Grocery prices are steadily increasing with no real relief in site. Here’s how we save an average of $15 a month on cheese alone . . .
If you’re the type of savvy consumer to pay attention to grocery prices you might have noticed that packages of cheese have “shrunk” yet again.
Several years ago, when I began this site, a 12 oz package of name brand cheese was $2.28 at Walmart. Now, an 8 oz package of that same name brand cheese is $2.58 at Walmart. The package shrunk by 4 oz and to add insult to injury- they increased the price as well.
At big box clubs such as Sam’s or Costco- you can purchase five pounds of shredded cheese for around $11. We generally purchase Mozzarella and Cheddar.
Using a vacuum sealer/Foodsaveror just use ziploc-style baggies, rebag the cheese in 8oz portions. A five pound bag of cheese re-portioned = 10 (8oz) bags. We also frequently divide the cheese into several 4-ounce bags as well to avoid waste for smaller recipes or if we’ll just need a topping for a casserole.
Currently, an 8oz package of Cheese at Walmart is $2.58
A “homemade” 8oz package of cheese is $1.11 –
—————————————————————-
Total Savings $1.47 per package or 43% (or .14 an ounce)
We prefer the vacuum sealer/foodsaver because the bags are reusable and the food doesn’t get freezer burn at all.
Other Cheesy Savings Tricks:
- Use stronger varieties of cheese in your recipes, such as Sharp cheddar in place of Colby. The cheese imparts a stronger flavor, therefore you use less in the recipe.
- Real vs Imitation– Pay close attention to the labeling on the bags, some brands use “imitation” cheese, particularly Mozzarella. This cheese-like product does not melt well and often tastes like cardboard. Be sure you’re getting what you’re paying for!
- Purchase blocks of cheese and grate them yourself. To freeze add 1-2 tsp of cornstarch to the grated cheese, seal the bag, shake well to coat, then vacuum seal and freeze. The cornstarch helps prevent the cheese from clumping.
- Buy Scrap Ends- if you’re lucky enough to live near a cheese factory (we did in the midwest for awhile!) you can often purchase ends or scraps. Shred these, label and freeze until needed.
How do you save on cheese and other dairy products?
November 2021 Price Update:
While inflation has dramatically increased over the past several months, the savings of purchasing cheese bulk are still quite prominent.
The price of cheese at Walmart today for an eight-ounce package of shredded mozzarella is $1.98, which is more than 24¢ per ounce.
The price for a bulk package of five-pounds of shredded mozzarella at Sam’s club is $12.26, which is 15¢ per ounce, a savings of 35%.
Additional savings are available by purchasing the cheese in season (when it’s on sale) and stocking up. Another option is to purchase in case sizes and divide it up among family and friends, with each person chipping in.
