\nHave you ever wondered how much it costs to make a loaf of bread in your bread machine? Check out my 2024 analysis that includes grocery store prices.
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\nLast Updated January 25, 2024 \u2013 Originally Published June 4, 2017
\n Before I get started, I want to let you know that some of the links on this page are affiliate links. That means that if you click through and take action, I\u2019ll receive compensation. You can read more about affiliate programs here.<\/p>\n
We all know that the bread coming out of your bread machine is better than the bread you buy at the store. However, have you ever wondered how much it costs to make a loaf of bread in your bread machine?
\nI know I\u2019ve wondered about the cost of bread made with my bread machine versus the cost of bread at the store.\u00a0 \u00a0So I\u2019ve analyzed the cost of making my bread with my bread machine. In fact, I\u2019ve done this several times over the years. The most recent was in January of 2024.
\nAdmittedly, this isn\u2019t a perfect analysis. We haven\u2019t allowed for the cost of electricity to run the machine or the bread machine itself.
\nAlso, the ingredient prices won\u2019t be the same for everyone.\u00a0 For example, we frequently use Costco and I shop the weekly grocery store sales.\u00a0 However, the analysis should give you some idea about the cost of bread for making at your house.
\nThanks to The Man of the House (TMOTH) for his help with this article. He does the number crunching for the analysis.<\/p>\n
Recipe Used to Calculate Cost
\nThe recipe I use\u00a0most frequently is for a two-pound loaf of\u00a0sour milk bread. So this is the recipe I use in the analysis.\u00a0
\nBy the way, this is an excellent bread machine recipe. The bread turns out perfectly every time, and it\u2019s quick to put together because it doesn\u2019t have a lot of ingredients.
\nShopping for Bread Ingredients
\nBread Flour \u2013 We buy bread flour in bulk at CHEF\u2019STORE or Costco Business Center.\u00a0
\nWondering how we store all that flour? Check out this article for dealing with buying, and storing, bulk flour.
\nStoring a lot of flour is SO much easier with Gamma Lids!
\nSalt \u2013 We buy our salt at Costco.\u00a0 But here\u2019s the thing.\u00a0 We bought a Costco-sized amount of salt in 2017 and we\u2019re still using it.\u00a0\u00a0
\nPer the experts at Morton Salt, \u201cWhile salt itself has no expiration date, salt products that contain iodine or seasonings that contain other ingredients such as spices, colors and flavors can deteriorate over time.\u201d
\nOur salt is iodized, but isn\u2019t clumping.\u00a0 It smells fine and tastes fine so we\u2019re still using it.\u00a0\u00a0
\nSugar \u2013 We usually buy sugar at Costco.\u00a0 However, our local Super1Foods had a fantastic sale on sugar last year.\u00a0 We still haven\u2019t gone through all the sugar from that sale.\u00a0\u00a0
\nOlive Oil \u2013 I use olive oil in this recipe and I get it at Costco.
\nYeast \u2013 I buy active dry yeast at Costco.\u00a0
\nBy the way, are you confused about the different types of yeast?\u00a0 You are not alone!\u00a0 I\u2019ve got a great article on different types of yeast that will help a lot.\u00a0\u00a0
\nMilk \u2013 Our milk sometimes comes from Costco, but frequently we get it at the grocery store.
\n2024 Cost of Making Bread in a Bread Machine
\nMy January 2024 analysis confirms what I\u2019m hearing about inflation. Our cost of making a loaf of bread rose to $1.06 per loaf from only $0.77 in 2021.\u00a0 That\u2019s a 30% increase!\u00a0 That\u2019s even using salt from 2017 and sugar from a fantastic sale!<\/p>\n
1.5 cups of milk is 30.8\u00a2 \u2013 up 33% from 2021
\n4 cups of bread flour is 59.1\u00a2 \u2013 up 65% from 2021
\n1.25 teaspoons of salt is .4\u00a2 \u2013 the same as 2021
\n4 tablespoons of sugar is 2.7\u00a2 \u2013 down 58% from 2021
\n1.5 tablespoons of olive oil is 10.0\u00a2 \u2013 up 12% from 2021
\n1.75 teaspoons of active dry yeast is 2.5\u00a2 \u2013 the same as 2021<\/p>\n
2024 Cost of Bread at the Grocery Store
\nEarlier this month I went to my neighborhood Safeway to check on bread prices.
\nSara Lee Artesano Bread was $4.99 a loaf.\u00a0 The 2021 regular price was $3.69.\u00a0 That\u2019s a 35% increase.
\nFranz Old Fashioned Buttermilk Bread was $2.99 a loaf on sale, with a regular price of $5.99.\u00a0 The sale price was a\u00a0 great deal, but still more than the cost of homemade bread.\u00a0
\nThe 2021 price for Franz Old Fashioned Buttermilk Bread was $5.19 per loaf. So the normal 2024 price is 15% more than the 2021 price.
\nOroweat Country Buttermilk Bread\u00a0 was $3.49 on sale with a regular price of $5.99 per loaf.\u00a0 Again, the sale price was wonderful, but still way more than the cost of homemade bread.\u00a0
\nThe 2021 regular price of Oroweat Country Buttermilk Bread was $5.09 per loaf.\u00a0 The 2024 regular price is 18% more than the 2021 price.
