↑

Feeding Our Flamingos

Healthy & delicious frugal meals for busy families

HomeNew? Start Here!
  • Feeding the Family
    • By Age
      • Babies (<1 yr)
      • Toddlers (1-3 yrs)
      • Kids (4-12 yrs)
      • Pregnant Moms
      • Breastfeeding Moms
      • All Ages
    • By Meal Type
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Snacks
      • Dinner
      • Treats and Desserts
    • Real Food
      • Eat More Veggies
    • Cooking with Kids
    • Eating Habits
      • Picky Eaters
        • Other Feeding Frustrations
  • Kitchen Organization
    • Meal Planning
      • Seasonal Meal Planning
    • Physical Organization
      • Inventory
    • Kitchen Hacks
    • Recipe Organization
  • Food Prep
    • Food Prep Basics
    • Food Prep Ideas and Tutorials
    • Freezer Cooking
      • How to Freeze…
      • Stocking Your Freezer
    • Homemade Food
  • Grocery Budget
    • Setting a Grocery Budget
    • Healthy Food on a Budget
    • Tight Grocery Budgets

Simple Meal Planning - Plan to Eat

Shred Your Own Cheese for Significant Savings!

Sep 29 Grocery Budget

  • Facebook20

Over the last seven years, since I started grocery shopping for myself and my family, I’ve noticed one very harsh reality: the cost of cheese is going up and I don’t see it coming back down.

*UPDATE 6/17/2015: It’s coming down!!

Ever wondered how much you are spending on cheese, whether you buy the blocks or buy it pre-shredded? Find out the cost savings over a year of the type that is cheaper and you might just change your buying habits!

[AdSense-A]

I like cheese. I like to use it in my food. I like to bite into a fresh slice of pizza and see the hot cheese stretch. I know it’s not great for me, but I’ve gotta have some luxuries when I’m eating.

So I got to thinking lately, why don’t I compare the cost of a block of cheese, which you will likely shred or slice at home, to a bag of pre-shredded cheese? I hate it when I think I’m saving money and then find out months or years later that it would have been better to do the alternative because I actually wasn’t saving money.

Are you onboard? Ready to compare cheese and see if you’ve been saving money this whole time?

Great!

Details for Comparing Cheese

Over the past two months, I’ve been collecting prices from the grocery store most times I’ve been shopping. I have tried to get prices for various sizes, brands, and types of cheeses.

Here are some details that you will want to know to get the whole picture:

Stores I went to: WinCo, Walmart, Costco, and Smith’s
Brands I compared: Kraft, Cheswick, WinCo, Tillamook, Cache Valley, Great Value, Sargento, Kroger, Kirkland, and Precious
Types of cheeses: Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Mozzarella, Colby and Monterey Jack, Swiss, and Mexican Blend
Sizes (with approx. cup measurement): 6 oz. (1.5 cups), 8 oz. (2 cups), 16 oz. (4 cups), 32 oz. (8 cups), and 5 lbs. (20 cups)

Keep in mind, I did not compare every single cheese at these stores. I selected a few, randomly, and went from there. I didn’t want to spend all day at the store, especially with my daughters.

Now that you know all the details, I think you can understand my comparison a bit better. Let’s start comparing to see whether a block of cheese or a bag of pre-shredded cheese is cheaper!

Pre-Shredded Cheese

Ever wondered how much you are spending on cheese, whether you buy the blocks or buy it pre-shredded? Find out the cost savings over a year of the type that is cheaper and you might just change your buying habits!We’ll start with pre-shredded cheese:

Find out whether you should buy block cheese or pre-shredded cheese in this cost comparison of cheeseAs you can see, the prices vary from as low as 72 cents per cup all the way up to $2.50 per cup.

A Block of Cheese

Ever wondered how much you are spending on cheese, whether you buy the blocks or buy it pre-shredded? Find out the cost savings over a year of the type that is cheaper and you might just change your buying habits!Now for the block cheese:Find out whether you should buy block cheese or pre-shredded cheese in this cost comparison of cheeseThe price for block cheese goes from 42 cents per cup to $1.09 per cup. I had to guess on the price for the Costco cheese because I actually didn’t go to the store and buy it. My brother-in-law bought it and I forgot to get the price from him.

