{"id":820,"date":"2024-05-23T09:12:03","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T09:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/buying-food-in-bulk\/"},"modified":"2024-05-23T09:12:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T09:12:03","slug":"buying-food-in-bulk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/buying-food-in-bulk\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying Food in Bulk &#8211; What We Buy to Save Money"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With grocery prices skyrocketing and the world feeling a bit more turbulent with each passing day, we\u2019ve found buying food in bulk to be a great strategy to both save us money and give us peace of mind. We\u2019ll share with you our complete guide of what we stock up on and some tips and tricks to get the best bang for your buck!<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Costco &amp; Azure Standard Stock Up for our Family of 6!\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xOfdzxI0qEk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real Food on a Budget<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m a firm believer that it is very possible to eat real, quality food, even if you are living within a tight budget. In fact, that\u2019s what we\u2019ve done for over a decade. But, doing so doesn\u2019t just happen magically, it takes intentionality and planning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While we are now able to grow the majority of the food we eat year-round\u2014with a focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/10-essential-storage-crops-you-need-to-grow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">storage crops<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/beginners-guide-to-processing-chickens-at-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chickens for meat<\/a> and eggs, and a <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/owning-a-family-milk-cow-basics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">family milk cow<\/a>\u2014it hasn\u2019t always been that way. We\u2019ve prioritized eating the best, high quality food possible before growing it ourselves and while living in the suburbs on a meager one income budget. In fact, we share our 7 best tips for saving money on organic foods from the grocery store <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/7-tips-to-save-money-on-organic-groceries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And a big part of how that\u2019s been possible is buying food in bulk!<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/guide-to-buying-food-in-bulk.jpg\" alt=\"guide to buying food in bulk\" class=\"wp-image-82577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/guide-to-buying-food-in-bulk.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/guide-to-buying-food-in-bulk-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/guide-to-buying-food-in-bulk-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/guide-to-buying-food-in-bulk-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where are We Shopping?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2 main places we go to for purchasing large quantities of food are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azurestandard.com\/get-organic-products-delivered?a_aid=1VhF2IHeYI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Azure Standard<\/a> and Costco.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Azure Standard<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.azurestandard.com\/get-organic-products-delivered?a_aid=1VhF2IHeYI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Azure Standard<\/a> is a unique naturally minded distributor that brings a great selection of bulk food to communities all over the United States. They have very high standards for offering high quality, whole foods and affordable prices.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As opposed to a physical store, they are dependent on members of your local community coordinating monthly drops. You have the opportunity to order each month and pick up your items at a specified drop spot. Their delivery trucks will meet you on a designated date and time to deliver both fresh and frozen foods.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-standard-truck-pick-up.jpg\" alt=\"azure standard truck pick up\" class=\"wp-image-82584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-standard-truck-pick-up.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-standard-truck-pick-up-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-standard-truck-pick-up-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-standard-truck-pick-up-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Local monthly Azure Standard truck pick up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before placing our first order with Azure, I was pretty intimidated. But, once I nailed down the things that I wanted to purchase, the process was very easy and has been a great fit for our family.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We will share the specific bulk food items we buy from Azure below, but you can learn more about what they sell and how it works <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azurestandard.com\/get-organic-products-delivered?a_aid=1VhF2IHeYI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Costco<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be completely honest, I have a love-hate relationship with this bulk food store. They have the best prices I\u2019ve seen on certain items (even high quality and organic). But you also need to have a lot of willpower to not end up spending way more than you initially meant to.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-stock-up-at-costco.jpg\" alt=\"organic bulk food stock up at costco\" class=\"wp-image-82581\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-stock-up-at-costco.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-stock-up-at-costco-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-stock-up-at-costco-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-stock-up-at-costco-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few of my favorite tips for saving money while bulk shopping at Costco (or ANY grocery store!):<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Have a shopping list<\/strong> and stick to it!