"But no matter how rough things are, everyone needs to eat. So the Depression era brought out all the frugality and creativity cooks could muster, drawing on whichever ingredients could be bought cheaply and in bulk. Some meals drew on old family traditions, while others leaned into the still-new manufactured foods that hit the market in the early parts of the last century. Big companies even got into the game, creating inexpensive, shelf-stable products like"
"Cash-strapped home cooks have been rediscovering Depression-era dishes ever since the shortages and inconveniences of the COVID era. With the recent rise in food costs and unemployment, and the unpredictable economy, this kind of frugality is looking better all the time. So stock your pantry with inexpensive old-school groceries, and take a look at these Depression-era favorites that are regaining popularity."
The Great Depression forced families to rely on frugality and culinary creativity, stretching proteins and using cheap, bulk ingredients to feed households. Both revived family recipes and new manufactured convenience foods emerged as cost-saving solutions, including shelf-stable products that simplified meals. Economic pressures such as rising food costs and unemployment have prompted renewed interest in these inexpensive approaches. Recent supply disruptions and pandemic-era shortages accelerated rediscovery of Depression-era dishes. Practical recommendations include stocking a pantry with affordable, old-school groceries and revisiting simple, resourceful recipes like stretched meat patties and basic pasta dishes.
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