How much does it cost to stock the typical family refrigerator?

The Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | August 6, 2017 | Jodi O'Connell, GoBankingRates.com

[2ndDivisionVet]

Refrigerators were originally used to store just a few perishable essentials such as meat and milk. In fact, the first electric units of the 1920s were only slightly bigger than modern mini-fridges.

Nearly 100 years later, refrigerators are bigger than ever and used to store the bulk of the food consumed by a household.

Americans spend anywhere from $130 to just under $300 a week stocking up on food for a family of four, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But those numbers include dry goods that wouldn't be kept in the refrigerator and leave out fridge such staples as condiments that families don't typically buy every week.

Once in a while, you might have to fill a fridge from scratch. Take a tour and learn how much that can cost.

The door. Cost to stock: $44.50. Although the newest refrigerators have ample door bins designed for stowing milk and eggs, putting these items there will shorten shelf life and cost you more in the long run.

For best results, stock the door with a pound of butter ($4), two bottles of salad dressing ($5), a bottle of orange juice ($4), a bottle of apple juice ($4.50), extra virgin olive oil ($8), and a case of bottled water ($9). Remember such condiments as ketchup ($3), mustard ($1.50), pickle relish ($2.50), and barbecue sauce ($3) to give your meals zing....

[SaveFerris]

[For best results, stock the door with a pound of butter ($4), two bottles of salad dressing ($5), a bottle of orange juice ($4), a bottle of apple juice ($4.50), extra virgin olive oil ($8), and a case of bottled water ($9). Remember such condiments as ketchup ($3), mustard ($1.50), pickle relish ($2.50), and barbecue sauce ($3) to give your meals zing....]

I wait for butter to be $2 to $2.50.
Apple Juice goes on sale for 99 cents for 32oz here.
Salad dressing - even name brands can be had on sale 3 for $5. Or $1 at one grocery store bargain aisle.
EVOO (cheap version) is $1 at one grocery store.
Ketchup is regularly on sale for 99 cents or $1 for 16oz.
Mustard I can find for 69 cents to $1 off brand.
BBQ sauce will be 69 cents to 99 cents on sale.
Off brand relish is about $1.50.
Bottle water - they regularly run a 24-pack for $2 to $2.50.
WM has a 35 large bottle pack for $3.50.
Orange juice was $6 / gallon at WM.
WM near me also had 36 medium or large eggs for $1.20 the other day. If I didn’t already have 18 and limited space...

Now, milk prices at Texas Aldi’s were just awesome. $1.89 Vitamin D gallon and no sales tax. Awesome.

[metmom]

Good Lord, I don’t know where they shop but that’s EXPENSIVE.

And store my Hummus? And Dubliner Imported Irish Cheese??? How ta-ta.....

They also forgot the mayo.

[2ndDivisionVet]

And ketchup doesn’t require refrigeration.

[metmom]

Actually, eggs don’t need refrigeration either for up to about three weeks.

If someone is buying them farm fresh and eating them within the week, not a problem at all.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Yesterday we were at Ground Zero of the Germany White Trash Apocalypse.

A large supermarket chain called REWE has a one day event where you can spend 50 cents and spin a wheel, toss Velcro darts, unwrap a bit off rolled up paper, etc - all to see if you win some junk prizes like ice-cube trays, hand-bags, etc.

There was also a music stage, a kids ride, children games, etc.

But the main thing that attracted such a large horde was the booths where they were selling typical supermarket products like bags of potato chips, ice tea bottles, bread loaves, etc - for less than half price and believe me people were loading up.

Most people were definitely white trash and there were some ugly scenes including a large woman threatening to punch a man "in his Fing mouth he spoke one more word" - and that was 10 feet from 2 policemen who raised their hands like in surrender and told people to calm down.

The ques were so long for food that we stood in separate lines and then caught up with each other asking what was scored. I even put my seven year old kid in a few lines. I brought our shopping cart, with a bag on top and my wife carried light stuff.

