Don’t you want to save money when it comes to your day-to-day household chores? Unfortunately, not many people realize that small changes and alternatives can help them save money in the kitchen, the heart of their homes. To top it off, if the changes are nature-friendly, you not only help protect the planet but also facilitate its regeneration.
Not too sure where and how to get started? No worries. We are here with the top ten tips to save in the kitchen that will take care of your pocket as well as the health of the Earth.
One of the effective ways to save in the kitchen is to consciously try and follow the three R’s of eco-friendliness - reduce, reuse, and recycle. Let’s get started!
10 Tips to Save Money in the Kitchen
Tip No. # 1 - Beeswax Food Wrap to Replace Plastic Cling Films
If you have been using plastic wraps or cling films, you need to read this tip for sure. Beeswax wraps are reusable and are compost-friendly at the end of their lives. However, on average, a family uses about two rolls of plastic cling films each month - films that cannot be reused and can remain in the landfill for a long, long time. Also, no one hardly recycles cling films.
The other top uses of beeswax wraps are that this help keeps the food fresh for a long time; these can be home composted, help save the biodiversity on the planet, and most of all, the anti-microbial properties help safeguard the food from germs and microbes.
What about savings? On average, a roll of cling film costs around £17. If your household uses two rolls every month, the cost per month is about £34. At this price, you can easily buy a pack of 3 or 6 beeswax wraps that will last you for a year or more and cost you between £12 - £20. This helps save almost £14 per month and £280 per year. That’s quite a lot!
TipNo. # 2 - Swap Regular Baking Or Parchment Paper with Silicone Baking Mat
Instead of using single-use parchment paper or baking paper, go in for silicone baking mats. It is a sustainable alternative that works out cheaper in the kitchen.
Besides, you can roast vegetables and pursue healthy eating with the right baking mat. Just cut the green veggies, add salt, and spices, sprinkle a bit of oil, and create your own healthy and tasty dishes. This is a mess-free cooking tip, and the mats are so simple to clean after use. In addition, the fuss-free silicone mats are non-sticky and usually dishwasher-safe. This means that you save time and energy, for sure, with the mats.
Additionally, these are reusable. On average, silicone mats can be used and reused as many as 2,000 times. Compare it with the rolls of baking paper that you use and throw every other day. You are saving the landfills from getting choked with single-use paper.
How much money can you save? Considering that a roll of parchment paper costs about £6 that will last you for a month or so, and Silicone Baking Mat set costs between £17 - £20 that will last you for many years if maintained properly, resulting in significant savings of almost £50 per year. That's equivalent to the two months' cost of a Netflix subscription. Imagine enjoying your favorite TV shows while saving money on baking supplies at the same time!
Tip No. #3 - Replace Single-Use Parchment Papers With Silicone Air Fryer Liner
The best thing about silicone air fryer liners is that it is reusable. Therefore, the most optimal substitute for parchment paper is silicone-based. Unfortunately, though the former is more popular, not many understand how valuable silicone liners can be.
These definitely help reduce your dependence on paper, which in turn, is excellent news for the environment. Silicone liners are made from non-toxic, food-friendly, non-sticky, and high-temperature-resistant silicone, these become your best companions in the kitchen for months and years.
The liners are dishwasher safe. They prevent food particles from sticking to the sides of the fryer and are designed for uniform heat distribution. You can use them repeatedly and wash and clean them. This is what makes them a cost-effective choice in the kitchen.
How much savings are we talking of? Considering that a parchment paper roll costs approximately £6 and considering the roll lasts you for a month, you would be spending £72 every year. On the other hand, a silicone air fryer liner set (pack of 2) usually costs around £16, and this lasts you not just a year but a few more years if maintained well. This is equivalent to a monthly subscription to streaming services like Netflix or Disney Plus. So, not only can you save money, but you can also enjoy your favorite shows guilt-free!
Tip No. #4 - Say Goodbye to Single-Use Cups & Replace Them With Reusable Cups
Single-use paper cups do no good to your pocket or the ecology. Paper cups are not reusable, and they are also not recyclable. Plus, the cups are coated with plastic films so that they can hold hot or cold liquid.
Compared to this, when you use reusable cups and mugs, like ceramic cups, you save landfills from overflowing for one. Secondly, the cup can be used and reused multiple times - at least till the time the cup breaks or you wish to change to smarter-looking, trendier cups.
