Cooking, American Style Class 2Navigating the SupermarketInternational Centerat Catholic Charities Community ServicesMay 2013Instructor: Virginia Guilford

Cooking American StyleClass 1 American Cuisine

Class 2 Navigating the Supermarket

Class 3 Recipe & Shopping Reports

Cooking, American StyleClass 2Where to ShopNavigating the SupermarketSmart ShoppingYour Assignment

Deciding Where To ShopTraditional SupermarketWarehouse StoresNatural/Organic StoresFarmers MarketsEthnic Specialty Stores

Traditional Chain StoresStop & Shop, Safeway, PathmarkAdvantagesAccept couponsSalesWide variety of itemsDisadvantagesProduce brought in from far away, not freshBig selection can tempt you to buy things you dont need

Warehouse StoresCostco, Sams Club, BJsAdvantagesdiscounts on groceries, gas, and a wide range of products from suitcases to televisionsDisadvantagesMembership feeLarge quantities & sizes

Natural, Organic StoresWhole Foods, Trader JoesAdvantagesHigh qualityUnique itemsDisadvantagesMay carry only their own brandsMay be more expensive

Farmers MarketsFarmers Markets are held in many places throughout NYC and New Jersey.Fresh, local productsBest visited in July, August, and SeptemberPrices can be expensiveTipsKnow what is in seasonBring a shopping bagAsk the seller for cooking suggestions

Ethnic, Specialty StoresJackson Heights, Queens Indian storesChinatown Chinese specialtiesOthers ???

On-Line GroceriesOn-line Only StoresFresh DirectPeapodOn-line Ordering from Regular Grocery StoresDAgostinoSafewayAutomated DeliveryAmazon Subscribe & Save good for unperishable items that you use regularly (coffee, laundry detergent, pet food, etc.)

Choosing Where to ShopChoose the CheapestCheck out local newspapers or flyers for weekly sales and specials go to a different store each week, choose the store that has the best prices for what you want.Choose the Most EfficientChoose a convenient store go there every week and get to know it well. Stock up on staples when they are on sale.

Other ConsiderationsWill the savings from low prices be eliminated by the cost of getting to distant stores?Does the store meet your needs for special options like organic foods, prime cuts of meat, or unusual fruits and vegetables?Is a stores reputation for how they treat their employees important to you?If you shop at a big discount store, will you be tempted to buy more than you need?

Supermarket Rewards CardsRequires you to show your membership card at check outGives you special discounted prices or cash back rewardsAllows the supermarket to track your purchases

Store Gift CardsSome supermarkets offer gift cards.You prepay for the cardThe card can then be used for purchases at that store.

Supermarket Brands

Navigating the Supermarket Supermarkets can be very largeEach supermarket is different, but there are some similarities

Supermarket LayoutThese departments are usually located around the perimeter of the storeProduce fresh fruits & vegetablesMeat fresh meat, butcher Dairy milk, butter, eggs, processed cheesesBakery bread products baked in-storeDeli sliced meats, prepared foods, cheesesFrozen foods - prepared meals, fruits & vegetables, ice creamWine & LiquorFlowersPharmacy

These departments are usually in aisles in the center of the storeSoft drinks Coke, Pepsi, bottled water, Pet Foods dog food, cat food, kitty litter, bird seed, pet suppliesDetergents and Household Cleaning SuppliesBaking Ingredients flour, sugar, spices, cake & biscuit mixes Canned Fruits & VegetablesCanned SoupsPasta and SaucesEthnic Items Chinese, Mexican,

Checkout Area impulse buys such as candy, gum, magazines

Supermarket AislesAisles are often numbered. Sometimes letters will also be used to indicate the left and right sides of the aisle.

Supermarket AislesSale items and items that the store wants to push are often located at the ends of the aisles or in special displays in the middle of aisles

Supermarket ShelvesProducts with the greatest profit potential for the store are placed at eye level, in the Bulls-Eye zone. Better buys may be found on higher or lower shelves

Shopping SmartMake a Grocery ListMake sure you dont forget items you needMake sure you are not tempted to buy items you dont needUse the information in the product labels and on the product shelves to choose the best items.

Making a Grocery ListFor a weekly shopping trip, think about what meals you want to cook in the coming week.Review what you have already, and add items that you need to the list.Compose your list in the order that things are arranged at the store where you will shop.Online shopping will often provide a list-making options.

PricingMake use of unit pricing labelsIn the example below from Walmart, a 40 oz jar of Jif Crunchy Peanut Butter offered for $6.44, is shown to have a 16.1 cents per ounce unit price.

CouponsCoupons are a marketing strategy to encourage you to buy a productNew productProduct that has not been selling wellCoupons are good if they give you a lower price for something you really wantThe basic price may be increased before the coupon is made available, so that even with the coupon, you are paying the same.

Best By, Sell By, Use By Dates

Best By used for canned foods, soft drinks, and other non-perishable foods. Up to this date, the quality and flavor should still be good. After this date, the food may still be safe to eat, but it wont taste as good. Sell By used for meat, milk and other dairy products, and bakery goods. This label is not a safety label - it tells the store how long to display an item on their shelves. You may want to get the most advanced Sell By date to make sure that you buy the freshest products.Use By The product is not safe to eat after that date.