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stick to buying ingredients<\/strong> and avoid packaged convenience foods (even the tempting organic options).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pay in CASH.<\/strong> We use the cash envelope monthly budget system for our groceries and I\u2019ve found that paying in cash helps to keep me accountable for our spending in a way that using a credit card doesn\u2019t. There have been many times where I\u2019ve put something back because we didn\u2019t bring enough money and I never missed those things. You can learn more about how we set up our <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/setting-up-a-homestead-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">budget<\/a> here.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limit trips<\/strong> until you really need to stock up. The less trips you take to the store, the less opportunity to spend extra dollars and more opportunity to use up all that you already have without food waste.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/paying-in-cash-for-groceries.jpg\" alt=\"paying in cash for groceries\" class=\"wp-image-82585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/paying-in-cash-for-groceries.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/paying-in-cash-for-groceries-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/paying-in-cash-for-groceries-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/paying-in-cash-for-groceries-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One drawback to shopping at Costco or other wholesale clubs like Sam\u2019s Club is the annual membership fees. We\u2019ve always asked for our Costco membership as a gift to avoid having these warehouse club fees be an additional expense. Because of the lower cost of many of their food items, especially pantry staples, we\u2019ve found the membership to be worth it.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Foods We Buy in Bulk to Save Money<\/h2>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grains<\/h4>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grains are an ideal food to stock up on to save money. This is especially true when in their unprocessed forms. Whole wheat berries or dent corn will keep fresh for years if stored properly before they are turned into flour. Having a <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/how-to-make-flour-using-a-hand-grain-mill-at-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">grain mill<\/a> has been well worth the investment for us to be able to purchase wheat berries in bulk and turn them into fresh flour as needed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-organic-wheat-berries-from-azure.jpg\" alt=\"bulk organic wheat berries from azure\" class=\"wp-image-82570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-organic-wheat-berries-from-azure.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-organic-wheat-berries-from-azure-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-organic-wheat-berries-from-azure-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-organic-wheat-berries-from-azure-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Azure Standard is our favorite place to buy organic grains to get the best bang for your buck. This is what we stock up on:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-size:20px\" class=\"wp-block-list has-theme-palette-8-background-color has-background\">\n<li>50 lb bag Organic Hard Red Wheat (for bread\/pizza dough)<\/li>\n<li>50 lb bag Organic Hard White Wheat (for bread\/pizza dough)<\/li>\n<li>50 lb bag Organic Soft White Wheat (for baked goods)<\/li>\n<li>50 lb bag Organic Rye Berries (We use rye to feed our sourdough starter)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Organic Yellow Corn to grind into cornmeal \u2013 We grow this ourselves but if we didn\u2019t, we\u2019d also buy it from Azure.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior.jpg\" alt=\"stone ground cornmeal in wondermill junior\" class=\"wp-image-2983\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior-585x878.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior-250x375.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior-550x825.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior-120x180.jpg 120w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/stone-ground-cornmeal-in-wondermill-junior-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*You can also purchase smaller amounts (5 lb or 25 lb bags) of these whole grain items.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spices and Seasonings<\/h4>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this point, salt is the only thing in this category that we are buying in bulk. We may switch to buying individual seasonings for Azure in time. But for now, we are buying them at a local grocery store and not stocking up.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-market-bulk-food-order.jpg\" alt=\"azure market bulk food order\" class=\"wp-image-82559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-market-bulk-food-order.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-market-bulk-food-order-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-market-bulk-food-order-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/azure-market-bulk-food-order-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some grocery stores offer bulk bins of things like spices. We\u2019ve avoided buying them that way because we don\u2019t know how long they\u2019ve been sitting there, out in the open.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/glnk.io\/oq72y\/fromscratchfarmstead\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">25 lb bag Redmond Real Salt <\/a>\u2013<\/strong> We LOVE this stuff and go through so much of it. Use code &#8216;fromscratch&#8217; to save 15% off of your order!&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/buying-redmond-sea-salt-in-bulk.jpg\" alt=\"buying redmond sea salt in bulk\" class=\"wp-image-82587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/buying-redmond-sea-salt-in-bulk.