In thinking about the bread machine, I began to wonder how the cost of a loaf of bread actually compares between a home-made and a commercial loaf. So we got out the calculator!
I recently re-stocked my flour supply, and paid $7.80 for 25 pounds. (I'm wondering how the price of flour varies in different locations--my price was apparently a pretty good buy, since on the same weekend flour was $10.00 for 25 pounds at the local grocery, on sale.)
Hubby and I calculated the number of 1-1/2 pound loaves the bag of flour could make, by weight, and divided the price of the flour by the number of loaves. Price of flour was about $.30, so with the other ingredients, we figure the cost is between $.40 and $.45 per loaf from this bag of flour.
Just for interest's sake, we figured the cost of a loaf from a $10.00 bag of flour--flour cost was $.50, so the cost of a loaf is $.55 to $.60 per loaf.
The rock-botton price for a 1-1/2 pound loaf of balloon bread this weekend was $.99--looks like there's a considerable savings on a home-made loaf, and the homemade bread actually tastes good!
Note: it hurts me to compare a flavorful, good-textured loaf of fresh homemade bread to a fluffy, washed-out loaf of commercial balloon bread, but since balloon (or Wonder-style) bread is the least expensive option, I'm willing to use it for comparison! Savings on actual bread would be much greater!
I recently re-stocked my flour supply, and paid $7.80 for 25 pounds. (I'm wondering how the price of flour varies in different locations--my price was apparently a pretty good buy, since on the same weekend flour was $10.00 for 25 pounds at the local grocery, on sale.)
Hubby and I calculated the number of 1-1/2 pound loaves the bag of flour could make, by weight, and divided the price of the flour by the number of loaves. Price of flour was about $.30, so with the other ingredients, we figure the cost is between $.40 and $.45 per loaf from this bag of flour.
Just for interest's sake, we figured the cost of a loaf from a $10.00 bag of flour--flour cost was $.50, so the cost of a loaf is $.55 to $.60 per loaf.
The rock-botton price for a 1-1/2 pound loaf of balloon bread this weekend was $.99--looks like there's a considerable savings on a home-made loaf, and the homemade bread actually tastes good!
Note: it hurts me to compare a flavorful, good-textured loaf of fresh homemade bread to a fluffy, washed-out loaf of commercial balloon bread, but since balloon (or Wonder-style) bread is the least expensive option, I'm willing to use it for comparison! Savings on actual bread would be much greater!
My husband won't eat any other bread for sandwiches but the "washed-out...commercial...bread" - and it's SO irritating! He claims the other ones (home-made or baker) are dry, and he is nuts!
ReplyDeleteWell. . .at least we can say 'sandwich' bread tends to be sturdy!
DeleteA 25-pound bag of flour costs $6.94 where I buy it in Kansas City. I bake all our bread, but I make "Country Buttermilk," so the cost per loaf is definitely higher than $0.60 a loaf! Still, the store-bought Country Buttermilk is at least $4 a loaf, so I definitely save money! I let my bread machine do all the "work" of mixing, kneading, and growing. Then I transfer it to two loaf pans, let it grow half an hour, and then bake it.
ReplyDeleteYum--I love buttermilk bread! Great idea for making two standard-shapedloaves at once--how many cups of flour do you use for the two-load batch?
DeleteI've had my mom's bread machine for years and never used it until this past fall. It was wonderful just adding the ingredients and pushing a button! My dogs did not like the sound the machine made but the gluten free bread I made was pretty good! Thanks for the posts about yours. Now I think I'll go start a loaf!
ReplyDeletePoor doggies--does your gluten free bread make good toast? Wonderful toast has to be one of the big pluses for homemade bread!
DeleteI cannot even fathom how much money I have saved over the years by making homemade bread. We go though 6 loaves a week, sometimes more. Homemade is more filling, so I know we would go through more if it was store-bought!
ReplyDeleteHomemade bread is just so homey! I've been wondering--what machine do you use for your dough? Do you make 6 loaves in one baking?
ReplyDeleteThis is a very helpful breakdown- thanks! It makes me want to start baking bread again!
ReplyDeleteMmmmm. . .your homemade bread! Fabulous!
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