Using reusable cups can lead to significant cost savings for customers who frequently purchase coffee. Many coffee shops offer discounts for customers who bring their own reusable cups, which result in savings of up to 50 pence per drink. Over time, these savings can accumulate to a considerable amount, making reusable cups a cost-friendly alternative to single-use cups. Assuming a person purchases a medium-sized coffee for £2.50 each day and uses a reusable cup to get a 50 pence discount, they could save £182.50 in a year.
Tip No. #5 -Say No to Paper Towels. Instead, Use Cloth Kitchen Towels
It’s time to bid goodbye to paper towels in the kitchen. Why? Because a small effort from your end will help save you money and the planet. What can you use instead? Try kitchen towels. Not interested in buying? You can DIY towels from old bedsheets.
Now, the obvious question here is - how you can save money when each paper towel or napkin costs less than a cloth napkin. The answer is simple. While you will need to spend a decent amount of money upfront on cloth towels, you can use and reuse them for years since they are washable and reusable.
The Ocean Observatory mentions that a family of four might need to spend a maximum of £86 one-time for premium cloth towel brands. However, it will surely last you for about five years if taken care of well. On the contrary, paper napkins can cost about £2150 for five years for a family of four. This is equivalent to an annual savings of over £340. This amount of money saved could be used for a variety of expenses, such as a family outing, a weekend getaway, or even towards savings for a larger purchase.
Tip No. #6 -Homemade Condiments
What a creative way to save money in the kitchen - prepare your recipe for sauces, condiments, dressings, etc. Why buy it from the market when creating it at home is so much healthier and good for the body?
The price of readymade off-the-shelf condiments and sauces can vary depending on the ingredients but, on average, cost about £20. It will last you probably for a month or lesser. When you make it at home, you can prepare a quantity that will last longer. Even if the upfront cost might be a little more, eventually, you will save - say, over a period of six months.
For instance, a jar of mayonnaise typically costs around £1-£2, while making mayonnaise at home can cost as little as £0.20-£0.30 per batch. If a person consumes a jar of mayonnaise every two weeks, making their own mayonnaise could save up to £20 over six months, which is equivalent to the cost of a decent pair of headphones or a few months' worth of streaming services. The savings can add up quickly and can be put towards other expenses or even saved for future purchases.
Tip No. #7 -Grow Your Own Vegetables & Fruits
Why not? You do not have to be a pro to have your own garden. The initial investment required is to buy the seeds, pots, fertilizers, gardening tools, plant cut-outs, etc. Then, once you learn the art, you can have your own vegetable garden in the backyard and cook fresh.
It is a wonderful way to save money. You are protected from random price hikes in veggies. And, its also a great way to maintain the soil potency in your neighborhood.
Tip No. #8 -Choose stainless-steel cutlery Instead of plastic cutlery.
Plastic cutlery can spell doom for animals and birds as they find their way into the oceans and groundwater. Additionally, plastic takes ages to decompose. The better option is to invest in a good-quality premium cutlery set that can be used for 8-10 years without getting spoilt.
Even a good-quality stainless-steel cutlery set will not cost more than £20 and will last for a long time. Comparatively, plastic spoons and forks might cost £2 upfront. However, consistently using use-and-throw cutlery can result in a substantial expenditure compared to investing in a steel cutlery set that can last for years. Assuming that a person uses plastic cutlery five times a week and purchases a new set every three months, they would spend around £40 annually. In comparison, a good-quality stainless-steel cutlery set may cost around £20 and last for many years, resulting in substantial long-term savings.
Tip No. #9 - When Not In Use, Unplug Kitchen Appliances
When you keep your appliances in the kitchen connected to the power source, a small amount of energy keeps getting used. By unplugging unrequired electrical appliances like the oven, microwave, toasters, etc., you will be able to save pretty handsomely over a period.
As per the Department of Energy, this tip can save almost 10% of the energy bills yearly.
Tip No. #10 - Say Goodbye to plastic cooking utensils. Replace with Bamboo Utensils
Plastic is not good for the planet as it is non-recyclable and unsafe - the plastic can melt and mix with food at a higher temperature. On the other hand, bamboo utensils look stylish and last long. Besides, bamboo is naturally high in anti-microbial properties. These are good for the Earth and are biodegradable.
You can look at saving almost £25 per utensil approximately. When you shift completely to bamboo, the savings made will surely leave you impressed.
Did you notice that all the tips mentioned here talk not just about saving in the kitchen but also protecting the planet? Cooking sustainably and a happy pocket go hand-in-hand. These tips will help you do both without much effort! And, Wafebrands is always at your disposal with an amazing range of sustainable and cost-effective kitchen products. Check the collection without any further ado.