The bakery department is a magical place filled with the smell of fresh bread and sweet treats. However, those fresh items come with a hefty price tag that can ruin a strict grocery budget. Luckily, there is a hidden gem in almost every store that can save you a massive fortune. The bakery clearance rack is the absolute best place to find high-quality carbohydrates for pennies on the dollar. You just have to know what to look for and how to store your massive haul properly.
1. The Markdown Schedule is Predictable
Grocery stores bake fresh bread every single morning to entice shoppers with that amazing aroma. This means yesterday’s perfectly good loaves have to be moved off the main tables immediately. Store employees usually tag these day-old items with massive discount stickers right after the morning rush. You can easily figure out the exact time your local store does these markdowns by asking kindly. Showing up at that specific time guarantees you get the first pick of the discounted pastries.
2. Bread Freezes Incredibly Well
Most people avoid the clearance rack because they think the bread will go bad tomorrow. The secret is that bread and bagels freeze beautifully if you wrap them up tightly. You can buy five loaves of artisan sourdough for a dollar each and freeze them immediately. When you thaw a loaf on the counter, it tastes exactly like it was baked that morning. This simple trick allows you to eat fancy bakery bread every single day on a generic budget.
3. Premium Desserts for Less
Birthdays and office parties usually require an expensive trip to the bakery for a custom cake. If you check the clearance rack, you will frequently find beautifully decorated cakes approaching their sell-by date. These cakes are still perfectly moist and safe to eat for several more days. You can save twenty dollars on a party dessert just by grabbing one of these discounted beauties. It is the easiest way to look like a big spender while secretly protecting your wallet.
4. Perfect Material for Cooking
Day-old bread is actually a strict requirement for several incredibly delicious and cheap meals you can make. French toast simply does not work well with fresh bread because it gets too soggy in the pan. A slightly stale clearance baguette is the absolute perfect texture for soaking up that sweet egg mixture. You can also turn these discounted loaves into homemade croutons or breadcrumbs with very little effort. It elevates your home cooking while preventing food waste at the same time.
5. Rescuing Food from the Landfill
Grocery stores throw away a staggering amount of edible food every single night at closing time. By shopping the clearance rack, you are actively participating in food rescue and reducing dangerous waste. You are giving perfectly good food a home instead of letting it rot in a dumpster. It feels really good to know your shopping habits are helping the environment in a small way. Plus, you get to reward your eco-friendly choices with a deeply discounted chocolate chip cookie.
The Bakery Hack
Shopping the bakery clearance rack is a lifestyle change that drastically improves your grocery budget. You get to enjoy premium baked goods without feeling guilty about the massive price tags. It just takes a little bit of planning to make sure your freezer is ready for the haul. You will never want to pay full price for a loaf of bread ever again.
Share Your Finds
What is the absolute best item you have ever scored on the bakery clearance rack? Do you have a specific method for freezing your bagels and bread to keep them fresh? We all want to hear about your best grocery store victories and money-saving hacks. Share your best tips and greatest clearance victories in the comments section below!
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The post 5 Reasons You Should Start Shopping the Bakery Clearance Rack appeared first on Grocery Coupon Guide.
