Mary Grace Quigley started baking bread during the lockdowns in 2020 andhasn't stopped.
She enjoys the process and the reward at the end. But it's also saved her money.
"I would always buy sourdough bread from small bakeries. That would be $8 per loaf, and I eat quite a lot of bread, so that was a relatively large expense," she says
"Making my own sourdough has been amazing. I think I've saved so much money."
But when you factor in the labour involved, baking at home might not be as financially attractive as it seems.
How much it costs to bake a loaf of bread
To make a basic loaf ofbreadyou need flour, water, salt and something to make the bread rise. (You can use yeast or a starter if you're baking sourdough.)
Mary Grace estimates the ingredients for aloaf will cost somewhere between $1 and $1.50.
She typically bakes sourdough bread with a mixture of baker's flour and rye flour, which costs her $1.15 per loaf,including a bag.
Ingredients | Cost |
|---|
Flour (400g) | $1.06 |
Salt | $0.02 |
Paper bag | $0.07 |
Cost per loaf | $1.15 |
You can bake bread with regular plain flour from the supermarket, Mary Grace says, providing it's got enough protein. (She recommends looking for flour with at least nine grams of protein per 100 grams.)
But if you opt for a special bread flour, it may cost you more.
But what about the time involved?
Mary Grace alsolooked at how long it would take her to bake a batch of 12 loaves of sourdough.
She estimated it would take about eight hours of work, including one and a half hours of baking time.
Excluding the time in the oven, Mary Grace's labour would be worth about $130 at the minimum wage of $20.33 per hour.
That works out to $11 per loaf, or $12.15 after including the ingredients.
| 12-loaf batch |
|---|
Ingredients | $1.15 |
Labour (6.5 hours for 12 loaves) | $11.00 |
Cost per loaf | $12.15 |
Because it's more efficient to cook in batches, baking a single loaf is far more expensive.
Mary Grace estimates it would still take about 1.5 hours of work, and another hour of baking time. That would put the cost of the loaf at over $30.
| Single loaf |
|---|
Ingredients | $1.15 |
Labour (1.5 hours) | $30.50 |
Cost per loaf | $31.65 |
There are a few caveats.
First, if you enjoy baking, you might not be too concerned about the time involved.
Second, bread is made in steps — it won't always require your undivided attention.
"I always say it's not your time, it's the bread's time it's taking," Mary Grace says.
Finally, the labour costs do not factor in the time it takes for bread to proof (rise).
All up, it can take anywhere from two hours to three days to produce a loaf of bread, depending on the recipe you're following.
While it's not cheaper, there are other benefits to baking your own
After factoring in the time involved, it's clear that baking bread at home is unlikely to be economical, especially if you're happy with a $2 sandwich loaf from the supermarket.
However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a go. For Mary Grace, the process is rewarding in itself.
"Every time you have the loaf … I'm still like, 'Oh my goodness, I've made that'," she says.
"It's never worn off for me. I also really enjoy the meditative aspect of it — it's a simple and tactile process.
"You don't have to think too much … [but] it occupies your mind. I'm not looking at my phone, or [thinking about] all the other things I have to do.
"At the end, you get a really nice reward — and you can share it with people."
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FAQs
In a nutshell, if you're buying basic, cheap sandwich bread, it's probably cheaper than you can make it at home. But if you compare two loaves similar to what you could make at home — one made with high-quality ingredients as opposed to one made with lesser quality ingredients — home baking becomes much cheaper.
How much does it cost to make one loaf of bread at home? ›
How much it costs to bake a loaf of bread. To make a basic loaf of bread you need flour, water, salt and something to make the bread rise. (You can use yeast or a starter if you're baking sourdough.) Mary Grace estimates the ingredients for a loaf will cost somewhere between $1 and $1.50.
Why is homemade bread so much better than store-bought? ›
Homemade bread, especially when made with whole grains, is packed with nutrients. Whole grain flours retain the bran and germ of the grain, which are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Store-bought bread, particularly white bread, often uses refined flours that have been stripped of these beneficial components.
