Financial Relief with Classic Cooking Methods

In the current economic climate, households worldwide feel the pinch of rising living costs and inflation. These financial pressures are prompting many to seek creative ways to save money, particularly in the kitchen.

Classic cooking methods, long revered for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness, are returning to the kitchens of many modern families, including ours. Some of these classic cooking methods include rehydrating dried beans in our Instant Pot. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Classic cooking methods

Traditional techniques not only offer financial relief but also bring nourishment and comfort. This resurgence in classic cooking highlights its relevance in providing economical and wholesome meals for families today. The trade-off for recipes that provide financial relief is typically more time spent in the kitchen. 

It’s no secret that families are feeling the squeeze of rising food prices. There may be a reprieve on the horizon. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, food prices in grocery stores may begin to decrease slightly in 2024. Will it be enough to help in the near future? 

Here are some ways to reduce food costs, starting with meal planning to eat more seasonally, swapping proteins, preserving, classic cooking and new-fangled small kitchen appliances. 

Eating seasonally

Seasonal eating is an important part of saving money on groceries because that’s when food is at its peak freshness. Coincidentally, the more seasonal a food is, the lower the prices may be while it’s in its prime. 

Meal planning can help by aligning the weekly plan with sales ads from the grocery store. Matching meals to food on sale is a great way to stretch your food dollars.

In fact, we’ve found that by shopping for fruits and vegetables when they are in season, we can save more than 50% on the per-pound price. This is true even at farmers markets, which could feel pricier than the local supermarket.

Swapping proteins

Beans and peas make many delicious, economical meals such as chilis, salads or veggie patties for sandwiches. Learn to cook with dry beans over canned beans and watch the food dollars stretch even farther. 

As I mentioned, my husband has started buying dried beans in bulk — they cost pennies — and then using our Instant Pot to rehydrate them. From there, he’ll use them in soups, stews or when making homemade baked beans.

Sidebar: We’ve started a new cooking blog called Bagels and Lasagna. I hope you’ll come check us out.

Preserving Food

Fermenting and canning are excellent ways to preserve seasonal produce, reducing waste and grocery bills. These techniques are cost-effective and environmentally friendly, aligning with the contemporary principles of eco-friendly living. 

Don’t overlook the old-fashioned idea of root cellaring. Many modern households can easily store vegetables such as carrots or potatoes in a cold room. These easy storage vegetables can allow families to buy in bulk in the fall to save money and enjoy the vegetables all winter long. 

Classic cooking methods

Historically, cooking methods were developed out of necessity, efficiency and available resources. Past generations relied on techniques like slow cooking or braising to get the most out of leaner, cheaper cuts of meat, whether hunted or purchased.

These traditional methods were not just about saving money. They were about maximizing flavor, nutrition and food longevity. However, saving money is also good, given today’s economy.

Reviving cost-effective cooking techniques

Today, the revival of these time-honored cooking methods of past generations is coming back into fashion. Braising, for example, is a long, low-cooking style that allows less expensive cuts of meat to be done in a slow cooker. This method transforms tough, inexpensive cuts of meat into tender, flavorful dishes without hours of hands-on work.

Cooking once and eating twice is another time-honored trick of past grandmothers. Making one large meal that can be reheated or used in other ways generates more meals without much extra work.

Be forewarned that integrating these methods into contemporary lifestyles may not be seamless or painless. But with the advent of modern appliances like slow cookers, electric canners and pressure cookers, which automate these processes, many can fit into busy schedules.

Getting started with traditional cooking

Embarking on traditional cooking is easier than it may seem. Start with one simple comfort food recipe that requires minimal ingredients and equipment. Perfect the recipe by tweaking it as needed, and suddenly, you’re cooking like a grandmother. Staples like stews, soups and casseroles are excellent for beginners to start making.

Modern adaptations of classic tools, such as programmable pressure cookers, can also be invaluable for implementing these age-old methods in a contemporary kitchen setting. Slow cookers and pressure cookers can give meals the feeling that they were tended to all day long while in reality, they practically cook themselves.

Investing in a few budget-friendly tools like a basic slow cooker or a set of canning jars can make a big difference. Local buy-nothing groups are a great way to find these items for free when it all feels too expensive. 

These time-honored techniques offer a reprieve from the financial strains of modern living and connect us to our ancestors’ culinary wisdom. By adopting practices like meal planning, seasonal eating, protein swapping and reviving traditional cooking methods, we stretch our food budgets and enrich our dining experience with flavors steeped in history and nostalgia. 

This article first appeared on Food Drink Life.