Did you know which are the most expensive grocery store items?
We live in difficult times, and we do everything we can to adjust and face them as well as we can. 2023 was the year when inflation was at its peak, and although its rates are reportedly dropping, there are still crazy expensive grocery store items.
If you compare the prices for basic food items like milk, butter, eggs, bread, and apples, you’ll be shocked to notice that you’ll pay at least two times more than what you did a few years ago.
To stay within our budgets, many of us have had to modify our weekly shopping schedules, and choosing the least expensive stores is the first step. But even if you go to the most affordable store, you’ll still find expensive grocery store items.
Generally speaking, the cost of convenience foods is usually higher than their affordability. These items are usually pre-sliced and peeled so that you won’t waste any time with those prepping steps.
However, everything comes with a cost, and that extra label, the packing, or the additional ingredients can make your grocery bill way higher than you wanted.
If you want to stay within your budget and save money on these already expensive grocery store items, you need to decide if convenience is important to you or not. However, we don’t judge; everybody does what they think is best, but before you add many things to your cart, you should know that these are the most expensive grocery store items:
1. Pre-cut fruit
If you go to a grocery store and wander around in the produce aisle, you’ll notice lots of fruit slices in plastic containers, beautifully displayed in refrigerators. From pineapple, mango, or simply sliced apples, these tasty foods full of vitamins look appetizing, ready to be eaten, and tempting.
However, the cost of this convenience is quite high, and if you get multiple boxes of pre-cut fruit, it will have a big impact on your grocery bill. If you have a couple of minutes to spare and you want to save money on these expensive grocery store items, all you need is some patience, a cutting board, and a sharp knife, like this one from Amazon, which does a wonderful job.
2. Granola
Granola is very pricey and we all know it. Every time I go to the store to do some food shopping, I’m amazed by how many granola varieties there are available: from flavored ones, topped with chocolate pieces, spices, dried fruits, honey, or made with different types of grains, there are many options to choose from.
Even though the main ingredient for this crunchy and delicious food is rolled oats, other ingredients can be expensive. If you love eating oats as a snack or at breakfast, you can stock up on those because they’re still affordable (especially when they come from generic brands) even in the face of inflation.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on these expensive grocery store items when you can easily make them at home. For some delicious granola, you could bake your favorite oats and grains with nuts and seeds and then top them with other amazing things. They’ll have less sugar, be tastier, and be more affordable.
3. Trail mix
Nuts are already among the most expensive grocery store items, but something about pairing them with a handful of raisins and other dried fruit makes them even more costly.
While trail mix is an amazingly sweet and healthy snack, getting one from the store will only have a couple of serving sizes, but the price tag will surely be double-digit.
But why spend a ton of money on trail mix from the grocery store when you can make a fantastic one at home? Get your favorite nuts and seeds from the farmers market or the store, combine them with fruit, add some cacao nibs if you want a chocolatey flavor, and enjoy.
If you’re looking for some delicious almonds to add to your trail mixes, I recommend you check out these from Amazon. They’re slightly roasted and salted, and they taste wonderful combined with other things as well as on their own.
4. Guacamole
Many people like to buy pre-guacamole due to its convenience, but this delicious dip isn’t the most affordable one. Avocados can be quite expensive on their own, especially the organic ones or those that are ready to eat, so why not make this green dip at home?
The ingredients aren’t exactly skyrocket high, and all you need is cilantro, onions, a few chunks of delicious tomatoes, half a lemon, and some garlic powder. Even if the cost is similar and it will take you around 15-20 minutes to prep your zesty dip, you’ll have a larger quantity of fresh guacamole to savor with your loved ones.
Get a bag of nacho chips from the store, serve them with your tasty homemade guacamole, and enjoy a fabulous movie night with your family.
Can you name other expensive grocery store items? How do you manage to fit them within your budget?
5. Rice mixes
Rice can be found in many different forms and is an important ingredient in cuisines all around the world. Depending on the dish you’re making, you might be tempted to purchase boxes or bags of rice that have been seasoned with extra flavorings.
My wife told me that she thought it was a wise decision to put that box in the cart when she was in the grain aisle and saw boxes marked down to just a few bucks. However, little did she know that rice mixes are actually among the most expensive grocery store items.
A box of garlic and herb pilaf costs less than a huge bag of plain rice, but let’s compare these things, shall we? When you calculate the price per pound, which is the most useful level of measurement, those seasoned rice boxes might be almost 5–6 times more expensive.
Just add some of your spices to plain rice if you’re on a budget, pair them with steamed or grilled veggies and some lean protein, and you’ll have the tastiest dish ever.
6. Berries
Transportation is another factor responsible for the significantly increased grocery costs. During the off-season, plenty of Americans (including my family) get their much-needed fruits and veggies from farms located far away.
As you already know, transporting fresh produce is more expensive the more delicate it is. Believe it or not, berries are the smallest package that contains the largest budget buster.
If they’re not in season where you live, your tasty berries are probably imported from warmer climates south of the US border. Given the large transportation costs, your fruit might end up among the most expensive grocery store items.
Keep in mind that these fruits can go bad quickly, and you’ll pay a ton of money for a small portion size. If you crave berries or need them for a sweet recipe, you’d better get them frozen when they’re off-season. They’ll be more affordable.
7. Bone broth
Contrary to popular belief, bone broth is also among the most expensive grocery store items. Many people think that this drink has wonderful health benefits, thanks to the collagen from animal bones. While bone broth can indeed add more richness to soups and sauces, the ones you get from the supermarket might not be the healthiest.
Researchers studied different kinds of bone broths available in several grocery stores, and they discovered that these “wonderful foods” don’t have as much collagen as lots of customers think.
Moreover, the cost-benefit ratio is not worth the money either, with some broth brands costing around four times more per pound than standard stock. If you don’t have time to make your bone broth from scratch, the most affordable option from the store is Better Than Bouillon.
Each eight-ounce container can make 32 cups of broth, which is a good option for those who want to add some nutrients to their meals without breaking the bank.
Do you know any other expensive grocery store items? Leave them in the comments below, and let’s talk about it! If you liked reading this article from The Price Makers and you’d love to check out something else from us, here’s a good post for you: 13 Collection Items That Are Now Worthless
