Buying in bulk is one of the oldest tricks in the budgeting book. A whole sector of the economy grew out of the philosophy that you’ll save more money when you buy more stuff. You may even have a membership card that proves your bulk-buying bona fides.

Fortune Foods contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

And that’s a great start. But there’s more to buying in bulk than ponying up that yearly fee. Luckily, you can unlock these super-shopper secrets by reading the information and tips below. No elite-level membership required.

Why you’ll save money buying food in bulk

First, let’s talk about how you save when you buy food in bulk. It certainly doesn’t seem like buying more should cost less. That’s where the economies of scale come in.

Big businesses buy so much stuff that they can negotiate better deals on the goods they acquire, lowering the per unit cost. The same basic principles apply when you buy in bulk at certain stores.

That’s not all, though. When you buy food in bulk, you also save for a few other, less-academic reasons:

• You make fewer grocery trips—saving you time, and cutting down on impulse purchases.
• You’re able to meal prep more—having the cooking staples you need means you can plan meals around what you already have, helping you cook at home more often.
• Your spending is more predictable—stocking up stops you from riding the pricing rollercoaster at the grocery store.

Super-secret tips for how to buy food in bulk

Enough with the economics lesson. It’s time for the good stuff—secrets we sourced from the savvy shoppers at Whole30 HQ. Below, you’ll read the tips for buying in bulk that can help you stretch your budget even further. Without any further ado:

1. Only buy bulk items that you use regularly so you don’t waste food.
2. You should typically target non-perishable staples, frozen foods, and pantry items with long shelf lives or the ability to store well. Avoid buying items that spoil quickly—unless you plan to freeze or use them right away. 
3. These dry goods are great for buying in bulk (if you’re currently doing a Whole30, some of these items might have to wait for reintroduction or food freedom):
   • Grains: Rice, quinoa, oats, couscous, and pasta 
   • Legumes: Dried beans, lentils, and chickpeas 
   • Baking goods: Flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda
   • Canned goods: Tomatoes, tuna, beans, and coconut milk
4. Take a trip down the frozen foods aisle to pick up fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, and a variety of seafood. They all keep really well in the freezer.
5. Pantry items are among the best foods to buy in bulk because you use them in a variety of recipes and ways. Look for:
   • Spices, like salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or your favorite blend
   • Broths, stocks, and bouillon cubes
   • Whole nuts and seeds
   • Nut butters and cooking oils
6. Watch the unit price and compare the price per ounce or pound. That’s where you can really see the savings of buying larger quantities.
7. Save storage space by tossing bulky original packaging and redistributing into smaller containers or bags.
8. Split bulk items with friends or family members to share savings and storage.
9. Schedule regular stock-ups to keep costs consistent. 
10. Become a dry storage genius by:
    • Only keeping what you need in the kitchen and using other spaces in your house.
    • Storing your dry goods in under-bed containers, over-the-door organizers, or closet shelves. 
    • Putting dry goods in smaller containers by transferring bags of rice, oats, or beans into clear, stackable, airtight containers.
11. Store your bulk items by accessibility and frequency of use—if you use it a lot, make it easy to grab.
12. Rotate what you’re buying in bulk, so you’ll stock up on pantry items one month, frozen the next, etc. 
13. Make sure to rotate the bulk items you buy so you’re using the oldest stuff first to minimize waste.
14. Label everything you’ve transferred into smaller portions with the purchase date and expiration date. This will help you practice the “first in, first out” mentality.
15. Get the most out of your freezer space. You can: 
    • Divide bulk meats, sauces, or soups into meal-sized portions stored in zip-top freezer bags.
    • Save even more space by laying the bags flat and stacking them. 
    • Use clear, stackable storage bins or drawers for your freezer. It helps categorize the items and prevent foods from disappearing in the back or bottom of the freezer.
    • Maximize your door space by storing condiments, small items, or bagged frozen fruit in the door to free up deeper shelves for bulkier items.
16. If you have a smaller home or apartments, stick to bulk items that are truly space efficient. For example, purchase dry goods over massive multi-packs of bottled drinks.

A bonus tip from Melissa Urban

“If you find pre-cooked protein you really love, like Whole30 marinated chicken breasts or Amylu chicken meatballs, buy extra and freeze it for later. Warehouse clubs like Costco often have just one flavor on-shelf at a time, and rotates them every 6-8 weeks. That Lemon Garlic Chicken you love this week could be replaced by a different flavor next week, so stock up.”

