Buying in bulk saves you cash and reduces your environmental impact…we’re here to help you get started!
Bulk food shopping is becoming increasingly accessible across the nation, whether that be through bulk sections in supermarkets or specialty bulk food stores. And this mainstream expansion is great news for consumers as bulk shopping is easy on your wallet and Mother Nature.
And while bulk food shopping seems pretty intuitive, there are definitely some tricks of the trade that first-timers should be aware of before heading to the store. We’ll outline these and more in this bulk food shopping 101.
The Benefits of Shopping in Bulk
Bulk shopping is just one way to engage in more sustainable eating, helping us to take positive climate action in our everyday lives. Read more about the concept of sustainable nutrition and eating here!
Buying in bulk embodies the notion of sustainable nutrition as it increases food accessibility through its affordability while also reducing waste, both from food and food packaging.
Both types of waste often end up in landfills where they either produce the super-potent greenhouse gas, methane, or degrade into harmful microplastics (or both). Bulk shopping helps mitigate this by allowing you to purchase the exact amount of food that you need and (ideally) carry it out of the store in your own personal, reusable food storage containers.
Foods to Buy in Bulk
But not all foods are created equal when it comes to buying in bulk. Some options are better buys than others due to in-store storage and product shelf life. Let’s dive into some of the best foods to purchase in bulk!
- Dried Fruit: As a solidly shelf-stable option, dried fruit is a great grab from the bulk section as it doesn’t go stale, thanks to its room temperature shelf life of up to six months!
- Whole Grains: Dried whole grains like brown rice, popcorn kernels, quinoa, oats, farro, and whole wheat pasta are also perfect bulk purchases, thanks to their extended shelf life of three to six months. Though, try and select options that have been stocked somewhat recently as the less time they’ve been sitting in the bulk bin, the longer they can stay fresh in your pantry. Gather this information by speaking with the store attendant.
- Dried Legumes: Regardless of whether its peas, lentils, or beans, all dried legumes are ideal to buy in bulk as they can stay fresh at room temp for upwards of a year!
- Sweeteners: The honey, agave, cane sugar, coconut sugar, stevia, and maple syrup found at bulk food stores are generally good quality and don’t easily spoil.
- Cooking Oils: Though some will deter you from purchasing cooking oils (like olive, avocado, or vegetable) in bulk, I’ve always found these products to be great buys. However, only spring for the purchase if these oils are stored in dark containers to ensure freshness. Leave your high-end olive oil purchases for the specialty food store or supermarket.
- Salt: Many American households run through loads of salt on an annual basis for cooking, cleaning, and other household tasks. And this common seasoning just so happens to be the perfect bulk buy, thanks to its shelf-stable nature.
- Dried Cereals and Granola: Generally, I’ve found dried cereals and granola to be excellent in bulk. Though, do be cautious as they can stale if they’ve sat in the bins for too long. Again, either ask the store attendant about when they were stocked or if you can try a piece to prevent a stale purchase.
- Nutritional Yeast: As a great source of vitamin B12, nutritional yeast has been a trendy ingredient for decades. And thankfully, its extended shelf life qualifies it as an ideal food to buy in bulk.
- Frozen Foods: If your bulk store sells frozen foods, these can be another fantastic purchase as well-preserved options.
- Dried Herbs and Spices: Many may not realize how short the shelf life of dried herbs and spices is in comparison to how long they sit in our pantries. Most varieties expire within six months to a year — and most of us don’t use what we have in that time. Buying in bulk allows you to buy small amounts of these ingredients that can be used before expiration.
Foods Better Bought at the Grocery Store
Meanwhile, there are some options that you might want to save for your grocery store run…
- Nuts and Seeds: While you might think that nuts and seeds are ideal bulk buys as they’re almost always available in bulk, that’s not necessarily the case. This is because nuts and seeds are loaded with healthy fats that can easily go rancid when exposed to oxygen and not stored properly, as is the case in most bulk scenarios. Nuts and seeds should actually be stored in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container! While you won’t find them for sale in chilled storage at the supermarket, they’re usually sold in airtight packaging, a major benefit.
- Produce: More often than not, the produce found in bulk foods stores won’t be as high-quality as that found at your supermarket, local farmer’s market, or farm stand.
- Flour: Similarly to nuts and seeds, flour also contains a variety of healthy oils that are at risk for rancidity from the moment the flour has been ground. This doesn’t bode well for bulk buying with how long some varieties sit at room temp in open-air containers.
- Snacks: While tempting, many bulk store snacks will be stale before you can even enjoy them due to lack of airtight storage.
- Condiments: Though they likely won’t even be available, any condiments you do find in bulk are better purchased at the supermarket. This is mostly due to the fact that they aren’t consumed in large enough amounts to justify a bulk purchase.
Be Prepared
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To make the most of your bulk trip and minimize any residual environmental impact associated with using store-supplied plastic bags, go prepared with your own reusable bags and storage containers. Here are some of my favorites companies to buy these from!
Food Huggers
This brand offers reusable zip top and fabric bags, perfect for bulk buying!
Shop Food Huggers Best Sellers
Free the Ocean
Free the Ocean is committed to reducing the plastic waste piling up in our oceans by selling a wide array of plastic-free products, including kitchen items. Plus, proceeds from each purchase go to non-profits dedicated to removing and repurposing plastic waste from the ocean. For bulk shopping, pick up their produce bags, which can be used for much more than produce!
Shop Free the Ocean Products Here!
Zero Waste Store
This creative online store elevates brands prioritizing sustainability through selling a variety of reusable, often plastic-free items. Their mesh bags are ideal for bulk purchasing.
EarthShopp
And finally we have Earthshopp, which carries a range of plastic-free kitchen products, including stainless steel storage containers that are perfect for shopping in bulk!
With this information, I hope you feel empowered and inspired to give bulk shopping a try — it’s more than worth the extra effort!
