Kitchen Essentials That Save You Money
Ingredient Household: 8 Things to Buy That Save You Hundreds a Month
Have you ever stood in your kitchen, looked into your fridge, and realized you somehow have three different kinds of shredded cheese, but nothing resembling an actual meal? We’ve all been there—where groceries look more like a charcuterie board for one than the makings of dinner.
But here’s the thing: becoming an ingredient household—aka stocking up on versatile basics you can actually make meals with—will save you serious money.
So let’s talk about the 8 items (and categories) that transform your kitchen into a money-saving, nutrition-boosting powerhouse.
1. Cast Iron Skillets & Dutch Ovens
First things first: the heavy hitters—literally. A good cast iron skillet and a Dutch oven are basically kitchen superheroes.
Cast iron skillets can sear steaks, crisp up potatoes, bake cornbread, and even double as an impromptu weightlifting session if your gym membership is eating up too much of your budget. Dutch ovens? They’re the pot roast, soup, and homemade bread MVP.
Yes, they cost more upfront. But here’s the thing: if you treat them right, they outlive you. Seriously. People put them in their wills. Unlike that trendy air fryer you swore you’d use daily but now serves as a glorified bread box, cast iron is a forever investment.
Ingredient household pro tip: If you’ve got a Dutch oven and a bag of beans, you’ve got dinner for days—at about 25 cents a serving. That’s math I can get behind.
2. Mason Jars & Glass Storage Jars
The TikTok girlies were right—jars change lives. But not just because they’re aesthetic (though let’s be honest, organized pantry shelves spark some serious joy).
Glass storage jars keep bulk buys fresh, help you see what you actually have, and prevent the dreaded pantry duplicates. You know—the three half-empty bags of rice because you “didn’t think you had any.”
Mason jars are also the Swiss Army knife of ingredient households. They’re for storing leftovers, packing salads, fermenting pickles, or pretending you’re the kind of person who drinks iced coffee in a jar because “it just tastes better.”
Ingredient household pro tip: Label jars with cooking instructions for things like beans or lentils. That way, you can hand over dinner duty without hearing “but I didn’t know how long to cook it!”
3. Sheet Pans & Casserole Dishes
Meet your best friends for the 5 p.m. panic. Sheet pans and casserole dishes are the lazy genius’s secret weapon.
This was took me a while to get on board but once I did, I felt dumb for not doing it sooner. Toss some veggies and chicken thighs on a sheet pan, season generously (read: dump some garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper on there like your ancestors are watching), and roast. Dinner is done. Literally so simple. No juggling 12 pans on the stove. No “oops, I scorched the rice while trying to stir-fry broccoli.” This is a big way to save money and avoid box dinners.
Casserole dishes, on the other hand, are the ultimate meal-stretchers. A box of pasta, a jar of sauce, and some cheese magically turns into a meal that feeds a family of five—or one adult with a week’s worth of lunches.
Ingredient household pro tip: Always double your casserole recipe and freeze one. Your future self (the one who just got home late and doesn’t want to cook) will weep with gratitude.
4. Bulk Pantry Staples
Here’s where the real savings happen. Flour, beans, rice, oats, spices, lentils—buy them in bulk, and you’ll suddenly realize you can make about 200 meals for the price of two DoorDash orders. The more you buy the less the unit price, typically. If you have a Winco near you even better, they have a bulk section where you can get exact amounts that you want. If not, most store offer many ingredients in bigger sizes. And there’s always Costco or Sam’s Club if you have a membership.
Bulk buying means you always have the base for meals at home. Want tacos? Beans and rice, boom. Craving soup? Lentils to the rescue. Need to stress-bake because your kid’s school just emailed about another “mandatory volunteer event”? Flour and sugar have your back.
The beauty of pantry staples is their versatility. They can morph into breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They’re the foundation of the “ingredient household” life, and when paired with the right tools (see: Dutch oven), they make meal planning way less painful.
Ingredient household pro tip: Spices are where “boring beans” become “fancy international cuisine.” Cumin, paprika, and chili powder cost pennies per serving but will make you feel like you know what you’re doing.
