Chex Mix is a beloved snack mix made up of Chex cereal combined with pretzels, nuts, and seasonings. It’s readily available in grocery stores, but is often expensive to buy pre-made. Many people wonder if it’s cheaper to make Chex Mix from scratch at home. There are pros and cons to both options.
The Cost of Buying Chex Mix
When buying pre-made Chex Mix at the grocery store, you’ll typically find it sold in bags ranging from 5 to 16 ounces. On average, prices break down as follows:
- 5 oz bag: $1.50 to $3.00
- 10 oz bag: $3.00 to $5.00
- 16 oz bag: $5.00 to $8.00
So if we estimate $2 per 5 oz bag, that equates to about $0.40 per ounce of Chex Mix. Buying larger bags is a better value and brings the per ounce cost down.
Pros of Buying Pre-Made
- Convenience – it’s ready to eat with no prep required
- Wide availability in stores
- Long shelf life of up to 6 months unopened
- Precise flavors and seasonings
Cons of Buying Pre-Made
- More expensive per ounce than making it yourself
- Less control over ingredients and customization
- Often contains additives/preservatives
The Cost of Making Homemade Chex Mix
To make Chex Mix at home, you’ll need to purchase the main ingredients separately. These include cereal, pretzels, nuts, seasonings, oil and butter. The specific costs will vary based on the brands and sizes you buy, but here is an estimate:
| Ingredient | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Cereal (Corn/Rice/Wheat Chex) – 12 oz box | $2.50 |
| Pretzels – 12 oz bag | $2.00 |
| Mixed Nuts – 12 oz bag | $4.00 |
| Oil – 16 oz bottle | $2.00 |
| Butter – 1 lb | $3.00 |
| Seasonings (Worcestershire, Ranch, etc.) | $1.00 |
| Total Estimated Cost for Ingredients | $14.50 |
The ingredient costs add up to an estimated $14.50. The yield from these ingredients would be approximately 64 ounces of Chex Mix. That comes out to $0.23 per ounce – almost half the cost of buying pre-made.
Pros of Making Homemade
- Much cheaper per ounce
- Ability to customize flavors and ingredients
- No preservatives
- Makes a large batch for snacking
Cons of Making Homemade
- More time consuming to make
- Have to buy ingredients separately
- Mismeasuring flavors can lead to errors
- Doesn’t keep as long as store bought
How to Make Homemade Chex Mix
Making homemade Chex Mix is easy and only requires a few steps:
- Preheat oven to 250°F.
- In a large bowl, mix together 8 cups of Chex cereal, 2 cups of pretzels, and 1 cup of mixed nuts.
- In a small bowl, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon each of seasoning salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Pour over cereal mix and stir to coat evenly.
- Spread mix in a single layer on a large baking sheet.
- Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes, until toasted and crispy.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before serving.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Get creative with the cereal varieties, nuts, and seasonings! Some fun flavor ideas include:
- Ranch – Use ranch dressing mix instead of worcestershire and spices.
- Spicy – Add cayenne pepper or chili powder.
- Cheesy – Use a tablespoon of nutritional yeast.
- Sweet & Salty – Drizzle with melted chocolate chips after baking.
Buying Ingredients in Bulk
To maximize savings when making homemade Chex Mix, consider buying the ingredients in bulk quantities. Here are some options:
Warehouse Stores
Shop at warehouse stores like Costco or Sam’s Club to find larger sizes of cereal, pretzels, nuts and seasoning mixes. This will help lower the per ounce pricing. Just be sure to have storage space! Here are some examples of bulk sizes and prices:
| Item | Bulk Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chex Cereal | 2 x 18 oz boxes | $5.99 |
| Pretzel Sticks | 2 lb bag | $5.99 |
| Trail Mix | 3 lb tub | $12.99 |
| Worcestershire Sauce | 64 oz jug | $12.99 |
Online
Places like Amazon and nuts.com allow you to order bulk sizes of nuts, pretzels, and cereal online. You can shop around for good deals on sampler packs and bulk bags.
Direct from Manufacturers
Some snack manufacturers sell directly to consumers from their websites. For example, Snyder’s of Hanover has a pretzel factory store with options to buy 35 lb cases of pretzel sticks for just $50-60.
Final Analysis
So is it actually cheaper to make your own Chex Mix compared to buying pre-made? Here is a final cost comparison:
| Chex Mix Option | Cost per oz |
|---|---|
| Store Bought | $0.40 |
| Homemade (regular sizes) | $0.23 |
| Homemade (bulk sizes) | $0.15 |
Buying ingredients in regular sizes at grocery stores is about 40% cheaper per ounce compared to store bought Chex Mix. But buying in bulk from warehouse stores or online can bring the homemade cost down even further – over 60% cheaper per ounce than pre-made.
Conclusion
Making Chex Mix from scratch at home is considerably more affordable than buying it pre-made, saving at least 40% per ounce. Buying bulk sizes of the ingredients increases the savings even more. While homemade requires more effort, you can customize flavors and avoid unnecessary additives. For a healthy and budget-friendly snack, try making your own Chex Mix!