Lentils no longer the cheapest option!

cheerfulness4

Thank you for that really helpful reply, Thriftlady. You're a mine of info I'm finding.

Could I just ask, you said about keeping the lentils in the fridge - if I were to bulk cook them would they keep okay in the freezer in the same way that chickpeas do?
Trying to keep my fuel cost down and save some time.

angelavdavis

thriftlady wrote: »

According to the Tesco website the cheapest pulse they have are cannellini beans (white kidney beans) which are 38p for 500g and the most expensive is split red lentils which are £1.02 for 500g. Incredibly they are more expensive than the posh dark green lentilles verte which are 73p.

I've checked the Ocado site and they have a much more extensive choice of pulses which are nearly all more expensive than Tesco. However, their red lentils are 88p for 500g.

Health food stores may be cheaper.

Pulses still represent good value for money;) If you cook them in bulk and freeze them they are a great convenience food too.

Hi everyone, as Thriftlady says, I regularly find them marked down in the health food shops. Also, they generally are cheaper in Asian supermarkets if there is one near you.

thriftlady_2

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

Thank you for that really helpful reply, Thriftlady. You're a mine of info I'm finding.

Could I just ask, you said about keeping the lentils in the fridge - if I were to bulk cook them would they keep okay in the freezer in the same way that chickpeas do?
Trying to keep my fuel cost down and save some time.

Yes they freeze well, but I don't think they will remain separate the way beans do. You'll probably end up with a lump of lentils, but if you freeze them in meal-sized portions then that won't matter.

Butterfly_Brain

Have you tried Asian food shops they are usually the cheapest for all sorts of spices etc

ellemm

Went to Lidl in lunchbreak - their Lentils are 88p for 500gr.

x-cupcake-x

pretz wrote: »

omg i have to say i nearly had a heart attack today when i popped in somerfield and they wanted £1.93 for 500g of non-organic red lentils

I got some in there last week for £1.09 Sainsburys have got 1kg bags for about £1.70

Chell

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

Thank you for that really helpful reply, Thriftlady. You're a mine of info I'm finding.

Could I just ask, you said about keeping the lentils in the fridge - if I were to bulk cook them would they keep okay in the freezer in the same way that chickpeas do?
Trying to keep my fuel cost down and save some time.

I freeze red and green lentils all the time in various vegetarian meals. I wouldn't cook them on their own as their really is no need IMO, just bung a handful in whatever you are making and cook it as you normally would. I do this with curries, pasta sauces, veggie shepherds pie bases, etc.

mathsus

none of the (many) Asian grocers round here can beat the Lidl price for lentils for a small bag or the fantastic huge bag from Asda £6 for 5Kg as mentioned previously by Zara77.

joolsybools

gilda wrote: »

Bulking out meals with lentils:

The price increases on lentils have been mentioned many times over the last year. At over £1 for 500g they are no longer the cheapest way to eke out meals.

I’ve switched to dried split peas at 57p/500g and dried chick peas at 49p/500g for my “cheap protein” meal extender.

The split peas cook in the same time as lentils IF you soak them overnight first.

Chick peas take a bit longer but OS is all about planning and using a bit of your free time to save money.

Look out for soya beans too. They are bursting with protein at over 30g per 100g I can get them for £2.20 per kilo at my local Chinese supermarket.

You can get them in the frozen section in supermarkets too (certainly in London anyway), £1.99 for 500g I think, Birds Eye do them. V delish and v nutrish. Try them with a sweet chili sauce - there are loads of recipes if you do a search for soya or edamame beans to give them their other name!

Trinny

On the subject of chickpeas - there is a great recipe for chick pea and spinach curry on the Jamie O - feed your family for a fiver. If you OS the recipe it comes in way under £5.

I tend to cook a bag of chickpeas at a time - then portion them out and freeze them.

Has anyone tried buying lentils and other dried pulses from Asian food stores - they are way cheaper than the prices quoted by the op, and if buying in bulk - the price goes down further.

Best Wishes

Trin