Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Cost of Homemade Pizza vs. Frozen

Let's examine the cost of homemade pizza. Is it cheaper to make homemade pizza?
I have been wondering if it is cheaper for me to make homemade pizzas but of course it is healthier to make pizza at home. Of course it is cheaper than delivery or take out but homemade vs. frozen. So I finally did the calculations.


There are 40 cups of flour in a ten pound bag and I use five cups to make two large pizzas each time I make them. So a ten pound bag of flour at Sam's Club is $4.76 a bag and I use about .60 worth. The cheese is around $5 each time we make it. I usually buy this at Sam's too. Toppings are a smattering of what I have or have found marked down. I grow peppers in the yard to use and sometimes it is just cheese. So we will say toppings range $2-$3. With meat and the bit of yeast and oil I use we will say $4.


My total then for two large pizzas with leftovers for lunch the next day is $9.60. Frozen pizzas from the store are smaller and it would take three to feed us. On sale the cheapest large frozen pizzas are 3.99. So three frozen would cost me $11.97. So indeed it is cheaper for me to make them at home and probably far better for us. 

      

Friday nights are often pizza night in our house as long as it is not summer. I rarely use our oven in summer.
Tomorrow I will share my pizza crust recipe.
Update 9/24/2015 Food prices have risen sharply but if you buy your supplies like flour on yearly sales cycles you will still be able to make a healthier frugal pizza at home.

39 comments:

  1. Your pizzas look so good! We make our own pizza too. but we also splurge on Pizza Hut take out, which is 10.00 for a large right now. Not very healthy though:)

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  2. Certainly better for you!! And better tasting too. We make pizza a lot here. Love it!!
    Good job on the calcs!!
    xo Kris

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  3. Oh those look so good...especially the one with the pineapples! I can't wait to see your homemade pizza crust recipe!

    Blessings,
    Tammy

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  4. Thanks for doing the math! I've always wondered, too.

    I just finished doing the math on growing sprouts:

    $4.99 for a cup of sprouting seeds ("salad mix" of alfalfa, radish, and broccoli) yields sprouts that one would pay $54.00 for at stores here. Not a bad return for "farming" that only requires seeds, jars, and a lid covering that water can drain through and takes only 4 days to go from "farm to table"!

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  5. yes, definitely cheaper and better. We also use less cheese on our pizza, so we can really control the amount of calories we ingest :)

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  6. A 25 pound bag of flour, from Sam's might be a better value for you. We have been buying both regular flour and bread flour in 25 pound bags and it saves a lot. We also buy the five pound blocks of Mozzarella at Sam's and divide it into 10 sections, double wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. When I'm going to make pizza, I defrost what is needed and grate it. It tastes fresh and keeps very well. I make my own sauce and freeze in small jars. I purchase my yeast at Sam's, which makes it very inexpensive. I pour out a month's worth and put it in a zip lock bag in the refrigerator. The rest is sealed and kept in the freezer. It will keep indefinitely.
    I can make a pizza for about $2.50 and it is very good. I know who has handled it, and how clean the kitchen, it was prepared in, is.
    I make my pizza dough in the bread machine. Sometimes, I roll them out and par bake them for 8 minutes and freeze them for a quick meal on a busy day. I get two crusts out of one batch of dough.
    Your pizza looks delicious!
    nancyr

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  7. Your pizza looks far better than anything I buy in the freezer section and I am sure far better for you. You amaze me girl! I so want to be more frugal...

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  8. Elaine,

    Those look delicious now you made me hungry.

    Valerie
    Cottage Making Mommy
    www.lovingmyheartandhome.blogspot.com

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  9. Can't wait for the crust recipe and would love some of your other recipes too. Hugs, Marty

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  10. Not only frugal but you can figure out exactly what is in your family's meal - no unnecessary chemicals added. Tastes far better too! Yours looks tasty.

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  11. I'll try to remember to drop by your home on a Friday night. LOL

    Judy

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  12. It's ironic that you posted this. I was just thinking about doing a comparison myself. Now you've inspired me. One thing I was thinking, even if the frozen pizza was competitively priced, nutritionally I'm sure our homemade pizzas would win hands down.

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  13. Hi Elaine,
    I am a daily reader of your blog and love it. My husband and I started our own business a year and a half ago. Business is doing well....Until, we went to have our taxes done last night and owe 18,000. We have never had to pay before. Thankfully we have just a little more then that in our business account but will leave us with very little. I need to start making every meal at home! We got a little to spoiled and were going out quite a bit after having been on such a tight budget for most of our 32 years of being married. I hope to become more disciplined as you are. You are my everyday inspiration! Julie

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  14. I've always made home made pizzas. We have a joke around our house. When I met my husband and offered to make a 'homemade' pizza he was not crazy about the idea and it was awhile before I made one for him. Now we have one just about every weekend...he LOVES them. We love choosing our own toppings and using lots of fresh veggies. Yours looks incredible! Is there any left? Hugs!

