What's the most overpriced food product that you could make yourself?

freyasmum

Again, going back to the OP...

IMO, one of the most overpriced things you can buy are cakes and pastries - it's so easy to make your own, and much nicer too.

Though, rather obviously, anything premade and pre-packaged is going to be infinitely more expensive than what you could make it for. I guess the key is to work out whether you can be bothered/are able to take the time to do it yourself.

seraphina

Bags of ice cubes are a godsend for parties - especially when you are student living with a tiny freezer drawer instead of a proper freezer.

And just because you think something is overpriced doesn't mean it's necessarily overpriced to someone else who may value its convenience or whatever. Speaking as someone who frequently doesn't get in from work until 7:30pm, let alone start cooking, someone who tried to convince me that roasting a chicken at that time, would get very short shrift, whether it's OS or not! It's a bit patronizing to keep harping on about it, as if we only started firing up our ovens (don't forget preheating time, plus the cost of keeping the oven on instead of just frying off a few fillets) we'd all suddenly be converted to roast dinners on a weeknight.

I don't buy the argument that something that can go in the oven undisturbed for 45mins/1 hr is a timesaver for late night suppers - fair enough you might get time for a G&T whilst stuff is cooking but you still have to do all the washing up, sorting out of left overs etc. Unless I am back from work early then dinner needs to be on the table within about 30mins - and that's coming from an enthusiastic cooker. Goodness only knows how people who don't get any enjoyment from cooking cope!

Plum_Pie

For faster cooking of a whole chicken, learn (or ask your butcher to) spatchcock:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2186/spatchcock-barbecue-chicken

Softstuff

seraphina wrote: »

And just because you think something is overpriced doesn't mean it's necessarily overpriced to someone else who may value its convenience or whatever. Speaking as someone who frequently doesn't get in from work until 7:30pm, let alone start cooking, someone who tried to convince me that roasting a chicken at that time, would get very short shrift, whether it's OS or not! It's a bit patronizing to keep harping on about it, as if we only started firing up our ovens (don't forget preheating time, plus the cost of keeping the oven on instead of just frying off a few fillets) we'd all suddenly be converted to roast dinners on a weeknight.

I agree wholeheartedly. Recently I've been working between 12 and 15 hour days, from 6 am onwards. Frankly the fact we've not eaten takeaway for the past 3 weeks is enough for me to be proud of. The idea of me even switching on the oven after being on my feet for 15 hours at 9.30pm when I get home is ludicrous. Thankfully the deli does sliced meats cheaply and these can accompany some microwaved preprepared veggies. I've also enjoyed readymade pizza bases, store bought muffins, prepacked salads and even frozen roasties.

There is a world of difference between what I cook when I work 8 hours, and when I cook 15, but thanks to me having experienced this I'll never look down my nose at any convenience food again.

Rachel021967

I tend to cook a whole chicken as a family, of four meat eaters, we eat a lot of chicken and a whole chicken is cheaper. However, I do not work and have the time to do this. I wholeheartedly agree with Mrs E and Softstuff and their choices should be respected.
As for the original posts I would not buy prepared vegetables unless it was heavily discounted. I think they are very overpriced for what they are.

freebiequennie

things like pre-sliced veg annoy me as very over priced.

my husband and I work full time and used to have take-aways 2-3 times a week until we needed to save for our wedding then our house deposit so we started buying in bulk and cooking in bulk then freezing so we had homemade ready meals.

i love a roast mid week for an hour and half cooking time its so much nicer than a frozen pizza.

we do have take-aways but very rarely and tends to be sausage and chips which costs £5 for the 2 of us.

juliapenguin

It's all relative to where you're at in your life, really, isn't it? My mother (84) likes those tiny, expensive bags of pre-prepared M&S veg for one person - there's no way she can cut up 'hard' veg like swede, and a whole cabbage is just too much to deal with. Stuff like this keeps her off meals on wheels, which she is dreading, as she's quite particular about what she likes and doesn't like. It's the same with tiny bought cakes and tiny ready meals - my mum would never have thought she would end up buying these, but she can't lift heavy hot things safely out of the oven now.

On the other hand, I could never justify buying things like that, as a fit and healthy person without arthritis can chop a few carrots and throw them in a pan in the time it takes to boil the kettle for a cup of tea (or for the OH to open the wine and pour me a big glass;) ).

I have to tell you about my friend at university last year who is 34. I saw he had about ten jars of caviar, which he had bought from Selfridges. I asked him how much a jar costs, and he said he had no idea because he just uses his credit card and the bill goes straight home to his dad in the Lebanon who pays it...... :cool: He used the caviar as a dip for Pringles....

robin_banks

Bottled water

naturally_2

juliapenguin wrote: »

He used the caviar as a dip for Pringles....

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Not quite 100% on-topic, but the most overpriced food? Anything a caterer cooks when the word "wedding" is used. :rolleyes:

OddjobKIA

Reading the other thread and someone mentioned ready grated cheese...I have always seen this on the shelf and wonderd who buys it...

so which foods do you reckon are Lazy and which are conveniant??