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Cooking in Bulk

Feeding the family can be an expensive task, especially if you have a handful of kids sitting down at the dinner table. But there are ways you can save when it comes to groceries.

A large batch of chili will feed dozens of people, but you certainly don`t have to heat up a pot this size when it comes to cooking at home.

Experts say by saving room in your freezer and planning several days in advance, you can slash your monthly food budget.

Twenty dollars at the grocery store won`t get you quite as far as it would`ve 20 years ago. We have inflation to thank for that, but it doesn`t mean you can`t still find a bargain at the market.

"We have a lot of seniors who`ve been around for a while so they know what to look for and they pretty much pick us apart. They know what to find and where the good deal is" said Central Market meat director Michael Jordan.

Experts who assist working families say there are things to keep in mind when heading to the store. For one, make a list and stick to it. And don`t shy from cooking larger portions that you can freeze. Not leftovers: planned-overs.

"The prep is the same, whether you`re making one batch or you`re doubling the batch, so to save time and money in the long run, it helps to do those planned-overs. And then freeze it and you have a quick meal," said Peggy Candler with the NDSU Extension family nutrition program.

When it comes to your grocery store deli, it never hurts to make friends with the guy or woman behind the counter. For instance, if you take something like a picnic ham, walk it down to the counter, ask them nicely, chances are, they`ll slice it up for you for free.

Jordan said, "We do offer, we`ll slice it up for you, that`s not a problem, we have whole teardrops, half teardrops and probably 15 different kinds of ham on sale right now for Thanksgiving."

But does that mean buying big guarantees a better deal? Candler says, not exactly.

"The unit price is really the number to look at, sometimes things are cheaper in bulk, a lot of times because there`s less packaging," explained Candler.

Turkey and ham are the hot buys this week. Candler says now could be a good time to pick up an extra for the colder months. Which will put a little more change in your pocket.