There are a ton of things that you can use in the kitchen for convenience, but many of them also waste money, and in my opinion, aren’t worth purchasing. You can get away without using these products for very little inconvenience.
Crock Pot or Slow Cooker Liners
I remember the first time someone gave me a box of crock pot liners. These bags allow you to cook in a crock pot without the clean up. You just lift the bag out when you are done. I gave the box away almost immediately. Why? Well, beside the fact that I don’t want to cook with plastic, I think these liners are a waste. There are several ways to get a crock pot clean without too much fuss:
Fill the crock with hot water and soap and let it soak over night.
Use hot water, baking soda and a kitchen brush.
Spray the crock pot with a little cooking spray before adding ingredients.
Don’t overcook food in the crock pot.
Soak the crockpot with hot water and a used dryer sheet for a few hours.
Green Bags
Green bags are so expensive, and numerous online tests show that simply practicing good storage in your kitchen will reduce the chance of produce spoilage as well as or better than the green bags.For example:
Don’t store potatoes and onions together.
Make sure to refrigerate apples and grapes.
You should only buy what you can use or freeze in a week.
Make up a meal plan with your produce so none of it goes to waste.
Paper Towels
Okay, I see you over there not wanting to give up those paper towels. You are holding on to them for dear life. That is okay, I have a small stash that I use myself on occasion (such as for cleaning up the cat earp). But, for the most part, and I know you don’t want to hear this, paper towels will waste your money. There are so many other substitutes that are free or will cost you less such as:
Small washcloths for wiping faces and small spills.
Cloth dishtowels for drying dishes, mopping up spills and cleaning.
Newspaper for washing windows.
Are there any products that you find to be money wasters?
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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