9 Pricey Foods to Stop Buying (and What to Buy Instead)
Quality ingredients are usually worth the price, but sometimes you can get away with cutting corners. Here's how.
By Lynn Andriani
Grating Cheese: Step Out of the Northern Italian Comfort Zone
Parmigiano-Reggiano, produced only in northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, is known as the king of Italian cheeses because it's sharp and sweet, with a crumbly texture and tiny crystals that give it a subtle crunch. It costs a princely sum, too, usually around $18 per pound. Pecorino Romano and Locatelli Pecorino Romano, which come from farther south, near Rome, are slightly saltier but still excellent grated, and they are less expensive (most run about $13 per pound). And if you're fine with topping your orecchiette with a non-Italian cheese, look for domestic Parmesan, which you can find for about $12 a pound.
Switch and save: $5 to $6 per pound
Published 10/21/2014