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  15. Your homemade pizza is far better than frozen and even store-bought, for a lot less. A pizza pie here with 8 slices is around $12.00 (that's considered "cheap"). xo

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  16. I'm glad you figured this out. These are the things I wonder about, but my mind gets tangled trying to work out the math and the portions. You pizzas look delicious, so much better than the frozen stuff we buy.

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  17. I have been wondering the same thing! I do love to make my own pizzas but have been curious as to whether it is really cheaper in the long run. I've also been changing up my crust recipe and experimenting lately, so I look forward to seeing your crust recipe.

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  18. your pizza is making me hungry. My husband just saw your post and asked for pizza to night for dinner. I already have dinner in the cock pot. But he will get it this weekend. I am going to use your recipe for the crust. It looks really good.

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  19. YumO, I make ham and pineapple pizzas fairly often but I cheat and use Publix pizza dough when it is half off. I keep it in my freezer.

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  20. the last one with mushrooms & sausage - looks really yummy. could i come over for dinner? i will bring the salad. hey, it will take a bit to get there but think of the fun we would all have. ha. ha!! ( :

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  21. Hey Elaine - thanks for all that accountant work. I make my own too and would do it even if it was a little more due to health considerations. In fact, it's what we are having tonight. J

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  22. Thanks for your calculations. I often wondered about the cost of making my own. It sure tastes good, but sometimes, you just don't want to cook another meal!
    We have our local pizza place where we can buy a cheese take and bake for $10 and we add our own toppings. Hard to beat for that price.

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  23. I've never made a pizza. I feel the need to at least try now.

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  24. Oh you are so good! Calculating like that. If you are up to making it, I am sure it's better all around.I wish I was more motivated when it comes to cooking. I was, when I didn't have kids. Now it feels overwhelming working full time and coming home to cook, but this looks so good and I bet it wouldn't be as time consuming as I think. I need to start making more meals like this!! You are motivating me!
    Karen

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  25. Definitely cheaper and SO MUCH healthier!! Can't wait for the crust recipe.

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  26. They look yummy! Can't wait to get your crust recipe.

    Mary

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  27. Looks delicious. We also always make homemade. A friend bought us restaurant pizza as a treat last weekend, but I think mine is better! :-)

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  28. Your pizza looks great! We make it here...freeze half the dough...and always use leftover veggies...we don't use meat...its less expensive and you know what's in it! Have a wonderful day!!

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  29. I had to laugh at this post, because my Mom always tried to make homemade pizza, but she only believed in salt and pepper for "spices." Needless to say, they were bland.

    Your pizza's however, look scrumptious! I would love to eat a few slices of your creations.

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  30. Oh, those pizza's look wonderful!... Fluffy crust and cheesy. It's good to know that it's cheaper to make them at home, and I bet there are quite a big healthier! I need to check out that 10lb. bag of flour sometime, as much as I use it.
    Blessings,
    Leslie

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  31. looking forward to your crust recipe I haven't found one I like yet.
    Cathy

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  32. I lost my recipe and would love to claim yours as mine. ;) Can't wait till you post it!

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  33. I make them a LOT during the summer, when my home-grown tomatoes are ripe! OMG, covered with my home grown basil too :) I buy a ball of dough at a local pizza place for $2.00 (enough for a large pizza) off and on all summer long and make pizzas. I've made a spelt pizza crust too, great flavor!

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  34. Hi Elizabeth...your pizza looks delicious!!
    I don't make pizza even though it's cheaper than buying one.
    My Hubby and I go 'out' to our favourite Pizza restaurant every couple of months for a 'date'.......
    Love it!!!
    That's our splurge .....
    Have a good day
    Barb from Australia

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  35. Hi Elaine........I would like to apologise for calling you "Elizabeth"'
    I have a grand daughter called Elizabeth and I went into automatic mode when I typed 'El.....'
    I know it's acceptable not to use names when commenting, but I like to use names ...I think it shows you are really interested and not just 'rubber stamping' comments...
    SORRY ... again
    Barb from Australia

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  36. hello
    your pizza looks delicious.I have always make homemade pizzas.
    wishing you a wonderful day,
    regina

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  37. We always make our own homemade pizza. I have found an amazing frozen crust that's reasonable that the kids like. I aso like controlling the amount of toppings, too.

    Oh, I have a frugal tip for you! I am LOVING caster sugar because it dissolves so much better than regular sugar, and I learned that I can make it in a food processor! Just grind away, and it makes the sugar extra fine. Then, just let the dust settle before putting it in tupperware! :D

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  38. Try cooking your pizzas in a gas grill during the summer...they're wonderful!

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  39. LOVE making homemade pizzas! Especially when you can custom make the toppings for everyone! I'd go for the one with mushrooms! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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