High Grocery Prices: Nevada #2 And We’re Not Happy About It

It’s no secret that we’re all spending a lot more money to put food on the table. With that in mind, a recent survey shows that Nevadans are dealing with very high grocery prices. In fact, we’re dealing with the second highest prices in the nation.

The folks at HelpAdvisor.com recently took a deep dive into government data regarding grocery prices. They use statistics from the U.S Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey from November 2023.

Their findings may not surprise you, but they sure will get you angry. Only residents of California are spending more per week than the average Nevada household. For example, according to this study, the average American household spends an average of $270.21 each week. But the high grocery prices in California ($297.72) and Nevada ($294.76) far outpace that average.

Other states where residents are facing high grocery prices are Mississippi ($290.64), Washington ($287.67), Florida ($287.27), New Mexico ($286.39), Texas ($286.19), Louisiana ($282.95), Colorado ($279.98), and Oklahoma (279.16). There you have the top 10 states in the nation paying high grocery prices.

The HelpAdvisor.com chart does not find a state below the national average of $270.21 per week until Illinois at #18. Apparently, folks in the Midwest have the least expensive grocery prices in the nation. States such as Wisconsin ($221.46), Iowa ($227.32), Nebraska ($235.12), Michigan ($236.38), and Indiana ($239.11) are showing the lowest grocery prices.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data only deals with the top 15 most populated metro areas in the nation. So, it doesn’t show any statistics for Las Vegas.

However, of the top 15 largest metro areas in the U.S., the residents of Miami, FL ($327.89) are seeing the highest grocery prices. The cities of Houston, TX ($302.65), Riverside, CA ($300.50), San Francisco, CA ($298.44), and Los Angeles, CA ($295.33) round out the top five. That's according to the article on HelpAdvisor.com.

If I were to guess, I would estimate that Las Vegas would show up in the top 10 cities in the nation for the most expensive groceries. While we’re all steaming about that fact, feel free to scroll down for more content which may interest you.

Some people can’t live without their air fryers, while others consider them to be glorified convection ovens. First things first, air fryers aren't deep fryers. Many people use them as an alternative that can have similar results, but they’re just not the same. Air fryers circulate very hot air around your food, and that heat penetrates the food, achieving crispiness without a lot of or any oi at all.

Some experts have identified cancer risks related to high levels of certain chemicals found in some air fryers. Consumer Notice reported that Several models of air fryers contain polyfluorinated molecules, also known as "forever chemicals," in the nonstick coating of the basket. They also mention that scientific studies have established the health risks of exposure to high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), showing links to health problems including infertility, hormone disruption, and some types of cancer.

They do suggest purchasing an air fryer with stainless steel or glass coatings to reduce PFAS exposure.

WebMD reported that in one study air frying fish raised the amount of a substance called "cholesterol oxidation products" (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. Studies connect these substances to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, cancer, and other diseases. But there is a workaround. You can lower the amount of COPs when air frying fish by adding fresh parsley, chives, or a mixture of the two. They said that these herbs act as antioxidants to reduce the COPs in air-fried foods.

Then some people may avoid air fryers altogether due to mess and buildup that’s hard to clean or get to, uneven cooking, limited food space, or the fact that there are better or more efficient ways to cook.

On the other hand, many people love air fryers because they are quick, easy to use, and use less oil than deep frying.

If an air fryer is the latest addition to your kitchen appliance lineup, you may want to skip using it with certain foods.

We're not talking about chicken wings here, we're talking about large whole chickens. You're better off sticking to an oven when it comes to cooking them. If you're wondering why, chicken must be cooked to a specific temperature internally before being consumed. According to the USDA, all poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.  Unfortunately, air frying this food item doesn't guarantee an even cook. But hey, at least chicken wings are small enough to get an even crisp. Just make sure you line the air fryer basket first if it's raw meat.

An air fryer is not a deep fryer. So, if you're looking to toss battered fries, meat cutlets, or battered veggies, think again. There's a big chance the batter will drip down the base of the machine, causing a big mess and major cleanup after. Bad enough, some people didn't know you even had to clean an air fryer regularly. No really, someone on Reddit shared that they didn't wash their air fryer basket after each use. "I don’t think I’ve ever washed it lol. I’ve had it for 8 months and decided to finally wash it today," they wrote. They continued to say how there was a bunch of "solidified juices" and "fat/ grease" from steak and chicken.

It's possible to make your favorite cheesy snacks in an air fryer. But it can get messy. AllRecipes cautions against air frying cheese. This isn't because of health reasons but for cleanup purposes. They point out that cheese melts fast. The outlet suggests sticking to foods that effectively hold the cheese in place. Maybe, just stick to frozen cheeses like mozzarella sticks.

Sure you can go ahead and put those Brussels sprouts or broccoli in the air fryer. But skip putting spinach, collard, or chard leaves in. If you haven't tried it already, light leaves might move and shift around during the cooking process. You may also come across a fairly dry vegetable if you don't put a little oil with it. And, of course, you don't want to forget the seasonings.

Some people have tried it but you probably shouldn't. Most air fryer models won't reach the required temperature to pop the kernels. According to Jolly Time Pop Corn, the best popping temperature is between 400 and 460 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, popcorn kernels can become lodged within the air fryer's heating element, which can potentially cause it to short.

Some grains like bread can be cooked in an air fryer. However, it can get a little tricky with lighter breads like toast and English muffins due to the air making them fly around. But anything like pasta, quinoa, and rice doesn't do too well. Raw grains need to absorb water to cook. But there is some good news. If you have rice that's already cooked, just add a little oil to reat in the air fryer.

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

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