Just found out how cheap a big pot of beans really is

Tessa Gibson · 2026-03-29T15:15:07.923486+00:00

I was reading a food cost breakdown on a cooking blog and saw that a one-pound bag of dried pinto beans, which makes about 12 servings, costs under $2 at my local store. I did the math and that's less than 20 cents per serving... I always thought beans were cheap, but seeing the actual number surprised me. It made me realize how much I overspend on pre-made sides. I'm planning a big batch this weekend with some onions and spices I already have. Has anyone else done a cost breakdown on their go-to cheap meal and been shocked?

the_tara6mo ago

My last grocery bill had a single bell pepper that cost more than that whole bag of beans. (It was a fancy red one, but still.) I've paid five bucks for a side of beans at a barbecue place that probably used a quarter cup from a can. The math is genuinely upsetting once you start looking at it.

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hannaho526mo ago

Time is money and beans take forever to cook.

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johnthompson4mo ago

Upsetting math" feels a little dramatic for a side of beans, but hey, you do you.

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