Celebrity chef Sunny Anderson shares 7 tips for saving money in the kitchen

• While partnering with Straight Talk Wireless, Sunny Anderson shared her top money-saving tips.
• She said to know which pantry staples are worth splurging on and which to buy for less, like pasta.

Grocery costs can add up, but there are ways to spend and waste less.

While partnering with Straight Talk Wireless, a mobile virtual network operator that doesn't require long-term contracts, Food Network star Sunny Anderson told Insider some of her best tips for reducing bills and upgrading meals for cheap.

From shopping at multiple stores to growing your own herbs, here are seven ways to minimize spending on food:

Take advantage of collective savings

Many grocery chains offer customers rewards for shopping, so Anderson suggested that family members share one card to split the perks.

"You should collectively as a family use the same number," Anderson told Insider. "And then every time you go to checkout, you guys are each getting discounts based on what everyone else is spending."

Know which pantry staples are worth saving or splurging on

Anderson told Insider she likes to think of pantry staples as ingredients that are "useful for more than one thing" with a long shelf life.

Staples like pasta and grains will stay fresh for while if you keep them in a cool, dark place and sealed in air-tight containers. Canned beans, legumes, and veggies are also cheap pantry essentials.

Plus some staples can help save time and round out a meal, like boil-in-a-bag rice, boxed mashed potatoes, and canned beans.

On the other hand, it's important to know when to spend a bit more on high-quality ingredients. The celebrity chef said she'd recommend splurging on foods that add "flavor bombs" to meals, like anchovy paste, garlic paste, and pure vanilla extract.

"The difference between real vanilla extract and imitation extract is literally cents and pennies per serving, so it's OK to go ahead and splurge on good vanilla extract or vanilla gel," Anderson told Insider.

Stock up on oatmeal for a delicious, cheap breakfast

The celebrity chef said oatmeal is a "blank palette" that's both inexpensive and versatile.

"Maybe when I'm boiling the water, I'll put some brown sugar or maple syrup," she told Insider. "Sometimes I'll even put dried cranberries ... or raisins and let them plump up and then add the oatmeal."

She said she sometimes adds chocolate chips or fresh fruit to the dish and advised making overnight oats if you don't have much time in the morning.

Grow your own herbs for more flavor at a lower cost

Fresh herbs are an easy and affordable way to make any dish taste better, and you can grow them yourself to save money.

"They're very inexpensive, especially when you grow them like I do, right?" Anderson said. "Like just put them in the window or on the deck and grow them."

Shop at multiple stores for the best discounts

When it's time to do your weekly or biweekly grocery haul, don't just walk into your usual shop without checking prices at other stores.

"I think a lot of times, people are so used to shopping at one place that they don't go to other places or the new spot in town," Anderson said. "There's something to be said for how now you can just go online and see how much things are at places before you even head out the door."

Swap pricey ham or turkey for Cornish game hens

You can skip more expensive meats, like ham or turkey, as the centerpiece of a meal and instead opt for Cornish game hens.

"They're plentiful, which means they're less expensive and they take a lot less time to roast in the oven and give you more space in the oven," Anderson told Insider.

Play with texture for an easy, cost-effective way to improve any dish

Anderson told Insider that playing with texture is a budget-friendly way to make meals look and taste more impressive.

She suggested adding french-fried onions to salads, mashed potatoes, or roasted chicken.

"I also love things like chopped nuts. Sometimes I'll make wild rice, and I'll just fold in some chopped walnuts and some dried cranberries," Anderson said. "Last night, I made a braised chicken with a peanut marinade, and at the end, just pop up some fresh raw peanuts and toss them over the top."