The Unexpected Cooking Tool You Probably Didn't Know You Could Buy At Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree stores are known for their bargain prices on just about everything, but while you're browsing those discount shelves, you might not expect to find vital cooking tools that most any beginner or veteran chef can benefit from. Surprisingly enough, cookbooks can be one of those great tools that can help you hone your culinary skills and expand your repertoire of recipes. If you're on a budget and want to become a master chef, this is a great place to start.

Your local Dollar Tree could be hiding a treasure trove of some of the best beginner cookbooks at much better prices than bookstores or online retailers. Some Reddit users have posted their finds online, including titles like Nigella Lawson's "Eat, Cook, Repeat" for just $1.25 each. One user in the same thread found a Hallmark cookbook at their Dollar Tree that costs $35, according to the price on the book itself. In their words, "You just never know when you'll hit the sporadic jackpot."

"Sporadic" is a key word here. While you're shopping, always remember that availability will vary — sometimes by quite a lot. Two Dollar Tree locations just a mile apart could have vastly different selections, so don't be disheartened if you don't find something that catches your eye at first. It's always worth shopping around to see if another store has a different selection of cookbooks.

While you're looking for hidden cookbook gems at Dollar Tree, you might find yourself wondering how on earth they manage to acquire and sell these volumes for such low prices in the first place. Much of the time, books at a Dollar Tree of any kind are ones that have been "remaindered." Remaindered books are excess stock that has been sold to retailers at a discount to free up inventory space, often after sales didn't match expectations. This means that, if you're looking for fancy cookbooks with a lot of the most difficult dishes to cook from scratch, you might be disappointed.

That's not to say you can't find good cookbooks at a Dollar Tree, though. You're just not likely to get bestsellers or ones that just came out. There can be some high-quality cookbooks at your local Dollar Tree, if you know what to look for. The next time you're shopping for some of the best groceries at Dollar Tree, take a look through the book section. Keep an eye out for hardcover books with good artwork and neat, well-designed text, as well as chef names you might recognize. If you're not in a rush, take a minute to scan through some of the recipes. With a little attention, it should be easy to tell whether you have a hidden gem in your hands or a cookbook flop.