Should You Make It or Buy It?

Heather R. — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:20:32 +0000

I’ve often wondered if it would be more cost effective to make some pantry staples rather than buy them. I usually don’t give it much more thought than that because it’s usually just more convenient to spend a few more cents and not have to bother with it.

However, Slate recently researched the same idea and came back with a few pantry staples that might just be best to make yourself, and not just because it will save you money but because the quality and taste are so much better than store bought.

They tried out bagels (conclusion: make your own), cream cheese (buy it), yogurt (make it), jam (make it), crackers (buy it), and granola (specifically Alton Brown’s granola) — which gets the “make it” not because it’s cheaper but because it tastes a lot better.

I’ve made bagels before and while they turned out fine the time I spent on them, just to have them devoured within minutes, kind of put me off them (I know, that’s the point, at least everyone enjoyed them, but it only made six!).

I don’t think I’d dare make cream cheese myself, but I’ve always been intrigued with making my own yogurt, so I might be giving that one a try soon. I don’t have access to cheap fruit (everything’s flown in since nothing grows here, so I don’t have neighbors dumping bags off on my porch) so jam is cheaper for me to buy, but I would like to try making crackers sometime just to see how it turns out. And as soon as I get some cashews you bet I’m going to be trying Alton’s granola!