‘Ghar ka khana sasta hai’? Viral video reveals the jaw-dropping ‘hidden cost’ behind every meal

In India, we all have heard this many times: “Ghar ka khana bana lo, sasta padta hai. ” It is said like it is the ultimate truth. But a recent Instagram video is making people rethink this. The creator of the video talks about the real cost of cooking at home and asks if we ever think about all the time and effort it takes.The video asks a simple question: “Cheaper than what? And for whom?” Most people say homemade food is cheap without realizing how much work goes into it. Even a simple meal like dal chawal takes effort. As the creator says, “Ghar ka dal chawal requires 45 minutes of washing, chopping, monitoring, and cleaning.” And that does not include shopping, planning, or cleaning afterward.The video also talks about opportunity cost. The creator says, “If the person cooking could have earned 200 rupees an hour doing literally anything else, your cheap meal just got expensive.” Homemade food has always felt cheap because the labor of grandmothers, mothers, and wives was never counted. As he puts it, “The reason your grandmother’s, your mother’s, and your wife’s cooking seemed cheap is that you never considered the opportunity cost of the time spent cooking.”He explains that cooking at home is really economical only in two cases. One, if you can hire help at very low wages. Two, if you use modern shortcuts like ready-made ingredients, instant mixes, frozen vegetables, microwaves, air fryers, or Instant Pots. He also says, “A 40-rupee packet of ready-to-eat poha is actually cheaper than making it at home.”The video also says that using ready-made food is not laziness. Technology is adopted out of necessity. Home cooking is still great for health, taste, and nutrition, but it is not always cheap. His message: enjoy your “ghar ka achar,” but don’t judge people who prefer convenience.People online loved this video. Many agreed. One comment said, “The cost of this ‘free labour’ is often the health of the woman cooking.” Another said, “This is a fabulously balanced assessment of the standard line we hear so often!” And someone else wrote, “There’s no such thing as a free or cheap meal – someone is paying for it in some way.”Disclaimer: This article is based on a video shared on social media and reactions posted online. The Times of India has not independently verified the claims made in the video, and the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publication.Thumb image: Instagram