Meal prep. Except it’s snack prep. I eat way too many Walmart mini microwave burritos. The 4 oz ones that come in a $4 pack of eight. Basically 11.9¢ per ounce

It’s hard to make an exact clone at home because making tiny burritos is difficult due to the urge to over fill. These are larger so one instead of two for a snack. These aren’t as cheap. 100 ounces of ingredients for $17.38 not including the seasoning. So let’s say 19¢ per ounce but are more flavorful (homemade taco seasoning), better texture because they aren’t 50% tortilla and a whole lot healthier.

So it’s all trade offs. But the results are worth it.

These go into the chest freezer and then get bagged.

  • eezeebee@lemmy.caEnglish
    9·
    6 days ago

    Love this idea. I’m going to steal it.

    I bet you could get the cost down by shredding your own cheese from a block.

    • FauxPseudo @lemmy.worldOPM
      5·
      6 days ago

      Walmart brand cheese is pretty cheap and block or shred is typically same price or so close that it doesn’t matter depending on the size. This was a 32 ounce bag at 21.8¢ per ounce. They don’t sell a two pound block so two 1 lb blocks at 23.6¢/oz makes shredding your own the more expensive option.

      FYI 64 oz block is 21¢ per oz.

      • eezeebee@lemmy.caEnglish
        3·
        6 days ago

        Oh interesting. I’m in Canada and the price between block vs shredded is about 20% more for shredded. Even when comparing their own “Great Value” store brand it’s like that.

        • FauxPseudo @lemmy.worldOPM
          4·
          6 days ago

          It always surprises me that I can buy shredded for the same price. I normally don’t because the sawdust coating prevents proper melting, which doesn’t apply instead of a burrito, and block cheese lasts soooo much longer if not opened.

          • FiveMacs@lemmy.ca
            1·
            6 days ago

            Same price maybe, but check the size/price. I bet they price it the same, but you probably get less volume of cheese. It’s a waste of money to get preshredded unless you have medical bills from shredding your knuckles.

    • nocturne@sopuli.xyz
      4·
      6 days ago

      I thought that too, and for pizza night (every Monday) we started buying blocks of cheese. It is the same price (sometimes more) to buy a pound block of cheese. However they seem to be on sale more often than the bags.

      The biggest gain, is the block melts better since it does not have the anti caking powder added to it.

      • FauxPseudo @lemmy.worldOPM
        2·
        6 days ago

        I’ve done rice before. I’ve found my personal preference requires seasoning the rice so much that it really adds money and time that offsets the benefits of beans. Maybe if I grew up in a more rice focused culture I’d feel different about it.

        But it is definitely an option and it can be dramatically less cost than beans, especially canned beans. And rice takes dramatically less time than starting with dry beans if cost is the driving factor.

        A mix of rice and beans can provide perfect protein. Though that’s getting more into meal territory than shack.

        • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
          2·
          4 days ago

          For what it is worth and from experience, a can of El Pato in the rice cooker goes a long way to make rice accompany this ensemble well.