A lot of booths ran out of stuff suspiciously early, like the potato chips. We didn't get any of those but many people were walking around with 10 bags.

I was on the Milka (chocolate and cookies) line, which was the longest and the guy in front of me asked if I could hold his place in line. I answered no problem but he still stuck his face right up to mine to make serious eye contact and I had to assure him again I would hold his place. He then came back with a beer and thanked me. On another line my daughter was playing with the boy in front of of and his mother told me she was recently at this event held in Hamburg and started telling me about it, like I should care.

The amusement ride was free and my daughter went on at least 6 times:

Stefanie Heinzmann - Glad to be Alive

We had a very good time - loaded-up and read for The White Trash Apocalypse!

[Berlin_Freeper]

Stefanie Heinzmann - Chance of Rain

Chance of Rain
It was cloudy most of the day with periods of rain but when Stefanie came on stage the sun came out and shined bright.

[Adder]

Hmmmm

No pickles nor relish
No olives
No jelly

Leave out the olive oil and peanut butter,,,they do just fine on the shelf.

I do admit to being a condiment junkie...one mustard just ain’t enuff...

[exDemMom]

I don’t know why they would put olive oil in the fridge. It is just saturated enough to harden up in there.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

No mention of beer. This article is worthless.

[NonValueAdded]

What, you don’t have a separate, dedicated beer fridge?

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Of course, for me, but this was about stocking a refrigerator for the family. What are the children supposed to drink?

[wally_bert]

There are people like me who never could stand beer. I’m guess also that I despise coffee that I am doubly defective.

[NorthstarMom]

Aldi carries hummus and Kerrygold so both are now within even my frugal budget. Dubliner cheese is delicious!

Seriously, our lives changed when that store came to town. I had stopped buying any snacks (crackers, yogurt, etc) or any luxury foods like fresh berries. With Aldi we can eat well and still keep our food costs to around $200/week for 8 people. That includes 2 teen boys and a younger one with several food allergies.

[cyclotic]

What bonehead advice. You’re in your kitchen. Drink tap water or filter it. A case of bottled water. Stupid

[Dr. Sivana]

Although the newest refrigerators have ample door bins designed for stowing milk and eggs, putting these items there will shorten shelf life and cost you more in the long run.

Stupid point. Milk and eggs are staples that cycle through quickly. I haven't had a gallon of milk or a dozen eggs go bad since we first moved to Georgia, and we bought from a poorly refrigerated convenience store, which doesn't count.

[Mamzelle]

Liberals can't shop for groceries and they can't cook a simple meal.

HELPLESS.

[metmom]

I have a decent sized refrigerator and do NOT have room for a CASE of bottled water.

If someone wants a bottle of cold water, they can put a FEW in at a time.

Bonehead is right.

[Oratam]

This is how it's done:

"On the shelves in the door of my refrigerator, I always have good eggs from a nearby farm, many different types of sauces, cornichons, sesame oil, at least two kinds of mustard, yeast, butter, tomato paste, and truffle oil."

"I have four shelves and three drawers in the main part of my refrigerator. The top shelf holds milk, juice, beer, mayonnaise, ketchup, and the jar of truffles."

"The second shelf has salad greens, yogurt, pickled onions, pressed caviar, and a jar of unknown stuff. (I always have a few jars that have been in there for so long that nobody knows what is in them.)"

"Under the shelf is a drawer containing four types of cheese--Gruyere, blue, Parmesan, and a Camembert type--in addition to some dried sausage, a package of smoked fish (like salmon), and tortillas."

"The third shelf has leftovers from one, two, or even three meals, chopped herbs, a jar of peppers, and three or four types of jam (apricot, raspberry, etc.)."

"The bottom shelf holds pate, two or three types of olives, cooked beans, garlic oil, and other seasoned oils.

--Jacques Pepin

[lowbridge]

Pardon me. Do you have any Grey Poupon?