Advantages of Cooking From Scratch
Ready to eat better and save more? This guide to the ‘Advantages of Cooking From Scratch’ is your starting point. Learn how this rewarding skill impacts your budget and your health in the best ways possible. Let’s get cooking! Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Tom the Chef Founder 5.21.2025 Summary Major Cost Savings: Cooking from scratch is significantly cheaper per serving than buying pre-made meals or dining out. Total Nutritional Control: You decide the exact amount of salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, and additives in your food. Reduces Food Waste: Planning meals and using whole ingredients creatively allows you to use up what you buy. Promotes Healthier Eating: It naturally encourages the use of whole, nutrient-dense ingredients and better portion control. Major Cost Savings: Cooking from scratch is significantly cheaper per serving than buying pre-made meals or dining out. Total Nutritional Control: You decide the exact amount of salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, and additives in your food. Reduces Food Waste: Planning meals and using whole ingredients creatively allows you to use up what you buy. Promotes Healthier Eating: It naturally encourages the use of whole, nutrient-dense ingredients and better portion control. Introduction In a world of instant gratification and endless convenience foods, the idea of cooking from scratch might seem quaint. However, embracing the art of preparing meals from whole ingredients reveals the powerful advantages of cooking from scratch, particularly for your budget and nutritional health. Far from being a burden, it can be an empowering endeavor that pays dividends in both your financial and physical wellbeing. Let’s explore the compelling advantages of choosing home-cooked meals over their processed or restaurant counterparts: Budget Benefits: Kind To Your Coin The financial perks are often the most immediate and noticeable of the advantages of cooking from scratch. Significant Cost Savings Per Serving Buying basic, whole ingredients is almost always cheaper than purchasing pre-packaged meals or takeout. You’re not paying for processing, packaging, marketing, and labor. A home-cooked meal can cost $4-$6 per person, while restaurant meals can easily be $15-$20 or more. Buying basic, whole ingredients is almost always cheaper than purchasing pre-packaged meals or takeout. You’re not paying for processing, packaging, marketing, and labor. A home-cooked meal can cost $4-$6 per person, while restaurant meals can easily be $15-$20 or more. Stretch Your Ingredients Further Cooking from scratch allows you to be resourceful. A whole chicken can yield multiple meals – roasted one night, leftovers for sandwiches, and the carcass for a nutritious stock. This resourcefulness is one of the key advantages of cooking from scratch. Cooking from scratch allows you to be resourceful. A whole chicken can yield multiple meals – roasted one night, leftovers for sandwiches, and the carcass for a nutritious stock. This resourcefulness is one of the key advantages of cooking from scratch. Smart Use Of Sales And Bulk Buying When you cook, you can strategically purchase ingredients on sale or buy staples in bulk, further reducing costs. This is harder to do when relying on convenience foods. When you cook, you can strategically purchase ingredients on sale or buy staples in bulk, further reducing costs. This is harder to do when relying on convenience foods. Reduced Food Waste Planning meals and cooking with whole ingredients means you buy what you need. This, coupled with creatively using leftovers (e.g., leftover vegetables into a frittata), significantly cuts down on food waste—a major drain on any food budget. Planning meals and cooking with whole ingredients means you buy what you need. This, coupled with creatively using leftovers (e.g., leftover vegetables into a frittata), significantly cuts down on food waste—a major drain on any food budget. Avoid The “Convenience Tax” Processed foods and restaurant meals include a hefty markup for convenience. By investing a little time in your kitchen, you bypass this “tax” and keep more money in your pocket. Processed foods and restaurant meals include a hefty markup for convenience. By investing a little time in your kitchen, you bypass this “tax” and keep more money in your pocket. Nutritional Gains: Fueling Your Body Right Gaining full control over what you eat is paramount among the health advantages of cooking from scratch. Gaining full control over what you eat is paramount among the health advantages of cooking from scratch. Complete Control Over Ingredients This is perhaps the biggest nutritional win. When you’re the chef, you decide exactly what goes into your food. This includes less sodium, reduced unhealthy fats by choosing healthier oils, lower added sugar, and no unwanted artificial additives, colors, or preservatives common in ultra-processed items. This is perhaps the biggest nutritional win. When you’re the chef, you decide exactly what goes into your food. This includes less sodium, reduced unhealthy fats by choosing healthier oils, lower added sugar, and no unwanted artificial additives, colors, or preservatives common in ultra-processed items. More Whole Nutrient-Dense Foods Home cooking naturally steers you towards using fresh, whole ingredients. This means more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, which are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Ultra-processed foods are often