Start using our secrets to buying in bulk

You know all the shopping secrets, so now it’s up to you to put them into practice. Make your next shopping trip a test run for applying all you know about how to buy food in bulk. Compare the cost to your previous grocery expeditions to see how much money you save by stocking up on staples and bulk items. And then do your savings celebration dance—you’ve earned it.

How To Save Time and Money Bulk Buying Food To Preserve

By

Bulk buying food (especially meats & produce) is one of my favorite ways to save money on groceries while maximizing seasonal goodness & oftentimes higher quality too. It’s the best tip for keeping your kitchen stocked with fresh ingredients that you preserve in one of a million ways. So lemme spill the beans on how you can make this easier & more efficient for your household.

Benefits of Bulk Buying Food

Bulk buying food is a strategic way of filling my pantry. Point, blank, period.
And it could work for you too – especially if you haven’t grown to the stage of gardening yet. But maybe your mind instantly starts seeing panic shoppers. Or crazy couponers who have a mountain of Digorno’s in their basket at checkout.

Nah, this ain’t that, girl. 

The type of buying in bulk I’m talking about not only cuts down on your per-unit costs but it saves you precious time & travel expenses. I mean, really. Who’s got time for all those frequent grocery trips or last minute “I’ma run out to the store right quick’s”? Not I. 

When you buy in bulk, especially during peak harvest seasons, you get better prices for a (mostly) higher quality for your produce. I mean, time it right & farms/markets are just ladened with the goods, trying to come off it. And since you’re buying with a preservation plan in mind (????), you’ll have ingredients on hand year-round for all those great comfort meals you like serving & enjoying with your family. Let’s cut out all that buying out-of-season & more expensive stuff, shall we?

Another perk? Buying in bulk allows you to comfortably & reasonably stock your pantry on a consistent basis. And with a stocked pantry, you’re less likely to throw away food – another way you’ll save you money in the long run.

Best Foods to Buy in Bulk for Preserving

You shouldn’t bulk buy every food you see. Like, overripe produce which is likely past it’s prime for preserving anyway…but here are a few that preserve really well:

• Fruits & Vegetables: Produce items like tomatoes, berries, apples & carrots can be canned, frozen, or dried to extend their shelf life. And with the right conditions, some produce items store well in their natural state by root cellaring. These foods are also easy to find at a lower price in-season. Not sure what’s in season where you are? Try this online Seasonal Food Guide.
• Grains & Legumes: Bulk buying food like grains & beans is a smart way to keep nutritious foods in your pantry. They’re filling, usually well-priced & can be stored for long periods, especially if you use vacuum-sealing or other airtight storage methods like Mylar bags. (which btw, I love doing for this particular food group.)

• Herbs & Spices: Fresh herbs can be pricey, but if you buy in bulk & dry, freeze (or even freeze dry) them, you can avoid the waste that often comes with buying small, pre-packaged portions. Dried spices and herbs can also be purchased in larger quantities & stored too although if you’re not going to use it within 3-6 months, stick with a smaller package. Dried spices can lose potency over time, especially in warm/hot spaces like that cabinet above/beside the stove that I’m pretty sure you’ve got your spices in.
• Meats & Dairy: If you’re vegetarian/vegan, skip this obv. But the best way to buy these specific foods in bulk is to connect with a local farmer/farm. You can find that here. If you can’t access one within a reasonable distance (& be open-minded about traveling for higher quality foods), search for a butcher. They often connect with farms (though not all the farming practices will suit you). You can also ask the reps at markets during market season (usually Apr-Oct/Nov/Dec-ish).

Just a word of caution…whenever you begin conversations with suppliers/farmers, make sure you’re entirely educated & comfortable with their practices. If you don’t fully understand, ask more questions. Know as much as possible before buying in. You won’t regret it, trust me.

How Much – Bulk Buying Food Quantity Recs

How much food should I actually buy in bulk?

Are you interested in learning more about Frozen Vegetables In Bulk? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

It can be a personal question, but it’s fine with me to say. This is something you’ll capture as you work through your food preservation plan, but it’s an equation of sorts.

How much do you need + How much time/space do you have + How much $ can you afford to spend = How much you should be buying in bulk.

Let’s assume your goal is to preserve enough tomatoes to cover your family’s tomato needs until next summer. Start by tracking how much & how many tomato products you consume in a certain timeframe (like 3 months). Three months will level the playing field in case you consume more around certain times of year (like maybe in winter via chili vs spring with spaghetti ????????‍♀️).