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/buying-redmond-sea-salt-in-bulk-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/buying-redmond-sea-salt-in-bulk-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/buying-redmond-sea-salt-in-bulk-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Pantry\/Baking Items<\/h4>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Azure Standard<\/strong><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"font-size:20px\" class=\"wp-block-list has-theme-palette-8-background-color has-background\">\n<li>25 lb bag Organic Black Beans<\/li>\n<li>5 lb bag Roasted, Organic Carob Powder \u2013 I was looking for a more nutritious alternative to cocoa powder for baking and making chocolate milk. It took a little bit of getting used to but I love this carob powder and it\u2019s naturally sweet so I don\u2019t even need to add any extra sweetener when I make chocolate milk!&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-black-beans-in-bulk-from-azure.jpg\" alt=\"organic black beans in bulk from azure\" class=\"wp-image-82579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-black-beans-in-bulk-from-azure.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-black-beans-in-bulk-from-azure-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-black-beans-in-bulk-from-azure-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-black-beans-in-bulk-from-azure-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Costco<\/strong><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"font-size:20px\" class=\"wp-block-list has-theme-palette-8-background-color has-background\">\n<li>Oats \u2013 One Degree Gluten Free Sprouted Rolled Oats (5 lb bags)<\/li>\n<li>Apple Cider Vinegar<\/li>\n<li>Organic White Rice<\/li>\n<li>Organic Coffee (Whole Bean)<\/li>\n<li>Organic Peanut Butter<\/li>\n<li>Organic Coconut Oil<\/li>\n<li>Nuts (Almonds\/Walnuts)<\/li>\n<li>Organic Unrefined Cane Sugar<\/li>\n<li>Organic Brown Sugar<\/li>\n<li>Maple Syrup<\/li>\n<li>Chocolate Chips<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-guide-at-costco.jpg\" alt=\"organic bulk food guide at costco\" class=\"wp-image-82580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-guide-at-costco.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-guide-at-costco-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-guide-at-costco-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/organic-bulk-food-guide-at-costco-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Olive Oil <strong>\u2013<\/strong><\/strong> We are able to purchase organic olive oil locally from someone who sells bulk olive oil from their family\u2019s olive farm in Greece. The big tip we\u2019ve been told to find pure, unadulterated olive oil is to look for a source that only has one country of origin. When there are several countries listed, there\u2019s a great chance of adulteration to the product.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dairy<\/h4>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With a family milk cow, we are able to meet all of our family\u2019s dairy needs with plenty of <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/easy-farmhouse-cheddar-hard-cheese-recipe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cheese<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/how-to-make-crock-pot-yogurt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">yogurt<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/how-to-make-butter-from-raw-milk-in-a-blender\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">butter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/how-to-make-cultured-cream\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sour cream<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/the-best-vanilla-raw-milk-ice-cream\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ice cream<\/a>, etc. But if you don\u2019t have a dairy animal, we\u2019ve heard great things about the quality and prices of the dairy items from Azure Standard and Costco from friends.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk.jpg\" alt=\"fresh cow milk\" class=\"wp-image-793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fresh-cow-milk-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meat<\/h4>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is another one that we always try to stock up on locally. Now we raise the majority of the meat that we eat with raising a few cows and chickens for meat. We also often barter for meat, especially pork, with friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prior to raising our own meat, we always invested in buying meat in bulk. There were years we\u2019d purchase a \u00bd pig, \u00bc &#8211; \u00bd cow, and several whole chickens for meat. Or, for several years we were in a meat CSA program where we received a share of a mixture of beef, pork, and chicken each month for a set price. Both bulk buying options saved us a lot of money on buying high-quality meat from local businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/shopping-cart-of-bulk-items-at-costco.jpg\" alt=\"shopping cart of bulk items at costco\" class=\"wp-image-82589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/shopping-cart-of-bulk-items-at-costco.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/shopping-cart-of-bulk-items-at-costco-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/shopping-cart-of-bulk-items-at-costco-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/shopping-cart-of-bulk-items-at-costco-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fruits and Veggies<\/h4>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of the fruits and veggies we eat all year we either grow ourselves and preserve or purchase locally in bulk and preserve. Our post on our <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/10-essential-storage-crops-you-need-to-grow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">top 10 storage crops<\/a> shares many of my favorites. But here are a few specific ones that we love to grow or find in bulk locally:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Winter Squash \u2013<\/strong> Because winter squash stores so well for many months, stocking up when they are in season in the fall is great idea.