r/povertykitchen

I eat alot of canned tuna cuz its cheap protein and I used to just drain the oil down the sink like a fool lol. Dont do that. That oil is basically flavored fish oil, pour it in hot pan and fry ur eggs in it, taste so much richer than plain oil and u already paid for it so its free. Also good for frying rice or even just drizzle on toast with some black pepper.

I been doing this for like 2 months now and it saves me buying extra oil, and food taste more "restaurant" somehow lol not sure why. Try it once before u judge, u will not go back to draining it out I promise.

I been doing this for months and just realized how genius it is lol. dont dump the liquid from your canned beans (chickpea, black bean, any bean) down the sink!!! that thick slimy liquid is basically FREE egg replacer, its called aquafaba if u wanna google it but i just call it bean juice. U can whisk it up for like 5 min and it get all foamy like egg whites, use it in pancake batter, brownie mix, even to bind veggie patties together so they dont fall apart when frying. I literally havent bought eggs in like 2 months bc of this and my pancakes still turn out fluffy. Also works as a thickener for soup if ur soup too watery, just add a splash.

Thanks me latter lol

I have been trying to stretch my grocery budget without getting tired of eating the same thing every day. One ingredient that has been surprisingly useful is dried lentils. They are inexpensive, last a long time in the pantry, and can be used in soups, rice dishes, curries, or even mixed with vegetables for a filling meal.

Keeping a few basic pantry staples on hand has made it much easier to cook instead of ordering food when I'm tired.

I'm curious what affordable ingredient you always keep stocked because it helps you make a variety of meals without spending much money. I'm always looking for ideas that are practical and budget friendly.

Listen, next time u crack eggs dont just toss shell in trash right away. Rinse them lil bit, let dry on windowsill or counter for a day, then crush em up real fine, like almost powder. This powder u can sprinkle in soil if u got even one plant pot on ur windowsill, its full of calcium n plants love that, keep tomatoes, peppers n herbs growing stronger without buying no fertilizer. But also if u dont got plants, boil the shells in water for like 10 min, strain it out, n that water got minerals in it u can add tiny splash into soups or even ur coffee water, some folks swear it help with joint stuff n bones, dont know the science just know grandma did it n didnt cost nothing.

I been saving shells in a jar by sink for few weeks now n already seeing difference in my one sad basil plant lol

This gon sound weird but hear me out. When the pickles all gone dont dump that juice down the sink!! That vinegar salt water is a marinade already made for u, for free. I take the cheapest toughest chicken thighs or even them freezer burnt ones and just dump them straight in the jar, let it sit in fridge overnight (even few hours work in a pinch) and next day fry it up or bake it, meat come out so tender and got this lil tang to it u cant even explain. Works on pork too. I been doing this for like a year now bc i never had money to buy actual marinade or tenderizer and this just sitting there in the fridge door doing nothing.

Also little tip inside tip, if the juice getting low just top it off with bit of vinegar + salt + water and it keeps working, i reuse same jar juice like 3,4 times before it get too weak lol.

This isn't fancy but it's saved me so many times this month. Cook a big pot of rice, like the cheap bag kind, and a can of beans (black, pinto, whatever's on sale). While that's going just chop up any veggie that's about to go bad in your fridge, onion, half a bell pepper, some frozen corn if you got it. Throw it all in one pan with a lil oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder if you have it, and just let it cook down together till it smells good. Dump the rice and beans in at the end and mix it all up. If you eat meat you can add some leftover chicken or a cheap sausage sliced up, but it's filling without it too and works fine for vegetarian folks. I usually make a huge batch and eat off it for like 3,4 days, reheats good. Total cost is maybe $4,5 for like 4,5 meals which is wild when you think about it. Anyway just wanted to share bc sometimes you just need something warm and cheap that isn't just ramen every night lol, hope it helps someone.

So my fridge has gone out and I wont be able to get a new one for awhile. I could really use some advice on things to get from the store that I can use for meals and not require any refrigeration (even after opening unless its all used at once). I know the basic dry goods and canned goods but my brain is not providing much else and I could use the help.

This one gonna sound weird but hear me out. Next time u peeling potatoes DONT throw them peels in trash, wash them good first tho cuz dirt. Then boil them peels with a lil garlic clove, salt, maybe onion skin too if u got some, for like 20-25 min low heat. Strain it out and boom u got urself a free veggie broth that taste way better than them bouillon cubes and cost literally 0 dollars cuz it was already trash. I use it for rice, for soup base, even for cooking beans instead of plain water. My nan used to do this back home and i thought it was just a "we broke" thing but turns out its actually good technique, chefs be doing similar stuff with vegetable scraps too they just call it fancy "stock" lol. Works with carrot peels and onion skins too, mix them all together even better flavor.

When ur peanut butter jar almost empty and u think its done for... its NOT done for. Add like 2 tbsp hot water, put lid back on tight, shake shake shake like ur life depend on it lol. That little bit stuck on sides mix with water and turn into this creamy peanut sauce type thing, pour over rice or noodles or even just toast. I been doing this for months now and i swear i get like 3-4 more "meals" outta one jar that i used to just throw in trash. Add soy sauce or hot sauce if u got it, taste even better. Dont waste that last bit yall its free food just sitting there. And yess Thanks me later lol.

pretty much, trying to get into the ramen game

the two brands I arrived at were maruchan

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MIK4GCS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

and nissin

https://www.amazon.com/Nissin-Top-Ramen-Chicken-24/dp/B006MBTC50

now, initially in my head, I was thinking, "one of these is $8, obviously the better choice, since they're both ramen, plus, this nissin stuff doesn't come in the hellish styrofoam packaging that will give me god only knows what microplastic contamination, click buy"

but turns out, I was completely wrong! There's something about the nissin ramen that really just does not make me feel good after eating it.

So, my question is, what the heck is the difference between these two ramens? They both are ramen, they're both made of same grain, even when I don't use any of the seasoning, the effect of eating them is completely different!?

I say this cautiously as I might fall back any time. I am a recovering food addict. I have wasted money on doordash and Uber eats which got me into drastic debt.

I know it's my fault and I am really trying to change my ways. Started cooking now but have noticed how expensive meat is. Got beef from Walmart and it cost about $9- $10.

Does one have to drastically cut meat to save money? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.