Pizza, a beloved culinary delight, can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home or savored from takeout or delivery services. But which option offers the best value for your money? This comprehensive analysis delves into the costs associated with making pizza at home versus ordering takeout, providing a detailed breakdown of ingredients, electricity consumption, and overall expenses.
Ingredient Costs
The cost of ingredients is a primary factor in determining the overall expense of making pizza. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the ingredients used in a typical cheese pizza:
- Flour: A 5-pound bag of flour costs around $4, yielding approximately $0.80 for the four cups needed for the pizza dough.
- Salt: A negligible cost, rounding up to $0.01.
- Water: Essentially free, with a negligible cost of $0.01.
- Yeast: A packet of yeast costs around $0.03, assuming you buy in bulk.
- Olive Oil: Approximately $0.21 for 2 tablespoons.
Electricity Costs
Baking a pizza requires electricity, and the cost of this energy consumption should be factored into the overall expense. For a 500°F oven operating for an hour, the electricity cost is estimated to be around $0.50.
Total Cost of Homemade Pizza
Combining the ingredient and electricity costs, the total cost of making two cheese pizzas at home is approximately $3.75, or $1.87 per pizza.
Takeout Pizza Costs
Takeout pizza prices vary depending on the establishment and location. However, for the purpose of comparison, let’s consider a $5.55 pepperoni pizza from Little Caesar’s.
Comparison of Costs
Comparing the costs of homemade and takeout pizza, we find that making pizza at home is significantly cheaper. The total cost of two homemade cheese pizzas is $3.75, while a single takeout pepperoni pizza costs $5.55.
Additional Considerations
Convenience: Takeout pizza offers the convenience of having a ready-made meal delivered to your doorstep. However, homemade pizza requires time and effort to prepare.
Quality: Homemade pizza allows you to control the quality of ingredients and customize the pizza to your preferences. Takeout pizza may use lower-quality ingredients and have limited customization options.
Health: Homemade pizza can be a healthier option as you can use fresh, wholesome ingredients and avoid preservatives and additives commonly found in takeout pizza.
Based on a detailed analysis of ingredient costs, electricity consumption, and takeout prices, it is evident that making pizza at home is considerably cheaper than ordering takeout. By opting for homemade pizza, you can enjoy significant cost savings while having the flexibility to customize your pizza and ensure the use of high-quality ingredients.
Is it Cheaper to Make your Own Pizza?
FAQ
Is pizza cheaper to make or buy?
Is it worth it to make your own pizza?
Is homemade pizza better than store bought?
How much does it cost to make 1 slice of pizza?
How much does it cost to make a pizza?
The total cost for your pizza-making adventure is $17.48. But when you divide that by the three pizzas you’re making, your cost is $5.82 per pizza! (17.48/3= $5.82) The best part? After you bake and eat your pizzas, there will likely be leftovers because these ingredients are enough to make three large oven-baked pizzas.
How much does pizza flour cost?
I generally buy my flour when it’s on sale, so a 5-pound bag costs around $4. That means each cup costs $0.20, and the four cups necessary for the pizza dough add up to $0.80. If you use a cheaper brand of flour, this could easily be as little as $0.40.
Is homemade pizza cheaper than a takeout pizza?
For all the aspiring master chefs out there, we’ve got you covered. Shop our complete collection of carefully crafted Baking Steels and other baking and pizza making accessories. Here’s the secret sauce. Literally. Homemade pizza is cheaper than a takeout pizza.
How much does a cheese pizza cost?
The total cost of ingredients for two cheese pizzas is $3.25, or $1.62 per pizza. That’s pretty impressive. I thought it would add up to a lot more. This is a little difficult to calculate, but when I figured the cost of a loaf of homemade bread, I found out that an hour of 350° baking at $0.12/kwh costs $0.24.