Cost of food

   There are dramatic differences in the costs of different 
   foods.  Using prices that I have paid or found in the 
   supermarket I have computed the cost per serving for a number 
   of different foods to illustrate the cost differences.  The 
   costs per serving range from rice at 2.1 cents per serving to 
   sirloin steak at $2.49 per serving.




   Rice (white).  Cost per pound, dry: $.20   One cup of dry rice 
     weighs 6.9 oz.  One cup of dry rice (plus two cups of water) 
     yields 4 cups of cooked rice.  Serving size: One quarter cup 
     of dry rice or 1 cup of cooked rice.  Number of servings per 
     pound: 9.3   Cost per serving: $.021      

   Oatmeal (Quick Oats).  Cost per 42 oz box: $1.29 (ALDI)   Cost 
     per pound, dry: $.49.  One cup of dry oatmeal weighs 2.8 oz.  
     One half cup of dry oatmeal (plus 1 cup of water) yields 1 
     cup of cooked oatmeal.  Serving size: One half cup of dry 
     oatmeal or 1 cup of cooked oatmeal.  Number of servings per 
     box: 30   Cost per serving: $.043 
   
   Beans (Pinto).  Cost per 2 pound bag: $.79 (ALDI)   Cost per 
     pound, dry: $.40    One cup of dry beans weighs 6.0 oz.  One 
     cup of dry beans yields 2.4 cups of cooked beans.  Serving 
     size:  .42 cups of dry beans or 1 cup of cooked beans.  
     Number of servings per bag: 12.7    Cost per serving: $.064 
   
   Flour.  Cost per 5 pound bag: $.79 (ALDI).  Cost per pound: 
     $.158   One 5 lb bag contains 17.25 cups.  Weight of 1 cup: 
     4.64 oz   Cost per cup: $.0456   Serving size: .25 cups    
     Cost per serving: $.011 

   Sourdough Bread (homemade).  7.5 cups of flour plus 2.5 cups of 
     water yield approximately 57.8 ounces of bread.  Cost per 
     pound: $.095.  Serving size: 2 oz   Cost per serving: $.012 

   Potatoes (white).  Cost per pound: $.129 (ALDI).  Serving size: 
     8 oz   Cost per serving: $.065 

   Macaroni (elbow).  Cost per pound, dry (ALDI):  $.45   One cup 
     of dry macaroni weighs about 4 oz.  Four ounces ( 1 cup) of 
     dry macaroni yields 11.6 ounces (or about 2.5 cups) of cooked 
     macaroni.   Serving size: 2.76 oz of dry macaroni or 8 oz of 
     cooked macaroni.  Number of servings per pound: 5.8   Cost 
     per serving: $.077 

   Spaghetti.  Cost per pound: $.45 (ALDI).  Four ounces of dry 
     spaghetti yields 11.6 ounces of cooked spaghetti.   Serving 
     size: 2.75 oz of dry spaghetti or 8 oz of cooked spaghetti.  
     Number of servings per pound: 5.8   Cost per serving: $.077 
   
   Milk.  Cost per gallon (ALDI): $2.19   Serving size: 1 cup   
     Cost per serving: $.137  

   Peanut Butter.  Cost per 18 oz jar: $.99   Serving size: 2 tbsp   
     Number of servings in jar: 15   Cost per serving: $.066 

   Strawberry Jam.  Cost per 32 oz jar: $2.29   Serving size: 1 
     tbsp   Number of servings in jar: 45   Cost per serving: 
     $.051 

   Grape Jelly.  Cost per 32 oz jar: $.99   Serving size: 1 tbsp   
     Number of servings in jar: 45   Cost per serving: $.022 

   Raspberry Preserves.  Cost per 16 oz jar: $.99 (ALDI)   Serving 
     size: 1 tbsp   Number of servings in jar: 22   Cost per 
     serving: $.045 

   Bananas.  Cost per pound: $.25 (ALDI).  Serving size: 8 oz   
     Cost per serving: $.125 

   Carrots.  Cost per 2 lb bag (ALDI): $.79   Cost per pound: 
     $.395 Serving size: 2 oz   Cost per serving: $.049 

   Tuna (canned, chunk light).  Cost per 6 oz can: $.33   Cost per 
     pound: $.88   Serving size: 2 oz   Cost per serving: $.11 

   Turkey.  Cost per pound (with bone in): $.38   Cost per pound 
     (no bone): $.76   Serving size: 8 oz   Cost per serving: $.38  
   
   Chicken leg quarters.  Cost per pound (with bone in): $.39   
     Cost per pound (no bone): $.78   Serving size: 8 oz   Cost 
     per serving: $.39  
   
   Ham.  Cost per pound (with bone in): $.99   Cost per pound (no 
     bone): $1.98   Serving size: 8 oz   Cost per serving: $.99  
   
   Pork Chops.  Cost per pound: $1.49   Serving size: 8 oz   Cost 
     per serving: $.75  
    
   Ground beef.  Cost per pound: $1.49   Serving size: 8 oz   Cost 
     per serving: $.75  

   Beef roast.  Cost per pound: $3.76   Serving size: 8 oz   Cost 
     per serving: $1.88 

   Sirloin steak.  Cost per pound: $4.98   Serving size: 8 oz   
     Cost per serving: $2.49 


  NOTE. The prices above correspond to the period around March 
   2001. Some have changed substantially since then.