<br \/><strong>Berries \u2013<\/strong> Berries freeze very well so stocking up locally when they are in season is a great way to save money on the freshest fruit.<br \/><strong>Apples \u2013<\/strong> If you are preserving apples for <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/quick-and-easy-no-peel-applesauce-for-crockpot-or-instant-pot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">apple sauce<\/a> or dried apples, always ask for windfall apples or apple seconds to buy bulk apples for a fraction of the price.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Costco<\/strong><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"font-size:20px\" class=\"wp-block-list has-theme-palette-8-background-color has-background\">\n<li>Organic Frozen Broccoli<\/li>\n<li>Organic Dates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/costco-bulk-food-stock-up.jpg\" alt=\"costco bulk food stock up\" class=\"wp-image-82576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/costco-bulk-food-stock-up.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/costco-bulk-food-stock-up-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/costco-bulk-food-stock-up-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/costco-bulk-food-stock-up-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Storing Bulk Food Items Safely<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Making these bulk purchases is an investment! If you are going to put up hundreds of dollars to stock up on grains or meat, you want to make sure you are keeping it safe without running into expiration date issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most dry goods, we store them in 5-gallon airtight, food-grade buckets with secured lids. Another great alternative is to store them in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. These very thick, secure bags extend the shelf life significantly for years, and with oxygen absorbers, you can trust that there won\u2019t be issues with moisture or mold. We\u2019ve been very happy with the storage bags from <a href=\"https:\/\/wallabygoods.com\/?rfsn=7731063.c34ea7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wallaby Goods<\/a> for storing bulk dried goods long term (use code FROMSCRATCH5 for $5 off).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/storing-grains-in-food-grade-buckets.jpg\" alt=\"storing grains in food grade buckets\" class=\"wp-image-82586\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/storing-grains-in-food-grade-buckets.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/storing-grains-in-food-grade-buckets-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/storing-grains-in-food-grade-buckets-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/storing-grains-in-food-grade-buckets-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For frozen bulk meats, fruits, and veggies, having an extra deep freeze or 2 is very helpful to safely store these items. We\u2019ve had good luck buying second-hand deep freezes on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for a fraction of the price of a new one.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Case for Buying Food in Bulk<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our daughter likes to remind us how the Ingalls family in The Little House on the Prairie would only go to town a few times or less each year to stock up on the main essentials they needed. While times have changed significantly since then, we\u2019ve found that having a similar approach of stocking up on certain bulk food items that your family enjoys can make a huge difference in cost savings and peace of mind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What are your favorite food items to buy in bulk?<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We are so appreciative of your support!<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-theme-palette-1-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-theme-palette-1-background-color has-background\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:26px\"><strong>Get more inspiration on how to live more frugally and save money on groceries:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-size:26px\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/7-tips-to-save-money-on-organic-groceries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>7 Tips to Save Money on Organic Groceries<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/14-frugal-homestead-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>14 Frugal Homestead Ideas<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/buying-a-homestead-on-a-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Buying a Homestead on a Budget<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"fd-form-636019b28d1a1ae7948da256\"><\/div>\n<p><script>\n  window.fd('form', {\n    formId: '636019b28d1a1ae7948da256',\n    containerEl: '#fd-form-636019b28d1a1ae7948da256'\n  });\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pin it for later!<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-food-buying-tips.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-85299\" style=\"width:650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-food-buying-tips.png 1000w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-food-buying-tips-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-food-buying-tips-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bulk-food-buying-tips-768x1152.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With grocery prices skyrocketing and the world feeling a bit more turbulent with each passing day, we\u2019ve found buying food in bulk to be a great strategy to both save us money and give us peace of mind. We\u2019ll share with you our complete guide of what we stock up on and some tips and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[494,533,476],"tags":[534,535,536],"class_list":["post-820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-preservation","category-living-on-a-budget","category-natural-living","tag-budget","tag-bulk-foods","tag-grocery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=820"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}