissants are a labor of love, requiring multiple rounds of laminating butter and dough. High-quality butter and the time spent folding and chilling make these pastries expensive to make from scratch. Baking them requires skill and the right oven setup to achieve the perfect flaky texture. A trip to your local bakery can save you hours and yield a better product for less money.
Pho
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This Vietnamese noodle soup is famous for its rich, flavorful broth, which requires hours of simmering bones, spices, and herbs. The cost of spices like star anise, cinnamon sticks, and cardamom adds up, especially if you don’t already have them in your pantry. Combine that with fresh rice noodles, rare cuts of meat, and garnishes like Thai basil and bean sprouts, and you’ve got a hefty grocery bill. For just a few dollars, most restaurants offer a steaming bowl of pho that’s hard to replicate at home.
Puff Pastries
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Making puff pastry at home involves a time-intensive process of folding and layering butter into dough. The precision required to keep the dough cool while laminating means you’ll need plenty of time and patience. Additionally, butter costs can be steep, and any misstep can ruin the flaky texture. Store-bought puff pastry sheets are affordable and yield consistent, reliable results.
Pesto
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Homemade pesto seems simple, but fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and high-quality olive oil are not cheap. A small jar of premade pesto often costs less than the combined price of the ingredients to make it from scratch. Add to that the hassle of cleaning a food processor and ensuring the basil doesn’t turn bitter, and you’ll understand why store-bought pesto is a bargain. It’s a classic case of convenience winning over cost.
Phyllo Dough
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Phyllo dough requires extreme precision to make thin, delicate layers that won’t tear. The process involves rolling the dough repeatedly, often for hours, to achieve the desired paper-thin consistency. Specialty flour and plenty of counter space add to the challenges. With ready-made phyllo dough available in the freezer section for just a few dollars, making it at home isn’t worth the effort.
Sushi
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While sushi-making kits make it seem easy, the reality is much more complicated and costly. Sushi-grade fish, nori sheets, and various fresh vegetables and sauces can break your budget. Proper cooking and seasoning sushi rice is also an art that requires practice. It’s an obvious win when you can grab a beautifully prepared sushi platter for less than the cost of its ingredients.
Ramen
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Ramen has transcended its college-student status to become a gourmet dish, but making it from scratch is no small feat. A rich, flavorful broth requires hours of simmering pork bones and an array of spices. Then there’s the cost of fresh ramen noodles, specialty toppings like nori and bamboo shoots, and precise seasoning. You can enjoy a steaming bowl at a ramen shop for a fraction of the time and money it takes to make at home.
Apple Cider
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Making apple cider involves more than just pressing apples—it requires dozens of fresh apples and a juicer or press. Add in spices like cinnamon and cloves, and the costs keep climbing. Plus, the effort to clean up sticky apple residue isn’t appealing. A jug of fresh apple cider from the store or farmer’s market is far more affordable and hassle-free.
Cheesecake
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Cheesecake’s luxurious texture comes from high-quality cream cheese, sour cream, and heavy cream—all expensive ingredients. The crust requires butter and graham crackers, while toppings like fresh fruit or chocolate can add to the cost. Baking it to perfection without cracks can be tricky for beginners. A premade cheesecake from the bakery is cheaper and saves you from a potential baking disaster.
Panettone
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This Italian holiday bread requires specialty ingredients like candied fruits, high-quality butter, and plenty of time to rise. The unique texture of panettone comes from a slow fermentation process that takes hours, if not days, to master. With affordable and delicious options available at most grocery stores during the holiday season, making it at home is rarely worthwhile.
Lasagna
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Homemade lasagna involves layers of noodles, sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and often ground meat—all of which can add up in cost. Baking a large tray also requires plenty of time and effort. While it’s a classic comfort food, premade lasagna from the freezer aisle or local delis is often just as satisfying and more cost-effective. Save the splurge for when you really want to show off your cooking skills.
Macaroni and Cheese
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Making macaroni and cheese from scratch involves buying high-quality cheeses, cream, and butter, which can be expensive. Specialty recipes might even call for Gruyère or aged cheddar, skyrocketing the cost. The boxed versions or premade trays found in stores are cheaper and often just as satisfying for a quick meal. Plus, they save you from dirtying multiple pots and pans.
Sub Sandwiches
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Crafting a sub sandwich at home may seem simple, but high-quality deli meats, cheeses, and fresh bread quickly add up. Add in the cost of condiments, vegetables, and extras like avocado or bacon, and you’ll likely exceed the price of a store-bought sub. Professional sandwich shops also have the advantage of slicing meats and cheeses to perfection and offering a variety of bread types. The convenience of a ready-made sub is hard to beat.
Experts Warn People to Never Refrigerate These 15 Food Items
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Refrigeration prevents spoilage and may extend the shelf life of common foods and other perishable items. While we may innocently store some foods in the refrigerator, you may be surprised that you shouldn’t store all of them, as this may affect their nutritional value, taste, and texture. Although refrigeration can help preserve certain foods, some items shouldn’t be refrigerated to maintain flavor and freshness. Avoiding these foods can ensure your food stays nutritious, fresh, and flavorful. Here are 15 food items experts warn people never to refrigerate for optimal flavor and freshness.
Experts Warn People to Never Refrigerate These 15 Food Items
20 Food to Stockpile (For the Best Chance of Survival)
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A well-stocked pantry can provide peace of mind and empower you to handle any situation. Whether it’s a natural disaster, economic instability, or simply unexpected guests, having a stash of versatile essential foods can make all the difference. Here’s a list of 20 of the best foods to stockpile, ensuring you’re ready for whatever comes your way.
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