A savings expert who has warned Britons to ‘stock up’ on key household items amid rising food prices due to the war in the Middle East has revealed what’s best to buy now – and what to leave on the shelf.
Already, the cost of pasta, frozen vegetables, chocolate, eggs and beef have gone up between 50 per cent and 64 per cent due to increased oil, gas and synthetic fertiliser prices. Olive oil, meanwhile, has risen by a staggering 113 per cent.
By November, food prices are set to be 50 per cent higher than at the start of the cost of living crisis in 2021, according to findings by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) – and retailers have said public anxiety over the issue is rife.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents household names from Tesco to Marks & Spencer to Primark, pointed to polling it commissioned through Opinium.
It found that four in five people are worried that the war will result in higher grocery prices, while 73 per cent expect it to raise the price of other goods.
So, as people consider stockpiling food, which items are the price increases hitting hardest – and which of those will best keep in the freezer or in-date for use in the future.
UK-based savings expert Clair Hughes told the Daily Mail: ‘With the Iran war threatening food prices rises, stocking your freezer up now could save you a lot of money in the long run.’
Read on to discover which food items you should stock your freezer with, and how best to prepare for the eye-watering new prices…
A savings expert has warned Britons to ‘stock up’ on key household items now amid rising food prices due to the war in the Middle East (stock image)
The foods that are already rising in price – and you should buy now, according to Clair
1. Meat
The price of beef is rising particularly fast as the UK faces a combination of low supply, high demand and rising production costs for feed, energy and labour.
In the 12 months leading to April 2026, meat and poultry inflation experienced a rise of more than four per cent, while research from the ECIU showed that the cost of beef had risen by 64 per cent.
Fortunately, Ms Hughes revealed that meat is ‘perfect for freezing’.
‘You can freeze it raw, defrost and cook or I sometimes like to make a batch of chilli con carne or bolognese to pop into the freezer,’ she explained.
‘While ground meats last around three to four months in the freezer, whole meats (that’s your steaks, chops and chicken fillets) last up to a year.’
2. Butter
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), butter is one of the food items most susceptible to price increases, and should therefore be top of your list when considering which staples to get your hands on.
Yet in a rather surprising turn of events, butter can actually last up to 12 months in your freezer, and should therefore be bought in bulk if possible.
‘So many people don’t realise you can freeze butter, but you can!’ Ms Hughes revealed.
‘If you see an offer and you have the freezer space it’s definitely worth stocking up. It lasts up for 12 months in the freezer without losing its quality.’
3. Milk and cheese
The prices of eggs, milk and cheese are rising at the fastest pace – with some of these dairy items witnessing an increase of over 25 to 30 per cent in recent periods.
And so, in a bid to be cost savvy as prices continue to rise, Ms Hughes suggests purchasing a large block of cheese and grating it, before dividing it into portions for the freezer.
And when it comes to milk, Ms Hughes insists that there is zero question of whether it belongs in the freezer.
She explained: ‘Simply pop the whole carton into the drawer (sealed of course!). Both milk and hard cheeses last for up to 6 months when frozen.’
4. Potatoes
With the cost of potatoes surging 40 per cent due to the Middle East conflict, these are an absolute must to purchase ahead of time.
Likewise, some members of the National Farmers’ Union have warned that some farmers are already experiencing longer wait times for fertiliser delivers which is reducing their potato supply.
As a result, Ms Hughes suggests getting your hands on some bags of potatoes at great urgency.
When it comes to storing them in the freezer, she recommends ‘using potatoes to make mash for the freezer or prepping some homemade potato wedges’.
With the cost of potatoes surging 40 per cent due to the Middle East conflict, these are an absolute must to purchase ahead of time (stock image)
5. Vegetables
‘While frozen veg is often a budget friendly and equally nutritious alternative to fresh veg, with prices rising by 50 per cent since 2021, it’s no longer quite as cheap as it once was,’ Ms Hughes said.
However, for those hoping to invest in more fresh produce, Ms Hughes suggests keeping a beady eye on any supermarket sales or deals.
She explains that it is then a case of ‘prepping and freezing anything you can get your hands on’.
6. Eggs
Egg prices have surged in great numbers over the last few months, with EU wholesale prices rising by an eye-watering 18.4 per cent in February.
Known as ‘eggflation’, the Middle East conflict is believed to have significantly disrupted supply chains, while higher energy costs are causing issues for lighting, heating and ventilation.
Yet fortunately, eggs can indeed be frozen.
‘While egg yolks don’t freeze well on their own, if you crack an egg into a tupperware and beat the whites and yolks together, you can freeze safely for a whole year,’ revealed Ms Hughes.
7. Olive oil
The price of olive oil has more than doubled since the onset of the cost of living crisis nearly five years ago.
However, while the average cost of a bottle has risen by 113 per cent, fortunately, olive oil can ‘last for over a year in a cool, dry cupboard’ meaning that buying it ahead now would be wise.
Remarkably, you can also create your own, homemade olive oil in a rather creative way.
Ms Hughes explained: ‘If you’ve got some herbs to use up, you can put them into an ice cube tray along with some olive oil and that way, you’ve got some tasty, herb infused oil, ready to use whenever you need it.’
