The Doctors: Secrets Your Supermarket May Be Hiding
Going to the grocery store does not always turn out the way you expect. Sometimes you go in for one or two things and come out with a cart full of food. The Doctors invited Reader’s Digest editor-in-chief Liz Vaccariello to share some Supermarket Secrets.
The magazine’s February 2014 cover story was “50 Secrets from the Supermarket.” With 40,000 products in the average store, their goal is to keep you buying more. Dr Travis Stork said that 60% of shoppers like to get rid of excess items while waiting in the checkout line.
It’s harder to do that these days, because products like gum, candy, and other novelty items don’t give you much room to work with. (You can always hand unwanted items to your cashier, though.)
The Drs TV: Bigger Shopping Carts
Did you notice that your grocery cart has gotten a lot bigger in recent years? According to one store’s research, doubling the size of the cart led shoppers to buy 19% more. Liz added that shopping carts are disgusting and full of germs. They never get cleaned, so be sure to sanitize (and wash foods once you get them home).
The Doctors: Supermarket Music
The Doctors and Reader’s Digest shared secrets your supermarket might be trying to hide so you will spend more, like bigger shopping carts and other tricks. (artstocker / Shutterstock.com)
Slow but upbeat music in the supermarket is designed to keep you shopping longer. But Dr Travis suggested bringing your own headphones and listening to something with a faster beat to keep you moving through the aisles faster.
The Drs TV: Bulk Meats & Butcher Cuts
Liz told Dr Rachael Ross that there is a secret to saving money on meat. Put the butcher to work by having him or her break down a larger cut of meat. Buy a huge rib roast and ask the butcher to separate the bone.
Then have the butcher grind half of it for hamburger and chop the remaining half for pot roast. This can help you save about 30% over the cost of buying these packages individual. Dr Rachael also noted that a package of ground meat on the shelf may have come from several different animals, whereas you are only getting one if you break down a roast.
The Doctors: How Old Are Supermarket Apples?
How old do you think the apples in your produce section are? Their average age, according to Reader’s Digest research, is 14 months. Wax coating and other preservatives help to keep them looking good. Instead, buy organic, which will only look appetizing and stay fresh for a few weeks.
As for the produce sprayer, fresh produce will rot faster when it is constantly wet. That’s why your veggies may start to look bad the day after you shop, Dr Jim Sears explained. Wait to wash it until you are ready to cook it (and shake off the produce before you buy it, so you’re not paying by weight for extra water).
The Drs TV: Making Bread Last Longer
You may be used to buying bread in a paper sleeve, which keeps it crusty. But it will go bad quickly if you store it at home in that bag. Instead, wrap it in something airtight to make it last longer. These are just a few tips, and you can find out more from Reader’s Digest.
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