Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg finds ready-to-eat meals up to 180% more expensive

A market analysis by the Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg reveals that ready-to-eat meals are often significantly more expensive than cooking from scratch. The study compared five popular dishes—Pizza Margherita, Bolognese sauce, pancakes, lentil stew, and tuna wraps—against their homemade counterparts using products from retailers including Aldi, Lidl, Penny, and Edeka.

The findings show that in three out of five cases, homemade versions were cheaper. The most significant price difference was found in pancake mixes, which cost up to 180 percent more per kilogram than fresh ingredients. Tuna wraps were also nearly twice as expensive as homemade versions, with a 93 percent price increase.

Beyond cost, the study noted that manufacturers often reduce ingredient quality to maintain convenience. For example, a frozen pizza was only slightly cheaper because the manufacturer replaced half of the mozzarella with a lower-cost Edam cheese. Similarly, canned lentil stew contained only half the amount of vegetables compared to a homemade version. Frederike Rauer of the Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg noted that while ready-made products save time, those who value fresh, high-quality ingredients generally benefit more from cooking themselves.