Groceries are expensive, but cutting costs doesn’t always mean sacrificing flavor or quality. In fact, when it comes to some staples, experts say you can confidently skip the name brands and go straight for the store label.
Here are five ingredients where generic is just as good—if not better.
1. Canned Beans
Canned beans are a pantry essential—nutritious, versatile, and budget-friendly. But paying more for a brand name won’t make much difference.
“Most brands of canned beans are pretty similar to one another, so I always just grab whatever is on sale or cheapest,” says Food Editor Taylor Ann Spencer.
2. Baking Supplies
When it comes to basics like flour, sugar, and baking soda, generic is the way to go. These pantry staples perform just as well in cookies, cakes, and breads as their brand-name counterparts.
“Generic wheat flours and even artisanal ones like oat or coconut flour are just as good,” notes Senior Food Director Robert Seixas.
3. Dried Pasta
While pasta purists may prefer pricier brands with special production methods, most home cooks won’t notice a difference once it’s covered in sauce.
“Buy cheap pasta and invest in good ingredients for a great sauce,” says Test Kitchen Manager Alejandro Valdes Lora.
4. Dairy Products
Butter, milk, and yogurt are often indistinguishable whether they’re store-brand or name-brand. Since the ingredients are simple, the generic versions deliver the same results.
“For most things like cakes and cookies, any butter will work just fine,” says Senior Food Editor Makinze Gore.
5. Frozen Fruits & Vegetables
Frozen produce is picked and packed at peak ripeness, no matter who makes it. That means store-brand versions are just as flavorful and nutritious as premium labels.
“Since generic and brand are both really good, why bother with the brand ones?” says Seixas.
Source: Delish