4 Totally Basic Items That Are So Much Better At Walmart

Walmart is one of America’s go-to grocers for a reason — with cheaper prices than many local grocery stores and a wide-ranging product selection that includes just about every food imaginable and home must-haves (and toys and furniture and so much more), it’s kind of irresistible. And if you’ve been comparison shopping to try to get your grocery bill a little bit lower, odds are Walmart has become increasingly appealing.

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As a regular Walmart shopper myself, I’ve spent a number of years browsing the shelves and trying different groceries. And when it comes to staple basics,some items are better at Walmart than anywhere else. So, the next time you need a few essentials, here’s what I recommend buying at Walmart for a better price and great quality.

Milk

Milk is an essential that doesn’t change much from store to store — or so you might think. Take a look at Walmart’s dairy section, however, and you’ll notice that milk is likely cheaper than other grocers.

Walmart tends to have more budget-friendly prices than stores like Kroger and Safeway. The difference, depending on prices in your region, could be as much as a dollar or more. And while that might not seem like it makes a huge difference, why pay more for the very same milk? There’s nothing in Walmart’s version that makes for lesser quality.

Staple Baking Ingredients

If your pantry is lacking in the essential ingredients you need to whip up cakes, cupcakes, pies, cookies, and other baked treats, then you’ll want to stock up at Walmart. Compared to other grocery retailers, Walmart offers baking staples for less, so you can get the very same items for less (and sometimes in large sizes, too).

Just take all-purpose flour for example. You can pick up a 10-pound bag for less than $5 thanks to Walmart’s Great Value brand. At other stores like Safeway, that same 10-pound bag costs $6 or more. Similarly, baking soda, baking powder, and other baking ingredients can range anywhere from 10 cents cheaper to dollars less at Walmart.

Oh, and don’t forget about butter, since you’ll need sticks of it while baking. In general, Walmart is the smartest place to get your hands on this essential. Four sticks, or 1 pound of Great Value butter, will run you just over $3 at Walmart while competitors like Vons are pricing half that amount (two sticks or 8 ounces) at $3 even. You’re literally spending half of what you would elsewhere when you opt for Walmart’s version of this staple.

Baking Mixes

In addition to individual baking ingredients, there’s another sweet, baking-related grocery staple you’ll want to pick up at Walmart over other stores: boxed baking or dessert mixes. I love to keep these on hand because I’m downright terrible at baking, but they’re also handy to have for low-effort baking. And at Walmart, these delicious essentials are a great buy.

In addition to the big-name brand boxed baking mixes, Walmart’s very own Great Value lineup includes some standout choices. The Fudge Brownie Mix, for example, has been my favorite since I first became a Walmart shopper in college; the white cake mix is another excellent choice that mimics the flavor of angel food cake. 

And there are two other bonuses beyond the flavor. First, as Walmart’s private label brand, Great Value boxed baking mixes are obviously cheaper than name-brands alternatives. Second, these mixes can be a little easier to whip up. Some don’t require eggs but egg whites, making them a great option for when you don’t have any actual eggs on hand (or need to sub in a swap like aquafaba). 

Canned Beans and Vegetables

If I’m grabbing canned items, I’m probably going to do it at Walmart if I’m not buying in bulk at Sam’s Club or Costco. That’s because Walmart’s Great Value brand canned goods are pretty much indistinguishable from any other — unless you’re opting for seasoned versions, in which case there can be some variation. You really aren’t sacrificing anything by opting for private label here.

Even more importantly, the price is great. While canned goods have climbed to $1.20 or higher at most stores, you can still pick up a can of corn, green beans, or any bean variety for $0.90 to $1. And that makes their perfectly good taste even more worthwhile.