Extra tip: If you are on a really tight budget, just start building up your pantry and spices a little at a time. It will pay off in the long run. And only buy ingredients and spices your family will actually eat. If no one in your family will touch a lentil don’t waste your time, money and frustration.
5. A Bread Maker
Here’s the truth: bread is one of those sneaky budget drainers. A couple of loaves a week at $4–$6 each doesn’t seem like much… until you realize you could’ve made them at home for under a dollar with all of the ingredients you have in your pantry.
Enter the bread maker—the unsung hero of the ingredient household. With bulk flour, yeast, and a pinch of salt, you’ve got warm, fresh bread on demand. No kneading, no babysitting dough, no buying loaves that go stale before you finish them.
And don’t even get me started on the smell. Fresh bread baking makes your house feel like a cozy bakery, even if your laundry pile in the corner says otherwise.
Yes, it’s an upfront investment. But like cast iron skillets, a bread maker pays for itself fast. Imagine saving $15–$20 a week just by baking your own loaves, sandwich bread, or even fancy cinnamon raisin bread for Sunday mornings. That’s hundreds of dollars back in your pocket every year.
Ingredient household pro tip: Bake extra loaves and freeze them. Your future self will thank you on a busy weeknight when grilled cheese is the only dinner option that feels right.
6. Quality Knives & Cutting Board
Okay, technically this is two things, but they work as a duo. A sharp, reliable knife is the difference between cooking being a joy and cooking being a blood sport.
Chopping veggies with a dull knife is both dangerous and rage-inducing. Invest in a good chef’s knife, and suddenly carrots aren’t a chore—they’re therapy. Pair it with a sturdy cutting board (preferably wood) , and you’re set.
Ingredient household pro tip: Learn how to sharpen your knife at home. Not only will it last longer, but it’ll also impress people when you casually say, “Oh, I sharpened it myself.” Instant culinary street cred.
7. A Slow Cooker or Instant Pot
If cast iron is the kitchen superhero, the slow cooker and Instant Pot are the sidekicks. Both help you turn pantry staples into full-on meals with minimal effort.
Got beans? Toss them in the slow cooker with spices and broth. Got rice? Instant Pot it in half the time. Want to feel like you’re winning at adulting? Throw ingredients in before work and come home to dinner already made.
Ingredient household pro tip: The slow cooker turns cheap cuts of meat into fall-apart deliciousness. Translation: save money, eat like royalty.
Extra tip: I personally have a Ninja Foodie, it’s like an Instant Pot but also has a slow cooker option plus several others.
8. Coffee Maker (Yes, Really)
Listen, I know this isn’t technically “cooking,” but if Starbucks is getting $6+ of your money five times a week, we need to talk.
A solid coffee maker, French press, or even pour-over setup will save you hundreds a month. Plus, when you brew at home, you can use that money on more exciting things—like a stockpile of beans or therapy after back-to-school night.
Ingredient household pro tip: Buy beans in bulk, grind them yourself, and keep them in—yep—your mason jars. It’s cheaper and tastes better.
Extra tip: I also have a Ninja Coffee Maker, we’ve had it for years and it’s one of the best small kitchen appliances we’ve ever had. It does a full pot, single travel mugs, and has a coffee over ice option (not the one listed below, ours is a much an older version but I wanted you to get the idea). It’s literally what gets me excited to get out of bed in the morning.
Final Thoughts: Building Your Ingredient Household
Here’s the truth: becoming an ingredient household doesn’t mean your kitchen has to look like a cooking show set, or that you’ll suddenly be whipping up Michelin-star meals on a Tuesday night.
It just means you’re investing in the tools and staples that make cooking at home easier, cheaper, and—dare I say—actually fun.
So next time you’re tempted to toss another overpriced “snack meal” in your cart, remember: a little upfront investment in cast iron, jars, sheet pans, and pantry staples will save you hundreds every month and thousands over the years.
And honestly? It’s an investment in your family.