Cooking on a budget
- Kitchen basics: the tools you needStart with a chef's knife, cutting board, skillet, saucepan, baking sheet, measuring cups and a food thermometer. Skip gadgets.
- Grocery shopping and five cheap mealsCompare unit prices on the shelf tag, shop from a list, and cook five cheap dinners from shared staples at $1.67 to $3.09 a serving.
- Planning a week of mealsCheck what you have, check the sales, plan five dinners with planned leftovers, then shop from the list.
- Food safety basicsKeep cold food at 40°F or below, cook to safe temperatures with a thermometer, and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
- Leftovers and freezingFridge within 2 hours, eat in 3 to 4 days or freeze. Label and date it, thaw in the fridge, reheat to 165°F.
- Getting food help: SNAP, WIC and food pantriesFind a pantry by ZIP at Feeding America. Apply for SNAP through your state. WIC covers pregnancy, new babies and kids under 5.