10 store-bought foods that taste just as good as homemade

Homemade foods taste better.

Not only do they taste better, but people prefer them. One survey shows nearly eight in 10 people would choose homemade meals over eating out.

But making homemade food can be out of the question in today’s daily bustle of stressful life, crammed schedules, and little downtime.   

Some 60% of people surveyed believe there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish what they need to. That lack of time can be compounded by holiday season demands that include shopping, decorating the home, and preparing for family gatherings.

There is an out. 

There are store-bought foods that will do when time closes in on you. Here are 10 items you can buy at the store that make adequate substitutes for homemade meals and foods. 

Mashed potatoes

The versatile mashed potato goes well with anything from steak to pan-fried chicken to meatloaf. When made correctly, these fluffy, light potatoes with a dollop of butter will make you go back for seconds and thirds. But they are time-consuming to make. You have to peel the potatoes, place them in salt water, let them cook, mash them, and add cream, butter, salt, and other ingredients. Why do that when you can buy any number of store-bought mashed potatoes that will do the trick? Add a little more butter, and they’ll be fine. The boxed instant potatoes aren’t nearly as good as what you’ll find on the store shelf, but they’re an option. 

Condiments

Homemade mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard take food to a new level, especially since you can customize each to your liking. Tarragon mayonnaise goes great with egg salad, jalapeños spice up ketchup, and bourbon or honey adds sweetness to mustard. But making condiments takes a lot of time. You can find a wide array of excellent condiments at the store.

Cakes and brownies

This will be devil talk to some people. There’s nothing like Auntie’s pound cake, Grandmama’s pecan pie, or Uncle’s bread…