We talk often enough about buying from bulk bins that you probably know the drill by now: buy in bulk, save some pennies, and forgo all the packaging. And yes, the term "bulk" implies that you should stock up and fill all your bags to the brim. But here's the thing, you don't have to.
The beauty of bulk bins is that the item costs the same whether you buy a pound or an ounce. It makes sense to buy the ingredients you use all the time in larger bulk, but for the things you buy only occasionally — like spices for a new cookie recipe or nuts for Christmas dinner — just buy what you need.
I find that I'm particularly guilty of picking up a whole cup of a special spice when I really only need a few teaspoons for my recipe. It feels silly to buy such a small amount, but the extra inevitably ends up scrunched in the very back of my spice drawer. Specialty flours, fancy grains, or really, any ingredient that I'm buying for one specific recipe: these all fall prey to my tendency to bulk up on bulk items.
This is a tip I need to repeat to myself every time I go to the grocery store in the coming weeks. Buy what you need. And it's ok to buy less.
Related: Buying from the Bulk Bin: Why It's Not Always the Cheaper Option
(Image: Flickr member AlishaV licensed under Creative Commons)
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If you live alone this really is the most economical solution for grocery shopping. Packs of deli meat always dry out before I finish them so I just buy 4 slices at a time from the deli for less than $1. Really cuts down on waste.
I tried to do that with Pecans for Thanksgiving - I only needed a cup or two, but they were 100% out! So for seasonal things like that, you should plan ahead! I ended up having to buy a package that was $12. Crazy...
Bulk is also a great option for temporary living situations and/or travel. After grad school I was living temporarily in a guest house while looking for a job. I only set up a very minimal, basic pantry because I didn't want to deal with it if I had to move suddenly to take a job offer. Whenever I wanted to cook/bake something special I would just visit the local grocery with a bulk bin to buy what I needed and no more. I've done this as well when traveling in places where I have access to a kitchen.
Yup. I regularly buy 2 T. of pinenuts or 1/4 cup of dried cherries for a salad. If I were to buy a pound of pinenuts I'd snack on them, and I am not rich enough to be eating pinenuts for a snack.
I'm a fan of this approach. It give me a way to try new things like rolled rye instead of oatmeal, without having to figure out what the heck to do with a giant package of it should it be a complete bust. I also have a tendency to hoard dry goods, so this way I just pretend my local healthfood store is my pantry and we're fine.
That's actually the main reason I buy bulk whenever I can. I don't have room for huge jars of everything (I wish!) and I usually only cook for myself.
I buy anything that is dispensed (like at the top of the picture). But if it is in a bin, I avoid. I have seen to many kids and grownups do nasty things in one of those bins. Count me out!!
I did the same exact thing as PEACHY44 when I was away for a summer internship this past summer. It was a great way to eat healthful and interesting food but not be stuck with any waste at the end of the 12 weeks.
Yes - I used to live by a Whole Foods that had a million bulk bins - if I was making risotto that week I would pick up just a cup and a half of rice; if I was making a crumble just a little bit of oatmeal. Sadly, the Whole Foods by me now, though bigger, only seems to offer nuts and trail mix in their bulk bins :(