Store-Bought Items You Can Easily Make at Home

Swapping processed foods for homemade versions is one of the best ways to eat healthier and save money. With the right tools and a bit of planning, you can recreate many pantry staples in your own kitchen. Here are some common store-bought products you can start making at home today.

1. Homemade Bread

• Quick soda bread: No-knead, baking-soda leavened loaves in under an hour.
• Artisan loaves: Use a stand mixer (e.g., KitchenAid) or bread machine plus a Dutch oven or ceramic bread pot (Emile Henry) for a crisp crust.
• Tools: Proofing basket (banneton), refractory bread pan, bread machine, storage box.

2. Deli Meats & Pâté

• Slow-cooked roasts: Season pork tenderloin, turkey breast, or beef, then slow-cook for tender, preservative-free “cold cuts.”
• Homemade pâté: Blend liver, butter, aromatics in a slow cooker or oven for nutrient-rich spread.
• Tools: Slow cooker, sausage stuffer, stainless-steel smoker, mini chopper for fine mincing.

3. Seasoning Blends & Frozen Bases

• DIY spice mixes: Dehydrate tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic in a dehydrator for instant bouillon powders or “soup bases.”
• Pre-chopped vegetables: Dice and freeze onion, bell pepper, celery for ready-to-use “mirepoix.”
• Tools: Food dehydrator, vacuum sealer, freezer-safe containers.

4. Plant Milks

• Nut milks (almond, cashew, etc.): Soak nuts, blend with water, strain through cheesecloth.
• Coconut milk: Blend coconut flakes or fresh coconut with water; strain for a creamy, additive-free milk.
• Tools: High-speed blender, cheesecloth or nut-milk bag.

5. Sweets & Desserts

• Chocolate bars: Melt cocoa and cocoa butter (or coconut oil), sweeten with honey or maple syrup, pour into molds.
• Healthy cookies & bars: Mix oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, binder (banana or syrup), bake until set.
• Ice cream: Churn in an ice-cream maker or blend fruit + yogurt and freeze in molds.
• Tools: Ice-cream maker, silicone molds, cookie scoops, popsicle molds, ice-cream scoops.