Looking to buy bulk dried beans or legumes as a cheap, lean protein source for bodybuilding, anyone know any good sources?
Where to Buy Cheap Beans/Legumes in Bulk
kermuffle on 22/06/2015 - 17:38
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thanks for replying. preferably delivered, but i don't mind picking up if they're in melbourne.
Aren't beans legumes? Are you looking for the dried ones? I think they sell them at the Indian grocery stores.
you're right! i meant to say legumes and pulses. hmm will give that a go, but i don't think they have that great a variety. does costco sell cheap in bulk?
I'm looking for the same - don't really care if it's lentils, beans, chickpeas or split peas. A previous post mentioned it's possible to get 4kg of red lentils for $10 in Sydney (unspecified local Indian store). The cheapest I've seen without looking hard is $3.50 a kilo for any of the aforementioned sorts in the Maroubra Pacific Square fruit market (lentils normally cost more than split peas, but 500g yellow split peas can be had on special now at Woolworths for $1.30 or so).
Since Lentil as Anything in Newtown is meant to be not for profit (and they let people eat for what they can afford) it may be worth asking where they buy their lentils in bulk (but that's one hell of bulk).
I can't think of any Eastern Suburbs Indian grocers at the top of my head.
I saw that Sandhurst in Miranda is having a clearance this weekend! I got a brochure in my letter box.
2.5 kgs of chick peas for $4! There was lots of other things on sale but I remember seeing this one in particular.
That's awesome. A bit far for me but might be worth using Opal card for.
yeah that's a good deal.
i've looked at quite a few sites, and it seems that, strangely enough, when on special, $1 cans of "analisa" imported 400gm legumes/pules at woolworths and coles are still pretty good value at $2.50/kg…
I buy cans for convenience sometimes but that 400g is very deceptive. Most cans say that they have around 240g of drained product. Then each lentil, chickpea etc apparently absorbs its own weight in water so half that again. Someone who works for a canning factory said 115g dry weight go in a 410g can (http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/food_and_recipes/225336-help-wha…). So even the odd 80c cans cost you like $7/kilo.
Of course in Coles and Woolies you pay like $6/kilo for dry lentils so the discounted cans ain't bad value.
UPDATE: Ahh, I think there was a misunderstanding on my part. Sandhurst only does canned chickpeas I presume?
@kermuffle: Yeah, a lot us make the same assumption about canned foods. The "425g" Tuna Chunks in Brine/Oil is another confusion people often have.
I did go to the Sandhurst factory on Saturday and they had a ton of stuff! There was definitely canned chickpeas but I wouldn't be surprised if they had dried I just didn't look for them.
Even when not on sale it seemed really cheap.
Could be annoying to get to without a car though.
At the Kingsford big roundabout I bought 1 kg of mung beans for $3 at an (east) Asian supermarket. Nearly all of their packaged goods were in red packets from Heng Fai brand. Since this was only a small supermarket you might be able to get it even cheaper in the CBD or out west. They also had black eyed peas, soya beans and a few other beans but no typical lentil varieties unfortunately (as expected).
In terms of mung bean protein content you get a little less than some of the common legumes (~7g protein/ 100g cooked and the amino acid profile is quite limited, if that's a concern) but apparently they're renowned for causing less flatulence than most other beans and lentils. When you eat them everyday, every little helps ;)
I've recently started buying quite a lot of beans and lentils here in Perth, haven't had any problems finding them but have noticed the price can vary quite a bit between shops. Avoid ones that have to pay shopping centre rent, if you get my drift. Markets are good.
Indian and Mediterranean style grocers all sell in bulk, grab your plastic bag and scoop as much as you want from the giant bins. Plenty of variety from what I've seen so far.
I can think of at least 4 shops/markets within 5km of my house that all sell them.2brothers.com.au have a great range and cheap postage. I buy from them on a semi regular basis and rate them highly.
We have just launched our new online store Toosh Natural Grocery - https://www.tooshfoods.com.au/. We supply beans and legumes online. Would love to hear your feedback.
Quantity? And looking to pick up or have delivered?