Is it better to make your own bread at home? ›
The biggest benefit of making your own bread is that you choose every ingredient that goes into the loaf – from the highest quality whole grain flours, to leavening agents, eggs, and dairy.
Is it cheaper to make bread in a bread maker or oven? ›
Okay, so, what's the final verdict? Making bread from a machine is marginally cheaper than buying it, as long as you eat bread frequently enough to offset the cost of the appliance.
How much money can I save making my own bread? ›
If you go through an average of one loaf of bread per week, over the course of the year, you could be spending $156 on mid-range, store-bought bread (averaging $3.00 per loaf). Compared to the at-home price of $1.93, you'd only spend around $100, for a savings of $56 per year.
Is homemade bread healthier? ›
Because homemade bread can include the ingredients of your choosing, you can opt for a lower calorie recipe which may be beneficial if you have specific wellness goals. A slice or two of homemade sourdough or whole wheat bread can be a healthy, lower calorie option.
How long does homemade bread last? ›
Johanna Hartzheim, co-founder and head of product at Wildgrain, a bread and pasta delivery service, recommends eating homemade bread within three days but says it will last up to a week. "The bread will start to dry up and become a bit harder over time, but it takes much longer until it becomes moldy," she says.
Is it worth getting a bread maker? ›
But what if you love fresh bread but a busy schedule leaves little time for the many steps of mixing, kneading, shaping, proving and baking your own? In that case, a breadmaker is for you. Plus, if you buy a machine with a timer, the bread can be ready and waiting for you in the morning.
Why can I eat homemade bread but not store-bought? ›
NO UNDESIRED INGREDIENTS
Homemade bread contains no chemicals, artificial additives, preservatives, or enzymes. These are often used in store-bought bread to make them stay fresher for longer and enhance the taste.
Many of these breads, especially packaged ones, are made with a ton of chemical additives such as calcium propionate, amylase, and chlorine dioxide which help keep them soft, light, and fluffy for days.
Why does my homemade bread taste different? ›
Too much yeast in bread will give bread an off-taste. Allow the bread to rise in a draft-free 80°F to 90°F area away from a heat source. If the area is too warm, bread will rise too fast and begin cooking before the yeast has finished acting.
Is it OK to eat homemade bread everyday? ›
Unless you have a medical condition such as celiac disease, wheat allergy, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, there is no need for you to avoid bread! In fact, bread can be included as part of a healthy, balanced diet every day – yes that is correct, every day!
Is it cheaper to bake bread or buy it? ›
A normal loaf of white bread costs an average of $1.30 at the grocery store, with whole wheat being a bit pricier at around $2.00 a loaf. If you buy seven-grain or sourdoughs, those could be around $4.00. Most home bakers find they can make their bread at home from anywhere between $0.40 and $1.00 per loaf!!
Can I freeze homemade bread? ›
Both store-bought and homemade bread should freeze well, says Lisa Brooks, the chef and owner of Heart & Soul, a personal chef service. Her go-to method involves wrapping the bread in two layers of plastic wrap and then storing the loaf in a resealable plastic freezer bag before freezing.
Will a bread maker save me money? ›
The Verdict. Bread machines require some upfront investment and involvement. But they undeniably save significant money over time, especially for frequent bread eaters. The convenience, tastes, and health perks are added bonuses.
How to save money on bread? ›
You can either stick to buying cheap and unhealthy versions of bread or make your own. But I bet you don't want to eat bread with chemicals added to it. Your next option would be to bake your bread from scratch. Not only is making homemade bread cheaper, but it's also healthier.
Does baking save you money? ›
One great way to save money is to make your own ingredients, and once you get going, you'll be shocked at how easy it is to make so many things at home! Not to mention, it's so gratifying to make a dessert where you also made the ingredients in it!
Is it cheaper to buy or make sourdough bread? ›
Making sourdough bread at home can be cheaper per loaf in the long run, but buying it might be more cost-effective if you value convenience or bake infrequently.
