In this post I’m going to show you all the best frugal kitchen essentials. While these do require a small investment upfront, you can save so much money in the long run. And even better all these products are super affordable!
You probably already have at least some of these items on this list. As for the items you don’t have yet, don’t feel like you must purchase them all at once. Just add them slowly to your kitchen as it fits your needs and budget.
The most important thing I want you to consider as you go through the list is:
Will this product save me money?
If the answer is yes, then great!
Alrighty, here are the top 12 frugal kitchen essentials to help you save money!
Crockpot
This is the staple of the frugal list! The Crock-Pot makes it so easy to make warm, homecooked meals with very little work. Just dump, stir, and enjoy hours later. And it is no secret that the more you can cook at home for your family and take advantage of leftovers, the more money you can save!
If you don’t have a Crock-Pot, you need one.
Here is the one I have and love!
For larger families I would recommend an 8 quart version like this one.
Instant Pot
The best friend to the Crock-Pot (as I like to call it) is next up on the list! This solves the issue of “I forgot to put food in the crockpot this morning” we have all had! The Instant Pot is your solution.
It cooks up to 70 times faster than the Crock-Pot and they say it uses less energy. Both are great additions to your frugal kitchen for quick prep, healthy meals.
Food Processor
A food processor is the go-to gadget for just about anything in your kitchen. The ones with switchable blades can shred, slice, or even blend things together. If you typically purchase sauces, soups, pesto, and other blended foods at the grocery store, you can save a lot of money by making your own versions at home. One of my favorite uses is making homemade baby food from fresh ingredients! And when you are finished, everything aside from the base can run straight through the dishwasher for easy clean up.
Vacuum Sealer
This is a favorite of my husbands! A vacuum sealer makes it so easy to buy meat and other foods in bulk and then freeze them for an extended time. Food definitely stays fresher when its vacuum sealed. And of course, keeping your food fresh longer reduces waste and saves you money. We have vacuum sealed all sorts of things from meats, soups, crockpot ready meals, and even sweet breads.
Here’s the one we are using now. And some bags to go with it. Make sure you buy the correct bags as each vacuum sealer is a little different.
Glass Tupperware
Of course if you are doing any sort of meal prep or even if you are working on eating your leftovers—you’re going to need some great food storage containers.
I like to use glass containers because they reheat well in the microwave or oven and it saves on dishes. They also do not stain and overall last longer than their plastic counterparts. These are the glass containers I use in my kitchen.
Plastic containers are great to have around for cold or dry foods. Here are some high-quality plastic containers I think you will love.
Reusable Oil Sprayer
I was a skeptic at first, but here me out on this one! I absolutely love my reusable oil sprayer. I can fill it with whatever type of oil I want (usually its olive oil) and a few pumps and its ready to go. While it is a small investment, after a few full containers it will save you money and keep the other aerosol containers out of the landfill. It takes a little practice getting the sprayer pressurized enough to work properly but I love knowing exactly what is going into my food!
Here is the one I use. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully for proper use.
Food Dehydrator
I used to love getting dried fruit from the grocery store growing up, but it definitely was a special treat because of the cost. When I married my husband, his grandma bought us our food dehydrator as a wedding present, and I am now obsessed. We have jars and jars of dehydrated apples, bananas, peaches, and I even have some strawberries drying as I am writing this. They are great as a quick snack, on cereals or in oatmeal, or to rehydrate for baby food in the winter months. I also will dehydrate onions, peppers, and other vegetables that I will use in soup and other crockpot recipes, and you would never know the difference. Buying fruits and vegetables in season and preserving them for later can save you tons of money and ensure you family has healthy foods year-round.
We love our dehydrator! This one can hold up to 30 separate trays at one time.
Air Fryer
Not a fan of leftovers? An air fryer is sure to fix that! I just love using my small countertop one to reheat foods that are meant to be a little crispy like fires, chicken nuggets, or pizza. It is also great for cooking meat, roasting veggies, or fish without having to heat up your entire oven which can save you a ton in energy costs! And it also works without all the oil, fat, and mess of a traditional fryer making meals for your family healthier and easier to clean up!
My husband and I use this one and it is great for our small family.
For larger families I would recommend this one that doubles as a countertop toaster.
Mason Jars
Mason jars are an absolute must for any kitchen, even if you are not into canning! I love to use mason jars to make meal prep salads, store washed produce, and store my dehydrated fruits and veggies in my pantry. They are so easy to wash and very durable which will save you lots of money on plastic containers and bags. Once you start using mason jars for storage, I promise you will never go back.
I recommend starting with a few of the pint and quart jars in your kitchen.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is absolute magic and has so many uses!
You can bake with it, grease a pan, clean, or even condition your hair with it. If you’ve never used coconut oil before, I highly recommend you give it a try. I’m sure it will become one of your kitchen staples!
A hint on coconut oil, it is solid when its colder than 76 degrees F. If you need to melt or soften it, just run it under hot water and you are good to go!
This is one of my favorite brands! I also love Kirkland brand from Costco.
Reusable Shopping Bags
In an effort to cut back on plastic grocery bags ending up in a landfill, many states are choosing to charge consumers each time they use a grocery bag at the store. While it is usually only 5 cents per bag, this can add up over time. My mom introduced me to these reusable grocery bags, and I love them! The solid bottom helps my bags hold tons of stuff without breaking and protects my groceries from breaking in the car.
Now this may only save you money depending on what state you live in, but I love knowing that I am helping the environment just a little each time I shop.
These are the ones I use. There are so many fun patterns and colors to choose from!
Save Money With These Frugal Kitchen Essentials
I can’t wait to hear how much money you save with these must-have times for your kitchen! Even if you just invest in one of these items at a time, you will be on your way to saving bid in the kitchen and on feeding your family. Do you have any other items you would add to this list?
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