\nAgain, the 2024 cost of making a loaf of sour milk bread with my bread machine was just $1.06 per loaf!<\/p>\n
2021 Cost of Making Bread in a Bread Machine
\nIn February 2021 we got a big surprise. Our cost of making a loaf of bread fell to only 77 cents per loaf! This is down from 83 cents per loaf in 2020.\u00a0\u00a0
\nThe difference was mostly because I bought one ingredient at Costco instead of the grocery store.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We usually buy milk at the local grocery store. However, when we ran this analysis, we\u2019d just gone to Costco and bought milk there. Milk is one of the most expensive ingredients in the recipe, so it made an enormous difference.
\nThe lesson here is that it really pays to buy in bulk when you can!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Buying Bread at the Grocery Store \u2013 2021
\nI went to my local IGA and got these prices at the start of March 2021.\u00a0\u00a0
\nFranz Old Fashioned Buttermilk bread was $5.19 per loaf. That\u2019s the same as it was in February 2020.
\nIn 2017, the price was $2.49 on sale.
\nSara Lee Artesano Bread was on sale for $2.59 per loaf. The regular price was $3.69 per loaf.
\nIn February 2020, a 20-ounce loaf of Sara Lee Artesano Bread was on sale for $2.79. The regular price was $3.69.
\nIn 2017, the price was $3.29.
\nOroweat Country Buttermilk Bread was $5.09 per loaf. That\u2019s the same as it was in February 2020.
\nI don\u2019t have a 2017 price from my local grocery. However, in 2017 Amazon Fresh was charging $3.99 for it.
\nAgain, the 2021 cost of making a loaf of sour milk bread with my bread machine was just 77 cents!<\/p>\n
2020 Cost of Making Bread in a Bread Machine
\nOur cost for making bread in the bread machine was only 83 cents per loaf in 2020!<\/p>\n
The big story here is how much bread prices at the grocery store jumped from 2017 to 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Buying Bread at the Grocery Store 2020 vs. 2017
\nFranz Old Fashioned Buttermilk bread \u2013 In February 2020 a\u00a0 24-ounce loaf cost $5.19. (In 2017, the price was $2.49 on sale. )\u00a0
\nSara Lee Artesano Bread \u2013 In February 2020, a 20-ounce loaf was on sale for $2.79. The regular price was $3.69. (In 2017, the price was $3.29.)
\nOroweat Country Buttermilk Bread \u2013 In February 2020 a 24-ounce loaf cost $5.09. (I don\u2019t have a 2017 price from my local grocery. However, in 2017 Amazon Fresh was charging $3.99 for it.)\u00a0 \u00a0
\nAgain, the 2020 cost of making a loaf of sour milk bread with my bread machine\u00a0was 83 cents!<\/p>\n
2017 Cost of Making Bread in a Bread Machine
\nLet\u2019s get right to it! Here are the numbers for making a loaf of bread at home from 2017.<\/p>\n
Yes, you\u2019re reading it correctly. In 2017, it cost us just 85 cents to make a loaf of bread.
\n2017 \u2013 A Different Spin on the Same Recipe
\nKim, a loyal reader of this blog, saw my cost analysis and kindly sent me her costs for the same bread recipe. (You can see her original comment below.) Kim uses soy milk and Himalayan salt in her bread. She doesn\u2019t buy her groceries in bulk. Here\u2019s what it costs her to make a loaf of bread.<\/p>\n
2017 How Does this Compare to the Grocery Store?
\nSo how do these costs compare with the cost of bread purchased at the grocery store or Amazon Fresh?<\/p>\n
6\/13\/2017\u00a0 \u2013 a 24 ounce loaf of Franz Old Fashioned Buttermilk bread cost $2.49 on sale at IGA. Amazon Fresh sold it for $3.09.
\n6\/13\/2017\u00a0 \u2013 a 20 ounce loaf of Sara Lee Artesano Bread cost $3.49 at IGA. Amazon Fresh sold it for $3.29.
\n6\/14\/2017\u00a0 \u2013 a 24 ounce loaf of Oroweat Country Buttermilk Bread on Amazon Fresh cost $3.99.<\/p>\n
Both my bread and Kim\u2019s bread were less expensive than bread purchased at the grocery store or at Amazon.\u00a0
\nKim showed an important benefit of having a bread machine. A bread machine gives people the freedom to have bread exactly the way they want it. <\/p>\n
Cost of Homemade Bread<\/p>\n
Have you wondered how much it costs to make a loaf of bread in your bread machine? Also, how does that cost compare to store-bought bread? I\u2019ve had the same question and have looked at this several times. Here are the 2024 numbers.<\/p>\n
Print
\n Pin<\/p>\n
Key Points:<\/p>\n
In 2024 it cost me $1.06 to make a two-pound loaf of sour milk bread.\u00a0 This is much less expensive than comparable loaves of bread from the grocery store.
\nThe cost per loaf of bread from the bread machine is 30% more than the 2021 cost of $0.77.\u00a0
\nIt pays to buy bread ingredients in bulk<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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