I’m thinking I like the price of block cheese a whole lot better than pre-shredded. I’m glad that I could confirm my previous actions actually were correct. 🙂

Ok, now let’s back up for one tiny second. I compared the price per cup according to what the package stated for the pre-shredded cheese. For example, I bought a package of Mexican Blend cheese that said there were 2 cups. But…I decided to buy it and measure it for myself. Lo and behold, there were actually 3 cups. That means that the price of the pre-shredded cheese actually goes down. So let’s go back to the pre-shredded cheese and see what the price range is now. Every 8 oz. is now 3 cups instead of 2.

Find out whether you should buy block cheese or pre-shredded cheese in this cost comparison of cheeseAs you can see, the cost of the pre-shredded cheeses went down significantly factoring in the new measurement. The price range from cheapest to most expensive is now 48 cents per cup to $1.67 per cup. That’s a huge change! You might also notice, and I didn’t set out to do this on purpose, that Walmart has the most expensive cheese.

Things to consider when buying a block of cheese
• You need to have a grater at home if you want grated cheese
• It takes time to grate cheese
• You could accidentally cut your finger or your nails while shredding
• Trying to open the package can sometimes be a real pain. Until you finally decide to get the scissors out. 😉
• You can actually shred it yourself and freeze it

Things to consider when buying pre-shredded cheese
• It’s a wonderful time-saver
• There are more ingredients than just cheese (see THIS and THIS article)
• It doesn’t clump together like it does when you shred your own (thanks to the extra ingredients)
• The texture is very different from cheese you grate at home

So which should you buy? Block or pre-shredded?

According to my cost comparison over the past two months, this is my conclusion.

Price range for pre-shredded: 48 cents per cup to $1.67 per cup
Price range for block: 42 cents per cup to $1.09 per cup

If you go by the measurements that I got from measuring out the cheese at home, it looks like pre-shredded cheese is only a bit more expensive (on the low end) than block cheese. I was not expecting that!

Savings Over Time

Ok, so over a year’s time, how much could you save? Let’s say that you need about 6 cups of cheese per week. That means you need about 16 oz. (or 1 lb.) per week.

Pre-Shredded Cost

If you were to buy pre-shredded cheese all year, this is the price you would expect to pay (let’s assume you purchase the most expensive):

At $1.67 per cup, you would pay about $10.02 per week for your cheese. After 52 weeks, you would have shelled out $521.04.

Block of Cheese Cost

Now, if you decided to shred your own and buy block cheese (again, the most expensive), you could expect to pay:

At $1.09 per cup, the cost per week for your cheese would be $6.54. For a year the cost would be $340.08.

So the price you pay one week to the next really makes a huge difference. I think I prefer to pay $180.96 less!

I wish I knew the exact price of the cheese at Costco, but I still think it will be the cheapest price of all. I might have to start buying all my cheese there! It would only cost $131.04 per year if I needed just 6 cups per week.

I do know that I won’t be buying cheese from walmart anymore. Isn’t the Great Value brand supposed to be their cheap brand?

Do you normally buy block or pre-shredded cheese? Was your decision on what to buy in the past solely based on price?

Linked to: Thrifty Thursday and Way Back Wednesday

Related Posts

  • Monthly Produce Challenge Update #9: EggplantMonthly Produce Challenge Update #9: Eggplant
  • Monthly Produce Challenge Update #8: Summer SquashMonthly Produce Challenge Update #8: Summer Squash
  • Monthly Produce Challenge Update #7: RadishesMonthly Produce Challenge Update #7: Radishes
  • How to Organize Your Freezer to Save Time and MoneyHow to Organize Your Freezer to Save Time and Money
  • How to Create a Successful Meal Plan that Saves You TimeHow to Create a Successful Meal Plan that Saves You Time
  • Monthly Produce Challenge Update #6: Green OnionsMonthly Produce Challenge Update #6: Green Onions
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Charlee Flaminio
Charlee Flaminio
I'm a mom of 3 on a journey to feed my family nourishing foods. Personally, I believe you can cook healthy food and still have time for your loved ones.
Charlee Flaminio
Latest posts by Charlee Flaminio (see all)
  • The Most Important List You Need for Quick and Easy Meals - 03.26.22
  • Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal: Kielbasa and Cabbage - 01.29.22
  • Sweet Potato Muffins {Egg-Free, Dairy-Free} You Can Double and Freeze - 08.16.21

By Charlee Flaminio on Sep 29

Comments

  1. Ana Amelio says

    09.29.14 at 8:04 am

    For a minute there I wondered where did the comment form go, then I realized you’re using Disquss! I always buy block cheese, or occasionally cheese slices. (usually when I am in the mood for grilled cheese or when I make lasagna). I think we were buying blocks in USA too as opposed to pre-shredded.

