Catch Up on Ketchup Savings
Whenever I do a shopping trip to Sam’s Club, I find myself lingering with fascination over one particular object. That’s right, I’m talking about that big can of Hunt’s Ketchup. I find it’s allure and mystery irresistible.
It’s alluring because it’s cheap. It’s mysterious because it’s a mystery to me how to get the best use out of such a huge quantity of an essential commodity.
If ketchup happens to be on the list that day, I give it one last long look, pass it up (regretfully), and reach for the much more expensive 3 pack of Heinz.
The 3 pack goes home with me because it’s much more convenient. While one bottle is in the fridge, there are up to 2 backups in the pantry. It lasts a long time, too.
But once I open that big can, what do I do with the stuff? I can’t pour it very easily from the can onto my hotdog or meatloaf. I have no lid large enough to cover that big can. I can’t just leave an almost gallon size can of ketchup sitting open in my refrigerator. That’s just asking for trouble.
But I keep thinking about it. And I think I’ve come up with a solution.
I recently bought that expensive 3-pack, so I won’t be in the market for some ketchup for a long time. But when I am, I’m buying the can and here’s what I’m going to do.
I’m going to save those three bottles. I’ll wash them out and store them with my rescued “tupperware” (you know, like margarine tubs). When I bring that big ol’ can of ketchup back from Sam’s Club I’ll pour it into the three empty ketchup containers. I’ll put one bottle in the fridge, and the two others in the freezer. There! It’s in bottles - it is now handy. Watch out hotdogs! Here I come!
Now, this is in the nature of an experiment, because I really don’t know if ketchup freezes well. But lots of experience with freezing stuff leads me to believe that it probably does. Actually, I have often successfully frozen and reused tomato sauce. Also, I can do a mini-experiment beforehand to find out.
Why go to all this trouble? Because the money saved would be pretty significant.
The 114 oz can of Hunts Ketchup is $2.88. That’s .03/oz. The Heinz 3-pack is a total of 132 ozs. for $6.52. That’s .05/oz.
It will last about the same amount of time, and it’s 60% cheaper. Over time this will really add up. And we use a lot of ketchup. Also, I need to do this because I just need to break the hold that that can of ketchup has over me and get on with my life. Good or bad, this experiment should do that.
February 4th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
You are doing the right thing! If you have any left over, just put it into whatever jar or plastic container you have and use that first (or save it for transferring to the dispenser). Pour slowly and try to eliminate as many bubbles of air as you can to diminish the exposure to contamination. If you use mustard, I find that it is very economical to buy the very large plastic jar and transfer out some into a smaller container for everyday use (my <$6 jar of mustard lasts for several years). After a while I can transfer it to a smaller container to make space. I do keep it refrigerated as I would the catsup as well. Catsup, in particular, once it’s been exposed to the air, will grow mold, so you want to be as careful as you can to wash especially well the inside and outside of the rim (and lid) of your container and to transfer using a very clean funnel. Be sure to use up one container before opening another.
February 4th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Oh, this is great - the voice of experience. I didn’t even THINK of mustard, we use that a lot too. I’m glad to know it really works, and it’s helpful to know the real-life mechanics of the process, too. Thanks, Sonya!