Find a recipe you reasonably think you’ll love. Trust your gut. If it calls for an off-the-wall ingredient, you’re better off testing the recipe first or choosing a different one altogether. Multiply the amount of tomatoes by 4 to get a rough estimate for a year’s worth.

Now checkpoint #1 – based on how you’d ideally like to preserve those tomatoes (canned maybe?), consider your space. Do you have space to store 50 jars of tomato products? Yes, move on.

Checkpoint #2 – do you have the skills, equipment & time to can enough tomatoes to fill 50 jars? Yes, keep going.

Checkpoint #3 – if you aren’t growing them, can you afford to buy all tomatoes at once or will you need to preserve in batches over the course of the summer?

That’s how you determine how much food to buy in bulk when preserving it. And in case you’re wondering “Is it worth it to preserve my own food?” Here’s a comparison on food preservation costs.

Preservation Techniques for Bulk Foods

To get the most out of this fabulous bulk buying food strategy, here are a few preservation techniques you might cash in on:

Canning &/or Freezing:
No duh. These are two of the most practical ways to preserve bulk fruits & vegetables. You can make homemade jams, sauces, or frozen veggie mixes that are perfect for quick meals throughout the year. If you don’t know by now, I’m obsessed with freezing using my Food Saver vacuum sealer. It even works with glass jars (regular & wide-mouth) if you have the attachment accessories! ????

Dehydrating &/or Freezing Herbs:
Dehydrating is an easy way to preserve herbs like basil, thyme & oregano. And it’s more convenient compared to freeze-drying herbs because you skip needing expensive equipment. (We have a Harvest Right freeze dryer which we love. Bought for preserving my breastmilk three years ago, it’s been used for that & SO, SO much more.) This method allows you to store them in small jars for quick use. Freezing fresh herbs in oil, butter or water in ice cube trays is another great method for preserving flavor. You could also use a small Souper Cube tray for this if you then intend to vacuum seal them away for a much later date.

Vacuum-Sealing Grains & Legumes:
Keeping grains & legumes fresh is simple with vacuum-sealing or storing them in airtight containers. This method ensures that your pantry essentials stay fresh longer, without losing flavor or nutrition. Just know that you get more nutrition storing grains in their whole form (with the hulls) as opposed to pre-ground. However, I have stored pre-ground wheats for years with success using Mylar bags & Oxygen absorbers (I highly recommend Wallaby Goods for durability; use code CLAIRE5 for $5 any order!).

Related Blog Post: 8 Simple Pantry Staples You Need

Practical Tips to Maximize Time & Money

To make bulk buying food & then preserving it as efficient as possible here’s the Spark Notes version of what you need to do:

1. Prep in Batches: Set aside a few hours one day to work on preserving these bulk items. Yes, you could spread it over several days, but the sooner the better – especially if you’re buying from a conventional store or market. The closer you preserve your bounty to when it was harvested, the absolute-bestest hands down. Batch cooking & preserving makes the process easier because you’re more likely to get through preserving it all before it spoils. (Ask me how I know that ????)
2. Organize & Label: Keep preserved foods neatly organized in specific places. Label them with dates at least, but contents is helpful too.

I also recommend you get in the habit of denoting the batch it is because maybe you end up freezing green beans 3 different times in a month. FIFO (first in, first out is what I live by when it comes to food). And then, log it in your kitchen logbook. Clearly defined label strategy will help make sure you don’t waste food unknowingly.

3. Use a Preservation Plan: You can preserve food year round. But keep seasonal availability in mind & decide which items you want to preserve based on the seasons  & your family’s needs, of course. A preservation plan will keep you from overbuying & keep you focused on only putting up foods you’ll actually use. The more forethought & forecasting you do, the better prepared you’ll be to execute on your plan too.

Related Blog Post: How to Keep a Kitchen Logbook

Key Take-Aways

No more need to wonder “How can I save time and money by buying in bulk and preserving food?” Bulk buying food with specific preservation techniques in mind will keep seasonal flavors on your gathering table year round. Shop in season for the high-quality good stuff at its best price. And preserve it then to cut down on food waste. Focus on how you organized your finished goods so that you don’t incur more waste by leaving things on the shelf for longer than intended.

Want more information on Iqf Herbs? Feel free to contact us.