Supermarkets now offer all kinds of prepared ingredients to speed up cooking, everything from prechopped vegetables in the produce aisle to marinated kebabs at the meat counter. But the convenience often comes with a higher price tag. Dallas-based registered dietitian Robin Plotkin estimates that an item like preassembled kebabs can save up to 20 minutes in the kitchen but cost twice as much per serving. (See “Costs, Compared” below.)

“The prepped stuff was a restaurant thing before it became available at retail,” says Aliza Green, a chef and author of “Starting with Ingredients” and the Field Guide series. “Sometimes it’s OK; sometimes it’s awful.” That’s because peeling, chopping, dicing or otherwise prepping items like fruits and vegetables hastens their deterioration. The smaller items are cut, the shorter their shelf life, says Joanna Pruess, author of “Supermarket Confidential.”   

So for cost and quality, is it always better to buy raw ingredients and cook from scratch? “It depends,” says Pruess. “Sometimes it’s less expensive to buy an item already made, like a kebab or pasta salad, if you’re just cooking for one or two people.” For example, you can pick up a half-pound of deli counter pasta salad for about $3.50 or buy the ingredients to make it from scratch for $8. Purchasing raw ingredients is a money-saver only if you use everything up, she explains. The added expense of prepped ingredients also makes sense for people who are short on time or simply don’t like to cook. “If the difference between cooking your own dinner vs. throwing a frozen meal into the microwave is simply convenience and time, by all means, go for the prepped ingredients,” says Cathy Leman, MA, RD, LD, owner of NutriFit, Inc. in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.  

There are nutritional considerations, too, especially with items from the meat or deli counter, which can be high in fat, sugar and salt. “Sodium is used not just for seasoning but also for moisture retention and preservation,” says Linda McDonald, MS, RD, LD, founder of the website http://www.supermarketsavvy.com/. “Most marinated meat products are very high in sodium. Another concern with meat is the portion sizes, which are usually more than the recommended 3 or 4 ounces per person.”

In our comparison of 3 popular prepared ingredients from the supermarket, comparable dishes made from scratch always cost less—but not always by much. Of course, saving money at the check-out counter means investing time in the kitchen. 

Meat counter: Chicken kebabs (chicken breast, red and green bell peppers, red onion)

Cost prepared (per serving): $5.84

Cost made from scratch (per serving): $2.80

Time to prepare from scratch: 20 minutes

Produce aisle: Fresh stir-fry mix (broccoli, snow peas, carrots)

Cost prepared (per serving): 62 cents

Cost made from scratch (per serving): 57 cents

Time to prepare from scratch: 10 minutes

Deli Counter: Pasta salad (rotini pasta, olives, cucumber, tomato, red onion, Italian vinaigrette)

Cost prepared (per serving): $1.75

Cost made from scratch (per serving): 87 cents

Time to prepare from scratch: 30 minutes

While cooking from scratch is the hands-down winner as far as economy and quality are concerned, it’s not always realistic. If you decide to pay for the convenience of prepped ingredients, shop wisely to maximize their value.

• Examine items closely to make sure they’re fresh. Reject packaged produce with signs of decay like tired, dry, brown edges on Brussels sprouts or soggy packaged spinach leaves. Double-check the packing and/or use-by date on the package, says Green. You may need to dig toward the back of the display to find the freshest product.
• Shop at a busy market with high merchandise turnover. This also helps ensure freshness, says Green.
• Sample before buying. If you’re shopping for a prepared salad at the deli counter, ask for a bite, says Pruess. 
• Consider nutrition, especially when buying marinated items. “I’d ask if there is nutrition info available,” says Leman. “Since these foods are ‘packaged’ it’s doubtful, but it never hurts to ask. Some forward-thinking grocery stores do offer this information. If not, assume that sugar, fat and salt will potentially be higher, and balance that with side dishes that are prepared very simply.” Use prepared foods within a day or two of purchase. Unlike raw, whole ingredients, these convenience items don’t have a long shelf life.