    Reply
    • Charlee Anne says

      09.29.14 at 9:20 pm

      Yea, my husband was working late last Friday night, so I decided to change my comment form on a whim! I don’t know what took me so long. As for the cheese, I have gone through a few periods where I bought the pre-shredded for convenience reasons.

      Reply
  2. Kristina Johnson says

    09.30.14 at 8:21 pm

    I usually just stick to the preshredded when using cheese as a topping like on chili or tacos. When making a recipe that calls for melting (soup, fondue), I always buy the block. The preshredded cheese never gets the right consistency.

    Reply
    • Charlee Anne says

      10.01.14 at 2:08 pm

      I never thought of that. It makes sense though.

      Reply
  3. Katie MacKenzie says

    10.09.14 at 8:10 pm

    I love your detailed cheese analysis! Thanks for sharing your research. We buy pre-shredded mozzarella but block cheddar. I guess we’re splitting the difference 🙂

    Reply
    • Charlee Anne says

      10.10.14 at 8:38 pm

      Thank you, Katie! I find that shredding my own mozzarella can be a bit frustrating because it falls apart so easily, so buying it pre-shredded is probably really smart! I appreciate you coming over!

      Reply
  4. Mallory W. says

    10.30.14 at 7:50 am

    I guess I need to get back to buying block cheese.. I even have one of those handy graters that connects to the front of my KitchenAid standmixer! So it’s not too much effort to get my cheese grated.

    Reply
    • Charlee Anne says

      10.30.14 at 1:36 pm

      I wish I had one of those attachments for my mixer! You have no reason not to buy block cheese, girl!!

      Reply
  5. Charlee Anne says

    11.10.14 at 8:05 am

    You’re welcome! Using your grating attachment will be so much better than grating by hand. I hope you can save some money!

    Reply
  6. James says

    05.01.16 at 3:07 pm

    Although I enjoyed the comparison your math is a bit skewed when you measured the bag of shredded cheese. A “cup” is a unit of volume not weight. If you use the 8 oz = 1 cup then you must use a scale not a vessel. Shredded cheese is not compressed and cannot be accurately measured in a vessel. If the package says 16 oz’s or 2 cups, if you pour it into a measuring cup and find that you have 3 cups it is still just 16 oz’s. So you are correct with your first experiment. Block cheese is less expensive then pre shredded cheese

    Reply
    • Charlee says

      05.02.16 at 8:40 am

      Thanks for pointing that out, James! I’ll have to go back through this sometime and correct it!

      Reply
  7. Helmut says

    06.04.20 at 10:31 am

    Thank you for this. It is still being read in 2020. I usually buy and freeze them when shredded cheese goes on sale like buy one get one from Publix supermarkets. But I will go and buy block cheese if nothing is on sale.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Thrifty Thursday Link Party | Link Up Your Budget Friendly Blog Posts says:
    10.09.14 at 9:20 am

    […] {How to Stock a Pantry} 9. Coupon Crazy Girl {What to Buy in October} 10. Humble in a Heartbeat {Cost Comparison: Cheese}   Never linked up before? Here’s […]

    Reply
  2. 6 Steps to Determining Your Family's Unique Grocery Budget - Humble in a Heartbeat says:
    11.21.14 at 6:21 am

    […] I tend to spend a significant amount of time cooking, but I would rather cook from scratch than spend my hard earned cash on takeout or pizza. By the way, if you need simple, but impactful, ways to lower your grocery budget, try making all your bread or grating your own cheese. […]

    Reply
  3. The 10 Pantry Staples that Keep Our Grocery Budget below $300 a month | Humble in a Heartbeat says:
    06.18.16 at 6:01 am

    […] I know what you’re thinking. Cheese isn’t cheap! And you’d be correct. However, if you only buy it when it is on sale (or use coupons if that is […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I used to struggle big time with getting veggies into my family's meals. After several years and much trial and error, though, I now believe you can cook healthy food and still have time for your loved ones. Click here to find out more.

Need to Find Something?

Recent Posts

  • The Most Important List You Need for Quick and Easy Meals
  • Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal: Kielbasa and Cabbage
  • Sweet Potato Muffins {Egg-Free, Dairy-Free} You Can Double and Freeze
  • How to Freeze Garlic and Why You’d Want to
  • 5 Healthy, Easy, and Fun Halloween Recipes Kids Love
  • Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Deliciously Easy Sides

categories

archives

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Disclaimer

search

Copyright ©2023, Feeding Our Flamingos. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Email
75 shares
  • 20