Labels

Choosing ProduceFresh Fruits & VegetablesPicking Ripe FruitSee it.For some fruits like apples,bananas, and tomatoes, you can tell its ripe simply by looking at its color. Squeeze it.A soft squeeze is a good test for ripeness. Smell it.Sniff the blossom end of the fruit (the end opposite of the stem). It should have a light, sweet smell.Heft it.The heavier the fruit, the juicier its likely to be.Picking Ripe VegetablesSee it. Vegetables should be evenly colored no brown spots or crushed leaves. Leafy greens should be dark in color. If a vegetable looks wilted or dried up, dont buy it.Squeeze it.Unlike fruit, vegetables should be as firm as possible. Broccoli, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, onions, peppers, andcauliflowershould be firm to the touch. Leafy greens like lettuce, kale, and cabbage should snap with a nice crisp sound.

Shopping for 1 PersonProblemsSpoilageNot enough varietyBuying take-out food instead of cooking at homeSolutionsFind a store that carries the smaller sizes that you want. Many small Manhattan grocery stores do this.Avoid buying more than you need even if the sign says 10 for $5, you can usually buy just 2 and pay only $1.If you dont see a package of meat that is the right size for you - ask the butcher for 1 steak or 1 lamb chop or pound of hamburger.

Getting Out of the Supermarket FastShop at slow timesEarly morning on weekends (9 AM or 10 AM)Later in the evening on week nights (7 PM or 8 PM)Get through the checkout line fastIf you have only a few items, use the Express LaneChoose the line with the fewest people, even if they have carts that are very full of food.Put items on conveyor belt grouped together by type dairy, meat, etc.

Your AssignmentEitherGo to a supermarket ask where a certain item is located. Follow the directions you are given, and when you find the item, take a photo of it.OrGo to a supermarket read the Unit Price information and decide which size and brand is the best buy. Report on your findings in Class 3What supermarket did you visit?Was it easy or hard to complete your task?

In season in NY in the spring strawberries, aspaaragus, rhubarb, peasTop Shelf smaller sizes, regional brands, gourmet itemsBulls-Eye Zone (Second and Third Shelves from the Top) Best sellers and other leading brands. Items that appeal to children may be placed at a childs eye level.Bottom Shelf - Store and private-label brands; oversize and bulk items.

Breaking a products price down like this allows you to better compare prices of different items. This is especially important when different brands package the same product in different quantities. In an effort to maximize profits, companies willpackage and price items in such a way that youll actually buy the more expensive item on a unit price basis. For example, consumers often intuitively think that if they buy the biggest box on the shelf, theyll get the lowest unit price. For the most part thats true, but not always, so its worth it to double check. Best By - Often found on shelf-stable products, the best by stamp is not a safety rating, but indicates the point up until which the product will offer the best quality and flavor. After that date, the texture and taste may change, but it can still be safe to consume. Sell By Perishables like meat, dairy, and bakery goods are frequently given a sell by stamp. This label tells the store how long to display an item on their shelves. You should always buy a sell by item before the date given, but its not a safety indicator, and the product may still be good for days or weeks after you bring it home and the date has expired, as long as you store it properly. Use By Use by is the only designation that indicates that the product may no longer be safe after that date. It is actually used more often as a best by label, but since these products can spoil faster than others, always consume a use by product on or before that date to be on the safe side. When buying a use-by product, make sure youll have time to consume it before the date given.Picking Ripe FruitSee it.For some fruits like apples,bananas, and tomatoes, you can tell its ripe simply by looking at its color. If you dont plan on using the fruit for a while, its a good idea to buy it green at the store so it has time to ripen up at home. Avoid fruits with dark spots or bruises, which indicate the fruit has been damaged.Squeeze it.As fruit ripens, the substances that hold the cells together break down and convert to water-soluble pectins, which make the fruit become softer and softer. Thus, a soft squeeze is a good test for ripeness. You want the flesh of the fruit to be firm, but give a little bit to the touch. If its rock hard, its not ripe; if its mushy, its over-ripe. The squeeze test is useful on fruits like peaches, pears, plums, avocados, and kiwis. Its not as helpful on fruits with thick rinds like melons and pineapples. Although if you feel like giving your pineapple a gentle, loving squeeze, thats your prerogative.Smell it.Chemical changes take place in ripening fruits that produce fruity smells. Sniff the blossom end of the fruit (the end opposite of the stem). Youre looking for a light, sweet smell. If it smells sour or overly fruity, its probably over-ripe.Heft it.Juiciness is an important attribute for fruits like watermelons,cantaloupe, and tomatoes.To ensure you get the juiciest piece of fruit, pick it up in your hand and heft it. The heavier the fruit, the juicier its likely to be.Picking Ripe VegetablesSee it.Look for vegetables that are evenly colored. You want leafy greens that are dark in color. The darker the leaf, the more flavor they have. Some brown spots on lettuce and kale should be expected, but overall they should be nice and green. If a vegetable looks wilted, pass it over.Squeeze it.Unlike fruit, you want vegetables to be as firm as possible. Vegetables that are wilted and soft just arent very appetizing.Broccoli, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, onions, peppers, andcauliflowershould all be firm to the touch. Leafy greens like lettuce, kale, and cabbage should snap with a nice crisp sound.