stripped of these nutrients. Better Portion Control Restaurants often serve oversized portions, encouraging overeating. At home, you can serve appropriate portion sizes, aligning with your nutritional needs and health goals. Restaurants often serve oversized portions, encouraging overeating. At home, you can serve appropriate portion sizes, aligning with your nutritional needs and health goals. Increased Awareness Of What You’re Eating The act of preparing your food makes you more mindful of the ingredients and their nutritional value. This awareness can lead to healthier choices overall. The act of preparing your food makes you more mindful of the ingredients and their nutritional value. This awareness can lead to healthier choices overall. Easier To Cater To Dietary Needs If you or a family member has food allergies, sensitivities, or specific dietary requirements (like gluten-free or plant-based), cooking from scratch provides the ultimate control to ensure meals are safe and suitable. If you or a family member has food allergies, sensitivities, or specific dietary requirements (like gluten-free or plant-based), cooking from scratch provides the ultimate control to ensure meals are safe and suitable. Fresher Ingredients Better Nutrients Using fresh, seasonal ingredients when possible can mean a higher nutrient content compared to foods that have been processed and stored for long periods. Using fresh, seasonal ingredients when possible can mean a higher nutrient content compared to foods that have been processed and stored for long periods. More Than Just Food: Added Perks Beyond budget and nutrition, the advantages of cooking from scratch extend to other areas of life. These benefits include stress reduction (the rhythmic chopping and stirring can be meditative), opportunities for family bonding when cooking together, and the immense satisfaction of creating something delicious and wholesome with your own hands. While it might require a bit more planning and time upfront, the advantages of cooking from scratch are undeniable. It’s a skill that not only saves you money and nourishes your body but also connects you more deeply with the food you eat. Start small, find simple recipes you enjoy, and rediscover the profound benefits of a home-cooked meal. Final Takeaway The most crucial takeaway is that cooking from scratch is an investment in yourself, offering unparalleled control over your finances and your health. The combined advantages of significant cost savings and superior nutritional intake make it one of the most impactful habits you can adopt. By starting with simple meals, you can begin a rewarding journey that nourishes both your body and your bank account, proving that the best meals truly are homemade. The first step to a delicious meal is a celebration of fresh ingredients. Embrace the process! Disclaimer All content and information (including recipes, articles, and other materials) on CookingHub.com are the opinions of the authors and are not intended to provide dietary, medical, legal, or political advice. Consult with a professional before deciding to follow these opinions. Authors and www.CookingHub.com (operated by CookingHub Foundation) are not responsible for any part of any possible outcome or its consequences, which include (but are not limited to): Any health risk related to the handling of food, food quality, and/or not following USDA recommendations (including minimum safe serving temperatures and other guidelines). Safety during preparation, including the handling of equipment and the equipment’s suitability for food preparation. Improper performance of cooking techniques. Sourcing of ingredients, providing tools, equipment, and anything else related to the preparation and consumption of the products of this recipe. Nutritional data and information and diet-related information (and their accuracy). It is important to consult with your medical provider to ensure that the diet you are considering is suitable for you and to verify the information provided before proceeding. The overall outcome of following recipes, including the look and taste of the final product. Possible errors in articles and recipes (including incorrectly or unclearly explained steps and directions). Typos. Any health risk related to the handling of food, food quality, and/or not following USDA recommendations (including minimum safe serving temperatures and other guidelines). Safety during preparation, including the handling of equipment and the equipment’s suitability for food preparation. Improper performance of cooking techniques. Sourcing of ingredients, providing tools, equipment, and anything else related to the preparation and consumption of the products of this recipe. Nutritional data and information and diet-related information (and their accuracy). It is important to consult with your medical provider to ensure that the diet you are considering is suitable for you and to verify the information provided before proceeding. The overall outcome of following recipes, including the look and taste of the final product. Possible errors in articles and recipes (including incorrectly or unclearly explained steps and directions). Typos. All readers (users and visitors of www.CookingHub.com) are responsible for evaluating the recipes and articles and making their own decisions about whether to follow the steps and recommendations. They must ensure that the ingredients and steps fit with their dietary restrictions and avoid preparation methods that could pose a health risk due to an unsuitable diet.