Homemade vs Frozen Egg Sandwich Cost Analysis
Created: 2025-06-23 15:23:14 | Last updated: 2025-06-23 15:23:14 | Status: Public
Labor Time Breakdown
Homemade (4 sandwiches)
- Prep: 4 minutes (1 minute per sandwich)
- Cooking: 4 minutes (cook 4 eggs at once)
- Assembly: 4 minutes (1 minute per sandwich)
- Wrapping: 4 minutes (1 minute per sandwich)
- Cleanup: 10 minutes
- Total: 26 minutes for 4 sandwiches
Frozen (4 sandwiches)
- Microwave prep: 5 minutes (all 4 at once)
- Total: 5 minutes for 4 sandwiches
Labor Cost Calculation
At Minimum Wage ($16.25/hour)
- Cost per minute: $16.25 ÷ 60 = $0.271/minute
At Realistic CT Wage ($27.00/hour)
- Cost per minute: $27.00 ÷ 60 = $0.450/minute
| Method | Total Time | Labor Cost @ $16.25/hr | Per Sandwich @ $16.25/hr | Labor Cost @ $27.00/hr | Per Sandwich @ $27.00/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homemade | 26 minutes | $7.04 | $1.76 | $11.70 | $2.93 |
| Frozen | 5 minutes | $1.35 | $0.34 | $2.25 | $0.56 |
Total Cost Comparison (Per Sandwich)
At Minimum Wage ($16.25/hour)
| Component | Homemade Low | Homemade High | Frozen Low | Frozen High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | $0.97 | $1.81 | $1.29 | $1.43 |
| Labor | $1.76 | $1.76 | $0.34 | $0.34 |
| Total Cost | $2.73 | $3.57 | $1.63 | $1.77 |
At Realistic CT Wage ($27.00/hour)
| Component | Homemade Low | Homemade High | Frozen Low | Frozen High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | $0.97 | $1.81 | $1.29 | $1.43 |
| Labor | $2.93 | $2.93 | $0.56 | $0.56 |
| Total Cost | $3.90 | $4.74 | $1.85 | $1.99 |
Cost Analysis Summary
At Minimum Wage ($16.25/hour)
Frozen sandwiches are significantly cheaper:
- Frozen costs: $1.63 - $1.77 per sandwich
- Homemade costs: $2.73 - $3.57 per sandwich
- Savings with frozen: $1.10 - $1.80 per sandwich (38-51% savings)
At Realistic CT Wage ($27.00/hour)
Frozen sandwiches are dramatically cheaper:
- Frozen costs: $1.85 - $1.99 per sandwich
- Homemade costs: $3.90 - $4.74 per sandwich
- Savings with frozen: $2.05 - $2.75 per sandwich (53-58% savings)
Key Findings:
- Without labor, homemade can be competitive ($0.97-$1.81 vs $1.29-$1.43)
- At minimum wage, frozen sandwiches save 38-51% in total cost
- At realistic CT wages, frozen sandwiches save 53-58% in total cost
- The higher your wage, the more expensive homemade becomes relative to frozen
Break-even analysis:
- At minimum wage: Homemade would only be cost-competitive if your time is valued at less than $3.14/hour
- At $27/hour: Homemade would only be cost-competitive if your time is valued at less than $5.22/hour