Worth making from scratch?

juliep123

Hi
New to this forum but have read the Money Saving tips and picked up loads of helpful tips - just wanted to ask for some advice.
Basically i've just been medically retired from work(at the grand old age of 44) and although i did make some meals from scratch i need to make more savings. My question is is it always cheaper making things rather than buying them? I spent most of yesterday making puff pastry and to be honest i don't think i'll bother again.Unless it's my baking skills (quite possible) the frozen stuff tastes better and if bought on offer fairly cheap.
Anything else that folks just don't bother making themselves?

Thanks
Jules

babyshoes

Puff pastry is one of those things which is better to buy - even the TV chefs use bought most of the time coz it is such a faff to make and the bought is so good. Same goes for filo pastry and other fiddly things like that.

ubamother

I would include other flour-based goods such as pasta, wraps etc. I have made them, and it's great fun, but only fun because of the novelty value of doing so. I'm sure I'd get very grumpy if I made them more often.

monnagran

Babyshoes is quite right. There is absolutely no point in making things like puff pastry when the bought stuff is so good. I will always make my own shortcrust because I like doing it, but puff pastry is time consuming and fiddly and very rarely satisfactory.

I do make most things from scratch but will take short cuts if I'm pushed for time or it's something I don't do very well.

I would buy condensed soups to use as a sauce in chicken dishes, Pasta sauces, unless I had a glut of tomatoes to be used up, and there are probably a few other things that I can't recall at the moment.

Everyone probably has their own pet things that they would buy rather than make. I would never buy a commercially made pie or pasty, cake, biscuits or 'mixes'. I saw a pancake mix the other day.
Sorry? Flour. egg and milk and water, what could be easier. Also I like to know what has gone into our food.

You will find out for yourself what you can be bothered with and where you are content to cut corners and buy 'ready-made.'

Good luck.

BitterAndTwisted

For me as well, making puff pastry is a thing I don't do well and even if I could I'd probably still buy it.

I make all of my meals from scratch and I enjoy baking, so don't have much shop-bought stuff here at all. Not unless it's something I like and it's marked-down hugely like little pots of salady stuff but ready-meal-type things? No. Quite honestly, even if it's not cheaper I prefer my own cooking. But I have the luxury of time because I'm out of work right now. I doubt it's so simple for people with full-time jobs, a home to run plus families to feed.

Has anyone mentioned Twinks Hobnobs yet?

nuatha

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Has anyone mentioned Twinks Hobnobs yet?

If you haven't tried them, do. But be warned they are addictive (I'm banned from taking them into the office at the moment, too much temptation)

I've made puff pastry, croissant dough, pasta doughs and filo pastry but generally buy them ready made, unless I have a huge amount of time to play with and and really want the challenge. (Or want a variant that isn't readily available and affordable)
I rarely mince my own meat and generally avoid making my own butter. Everyone will have different choices about what to do from scratch and which shortcuts are worthwhile for them. I've even been known to use cake and bread mixes - to the shock of my Mother in Law who thought everything coming out of my kitchen was home made.
I do think its worth mastering the basic skills, in case the shortcut becomes unavailable or shoots up in price, but most times I'm happy to use a shortcut that saves time and money for other things that are important to me.
There's a lot I do make where it would be possible to buy a cheaper version, however I prefer to know what I'm eating and cheaper doesn't necessarily mean better.

DundeeDoll

I remember making puff pastry at school and being told this was the only time in life we'd make it cos it's so time consuming. And they're right :-) but i'd never buy short. Agree with bitter, depends on your own circumstances. Eg i have a friend who is also medically retired, pretty broke but finds standing difficult. She doesnt cook much, saying it's awkward with a walking stick. But it may in her case be lack of interest.

Toxic_Lemon

I also made puff pastry at school and have only made it once since. However, rough puff pastry is lovely and easy to make so why not try that:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2403/roughpuff-pastry-

angeltreats

We made puff pastry at catering college and were told that hardly any restaurants ever make their own and we'd most likely never have to do it again - and they were right

However Danish pastry dough (very similar to puff pastry except it contains yeast) is definitely worth making yourself if you have a food processor, as home made Danish pastries are a million times better than anything you can buy in the shops. You can make a big batch and freeze it.

Pasta sauces are definitely better home made, it works out a lot cheaper and much tastier than the bland stuff in the jars. We also had one of those packets of powdered pepper sauce the other day to go with steak - first time I've ever used one and also the last time because it tasted of nothing. However it does work out far more expensive to do it from scratch (shallots, cream, brandy!). It all depends on why you are cooking from scratch.

If it's to save money, then there are a lot of things that are cheaper to buy ready-made. If it's to eat better, avoid additives and have generally much nicer food, then probably best to make it yourself.

SailorSam

If you're baking now i'm sure i saw a post here yesterday saying that Morrisons have frozen pastry on offer for 50p. Stock up if you think it's worth it.

mummybearx

As others have said, there is some things that are worth it, and some things that aren't

Like last night, I made sausage casserole. Up until about 2 weeks ago, I always used a dry mix for the sauce, mix up with water and bung in the oven. Well last week I didn't have any packet mix, so used two tins of chopped toms, lashings of smoked paprika and some cajun spice, some garlic and tomato puree, and the casserole was delicious!

Now the packet mix I buy 4 for £1 from Asd@, and the tinned toms cost 33p per tin, so I'm more MSE buying the packet mix. But the make my own sauce is so much nicer!

Suppose it's swings and roundabouts. Puff pastry I wouldn't make from scratch, rough puff I do make myself. x