Bachelor on the Cheap Update – 06/28/2022: This article was originally posted back in 2018. Today, the Betty Crocker Potatoes will cost you $1.89, a 50 cent increase. The Kroger brand now runs $1.39, a hike of 60 cents. I haven’t seen Dillon’s put these on one of their 10 for $10 sales lately.
By Mike Thayer
Potato, PotAto…
Who doesn’t love potatoes?
I’ve always got a bag of potatoes in my pantry and an assortment of boxed potatoes to choose from as well. The boxed versions are both convenient and tasty. They can be rather inexpensive too, but do you focus on buying name brand foods when you grocery shop?
Why?
Even with most coupons, name brand foods are still more expensive than the store brand and a taste difference is non-existent, negligible perhaps.
Au Gratin Potato Battle: Betty Crocker vs. Kroger
In another food battle, today I put Betty Crocker Au Gratin potatoes against a store brand, Kroger Au Gratin. I compared price, weight, the look and most importantly, the taste. I prepared each according to the package instructions, adding only black pepper and some chopped up ham. Yes, Ham & Taters for dinner!
Au Gratin Potato #1, the name brand – Betty Crocker:
Betty Crocker has been a trusted name in food and recipes since 1921.
Price: $1.39 for a 4.7 ounce box
Note how much larger the Betty Crocker box is compared to the Kroger box, also 4.7 ounces. It’s a marketing gimmick, the name brand box is taller, thicker and wider. Betty Crocker is betting you’re like most people, who don’t read the details of the labeling. Some people think they’re getting more value with a ‘bigger box’ of potatoes.
Au Gratin Potato #2, the store brand – Kroger:
Price: $.79 for a 4.7 ounce box
The look is the same
Look how much cheaper the store brand is, a savings of $.60 and remember, even though the Betty Crocker box is taller and wider making some folks think they’re getting a better value, both boxes weighed in at 4.7 ounces.
So how does Kroger compare to Betty Crocker in look and taste?
Preparing and baking the potatoes in totally different baking dishes, I couldn’t see or taste a difference. The size and shape of all potatoes was virtually the same, the added ingredients the directions called for in measuring out water, butter and milk was the very same and the final products were equally Au Gratin cheesy. The list of ingredients on the box had no remarkable differences either. Each made for a tasty dinner and plenty of leftovers too! If you have been a buyer of the name brand, there’s really no reason to continue doing so. Save yourself some money and get the store brand. The ONLY edge Betty Crocker had in this battle is marketing… and why pay a premium price for THAT?
Leftover Au Gratin potatoes make for a convenient microwaved lunch the next day. They’re also great for breakfast topped with an egg, over easy. These leftover potatoes freeze well too! You can also portion the potatoes out for future meals and/or the freezer by baking them in a jumbo muffin tin. That’s what I did on this occasion, giving each portion a nice crispy edge. It was another dose of YUM!
Next Up: A pizza roll battle!
$pend Wisely My Friends…
Enjoy this post?
If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation. Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike
Au Gratin Potato Battle: Name Brand vs. Store Brand, Betty Crocker vs. Kroger – Bachelor on the Cheap
Bachelor on the Cheap Update – 06/28/2022: This article was originally posted back in 2018. Today, the Betty Crocker Potatoes will cost you $1.89, a 50 cent increase. The Kroger brand now runs $1.39, a hike of 60 cents. I haven’t seen Dillon’s put these on one of their 10 for $10 sales lately.
By Mike Thayer
Potato, PotAto…
Who doesn’t love potatoes?
I’ve always got a bag of potatoes in my pantry and an assortment of boxed potatoes to choose from as well. The boxed versions are both convenient and tasty. They can be rather inexpensive too, but do you focus on buying name brand foods when you grocery shop?
Why?
Even with most coupons, name brand foods are still more expensive than the store brand and a taste difference is non-existent, negligible perhaps.
Au Gratin Potato Battle: Betty Crocker vs. Kroger
In another food battle, today I put Betty Crocker Au Gratin potatoes against a store brand, Kroger Au Gratin. I compared price, weight, the look and most importantly, the taste. I prepared each according to the package instructions, adding only black pepper and some chopped up ham. Yes, Ham & Taters for dinner!
Au Gratin Potato #1, the name brand – Betty Crocker:
Betty Crocker has been a trusted name in food and recipes since 1921.
Price: $1.39 for a 4.7 ounce box
Note how much larger the Betty Crocker box is compared to the Kroger box, also 4.7 ounces. It’s a marketing gimmick, the name brand box is taller, thicker and wider. Betty Crocker is betting you’re like most people, who don’t read the details of the labeling. Some people think they’re getting more value with a ‘bigger box’ of potatoes.
Au Gratin Potato #2, the store brand – Kroger:
Price: $.79 for a 4.7 ounce box
The look is the same
Look how much cheaper the store brand is, a savings of $.60 and remember, even though the Betty Crocker box is taller and wider making some folks think they’re getting a better value, both boxes weighed in at 4.7 ounces.
So how does Kroger compare to Betty Crocker in look and taste?
Preparing and baking the potatoes in totally different baking dishes, I couldn’t see or taste a difference. The size and shape of all potatoes was virtually the same, the added ingredients the directions called for in measuring out water, butter and milk was the very same and the final products were equally Au Gratin cheesy. The list of ingredients on the box had no remarkable differences either. Each made for a tasty dinner and plenty of leftovers too! If you have been a buyer of the name brand, there’s really no reason to continue doing so. Save yourself some money and get the store brand. The ONLY edge Betty Crocker had in this battle is marketing… and why pay a premium price for THAT?
Leftover Au Gratin potatoes make for a convenient microwaved lunch the next day. They’re also great for breakfast topped with an egg, over easy. These leftover potatoes freeze well too! You can also portion the potatoes out for future meals and/or the freezer by baking them in a jumbo muffin tin. That’s what I did on this occasion, giving each portion a nice crispy edge. It was another dose of YUM!
Next Up: A pizza roll battle!
$pend Wisely My Friends…
Enjoy this post?
If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation. Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike