Top Vegetables to Buy in Bulk for Cost Savings in Canada

Potatoes are great to buy in big bags. They’re cheap and last a long time if you keep them in a cool, dark place. You can use potatoes in many ways:

• Mashed potatoes
• Baked potatoes
• French fries
• Potato soup

Buying a 10-pound bag of potatoes can save you about 30% compared to buying smaller amounts.

Carrots are another veggie that’s good to buy in bulk. They stay fresh for weeks in the fridge. You can eat carrots raw or cooked. Try these ideas:

• Carrot sticks for snacks
• Grated carrots in salads
• Cooked carrots as a side dish
• Carrot soup

A big bag of carrots can cost half as much per pound as buying them loose.

Onions are used in many dishes. They last for months if you keep them in a cool, dry place. You can use onions in:

• Soups and stews
• Stir-fries
• Salads
• Sandwiches

Buying a big bag of onions can save you up to 40% compared to buying them one at a time.

Cabbage is very cheap when you buy a whole head. It lasts for weeks in the fridge. You can use cabbage in many ways:

• Coleslaw
• Stir-fried cabbage
• Cabbage rolls
• Soup

A whole cabbage can cost less than half the price of pre-cut cabbage.

Winter squash like butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squash are good to buy in bulk. They last for months if kept in a cool, dry place. You can use winter squash in:

• Roasted squash
• Squash soup
• Mashed squash
• Stuffed squash

Buying several squash at once when they’re in season can save you money.

Sweet potatoes are healthy and last a long time. They’re often cheaper when you buy a big bag. You can use sweet potatoes in:

• Baked sweet potatoes
• Sweet potato fries
• Mashed sweet potatoes
• Sweet potato soup

A large bag of sweet potatoes can save you about 25% compared to buying them one at a time.

Beets are very healthy and last for weeks in the fridge. They’re often sold in big bunches with the greens attached. You can use beets in:

• Roasted beets
• Beet salad
• Borscht (beet soup)
• Pickled beets

Buying a bunch of beets with greens can give you two vegetables for the price of one.

Celery is cheap when you buy a whole bunch. It stays fresh for weeks in the fridge. You can use celery in:

• Snacks with dip
• Soups and stews
• Salads
• Stir-fries

A whole bunch of celery can cost less than half the price of pre-cut celery sticks.

Turnips are often overlooked, but they’re cheap and last a long time. They’re good to buy in bulk. You can use turnips in:

• Mashed turnips
• Roasted turnips
• Turnip soup
• Stews

Buying several turnips at once can save you money, especially when they’re in season.

While not fresh, frozen veggies are a great way to save money. They last for months in the freezer and are often cheaper than fresh. Good frozen veggies to buy in bulk include:

• Peas
• Corn
• Green beans
• Mixed vegetables

Large bags of frozen vegetables can cost up to 50% less per pound than smaller bags.

Here are some tips to help you save even more money when buying veggies in bulk:

1. Check for sales and buy extra when prices are low.
2. Look for “ugly” or “imperfect” produce, which is often cheaper but just as good.
3. Buy vegetables that are in season, as they’re usually cheaper and taste better.
4. Store vegetables properly to make them last longer.
5. Plan your meals around the vegetables you have to avoid waste.
6. Learn to freeze or can extra vegetables to use later.

To make your bulk vegetables last longer, follow these storage tips:

• Keep potatoes, onions, and winter squash in a cool, dark, dry place.
• Store carrots, celery, and beets in the crisper drawer of your fridge.
• Wrap cabbage in plastic and keep it in the fridge.
• Keep sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place, but not in the fridge.
• Store turnips in a plastic bag in the fridge.

If you have too many vegetables, try these ideas to use them up:

• Make soup or stew with a mix of vegetables.
• Roast a big batch of vegetables to eat throughout the week.
• Make vegetable stock with leftover bits and pieces.
• Grate extra vegetables and freeze them for later use in soups or baking.
• Try new recipes to use vegetables in different ways.