Quick Breads vs. Yeast Breads - Cost Efficiency

[somecobwebs]

I've just inherited a hand-me-down bread machine. Hooray! After investigating it, I've realized that it contains a setting for quick breads (breads made with baking powder instead of yeast) in addition to all the usual yeast bread settings.

I like eating both types of bread just fine, and both seem equally easy to make in the machine, so my question is... which is more cost-effective? Should I just be comparing the price of bulk baking powder to yeast, or is there more to it? Would love to hear thoughts, advice, concerns.

Some extra info:
- I am interested in savory quick breads, not sweet/dessert ones.
- I've never used a bread machine, so I am sure some trial and error will be involved. Any advice on that topic is also welcome.
- The majority of my bread consumption is in sandwiches. I freeze loaves so that they last as long as possible.
- I am not opposed to making fancier breads (for example, with fruit/herbs from my garden) but I will probably usually make more basic loaves.
- Probably goes without saying , but I would try to buy the ingredients in bulk.

Thanks :)

[deborah]

Quickbreads have more of a cakey texture than yeast breads. And, of course, they don't have the aroma of yeast that is so often associated with bread. On the other hand, they take a lot less time from start to finish. They can have different ingredients, but they are so similar that the costs should work out the same.

[ender]

If you buy yeast at Sam's club you get something like.... two pounds for less than $5.

This is an INSANE discount compared to what you pay in the grocery store for yeasat.

[Jakejake]

I think the cheapest would be to create your own sourdough starter. Also though, the cost difference of any of those options seems negligible enough that I would just go with personal preference. We're talking pennies difference, not anything that would impact your retirement or savings plans.

[hyla]

The cost difference in baking soda and yeast is so minimal you shouldn't worry about it. 

Just make the bread you think is most delicious and will eat the most.  If you mostly use bread in sandwiches yeast bread is probably more useful for you.  That's how you'll save money with your bread machine, by buying flour instead of overpriced storebought bread. 

Oh, and regarding buying ingredients in bulk.  Bulk white flour is fine and will keep awhile, but wheat flour is actually one of the items I do not buy in bulk.  Because it still has the germ in it the flavor can go off if you keep it too long, so I usually only buy 5 lb bags, which I can go through in around a month or two. 

[GuitarStv]

I think the cheapest would be to create your own sourdough starter. Also though, the cost difference of any of those options seems negligible enough that I would just go with personal preference. We're talking pennies difference, not anything that would impact your retirement or savings plans.

We've even got a thread dedicated to the awesomeness of sourdough here on the forum:

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/do-it-yourself-forum!/the-sourdough-thread/

[relena]

fyi, you can store yeast in the freezer to make last longer.

[somecobwebs]

Thank you all so much! This is great to know. I'll experiment with many different types until I find the perfect loaf :)

As for sourdough starter - I used to have one, but my impression was that it needed way too much flour to survive and was the opposite of cost effective! But maybe I will check out the other thread and be proved deeply wrong ;P

[GuitarStv]

Thank you all so much! This is great to know. I'll experiment with many different types until I find the perfect loaf :)

As for sourdough starter - I used to have one, but my impression was that it needed way too much flour to survive and was the opposite of cost effective! But maybe I will check out the other thread and be proved deeply wrong ;P

You don't need to feed it as often if you keep it in the fridge.