Save in the Kitchen

Kitchen cleaners boasting they can "remove even the most stubborn stains' tend to be expensive. Skip paying extra for that "germ-killing action." Instead, buy a bottle of plain ammonia (very cheap). Then, buy the cheapest kitchen cleaner on the shelf. Add a tablespoon of ammonia to the generic stuff and you've got an "extra power, germ killing" brew.

Day old bread is great for toasting, grilling, stuffing. Reheat day-old pie to bring back just-baked-from-the-oven freshness. Pick the day-old clearance rack clean at the grocery store next time for muffins, donuts and rolls. These items freeze well and you can reheat them quickly throughout the week.

The next time you go shopping, check your receipt to see how much you spent on paper towels. If you add it up, you'll be surprised at how much you spend. So, keep a ragbag handy for quick clean ups. By using cloth instead of paper, you'll save money AND save a tree.

Run those smelly sponges through the dishwasher when you do a load. They'll be disinfected, smell much better, and you can get a few more miles out of them. Saving a few pennies each day adds up to a lot of dollars each year.

Spices can be very expensive, and a lot of spice bottles have large holes in the lid making it easy to use too much. To prevent waste, use a piece of tape to cover some of the holes and it will prevent too much from coming out at one time.

Don't use a new steel wool pad every time you need to clean a pan. Make one last for several jobs by placing it inside a plastic bag in the freezer after each use to prevent the steel wool from rusting so it can be used over and over.

Make pizza like the pros! A pizza stone (or baker's stone) can cost $25 to $30 dollars at a traditional store. You can make your own by getting one or two large unsealed terra cotta stones from a home improvement store for a couple of bucks. This will function just like an authentic pizza oven and produce a crisp crust at a fraction of the cost.

Do you use paper cups and paper plates because they're convenient for a busy family on the go? Well, stop. Instead, buy plastic cups and plates. You'll use them over and over, they rinse clean quickly and they're dishwasher safe.

Meat is our most common source of protein, an essential nutrient. But there are other, lower-cost (and healthier) sources of protein you can substitute at least 1 night a week. Serve lentils, beans, cheese, milk, yogurt, eggs - all excellent sources of protein, and a lot less costly than a porterhouse steak.

When draining deep fried foods, instead of using a stack of paper towels to catch the grease, use only one or two where the towel touches the food. Then use a section of old newspaper underneath the paper towels.

Save a little on your gas and electric bill by getting in the habit of cooking with a double boiler or steamer. This device will let you boil one item, like pasta on the bottom half, while you are steaming another item like vegetables on the top half.

Don't spend more than you need to for special plastic clips designed to keep chip and cracker bags fresh. You can purchase an entire package of clothespins at a dollar-type store that will serve the same purpose.