The cheapest package is not always the cheapest ingredient you actually eat. Drained weight, bones, spoilage, and preparation change purchase value. Start with the food in the form your recipes use.
Convert prices consistently
Divide price by usable grams, then multiply by 100 for price per 100g. For a can, use drained quantity when the recipe uses drained contents. For cooked ingredients, remember that the shelf price may describe a raw or dry package. The planner accepts your prices per 100g and totals only priced ingredients; a partial total is not a complete shopping budget. No live store prices are supplied.
Compare realistic portions
Use matching food records to compare estimated protein per portion. A dry lentil price and cooked lentil protein figure need a yield conversion before comparison makes sense. Package size matters: an inexpensive bulk buy can cost more in practice if you cannot store or use it. Consider freezer space and how many meals share the ingredient. Write down the price basis when comparing stores.
Include convenience
A prepared ingredient may be worthwhile when it fits a short lunch break or prevents an unplanned purchase. Compare options within your actual schedule rather than assuming every meal starts from dry beans. Generate a week, inspect repeated ingredients, and replace awkward one-off purchases when a familiar alternative fits. The useful result is a menu you can buy, cook, and finish, not just a low spreadsheet total.
Enter three local ingredient prices on the same weight basis and check how much of the list is priced.
Plan my weekFurther reading
Our guides offer general planning advice. Nutrition is estimated from ingredient weights and selected USDA reference foods, not laboratory analysis of a finished recipe. Cooking, brands, and serving sizes change values. You choose your targets; example targets are not individualized dietary advice. Ingredient filters are planning aids, not an allergy safety certification. Check packaging and cross-contact. We do not claim hands-on tests of products mentioned in buying guides.