The general perception of cooking for oneself is often negative, but it does have its many advantages. The liberty and independence to decide the menu and the cooking schedule are unique perks for those living solo. Nonetheless, the process can be quite challenging.
The struggles range from deciding what to cook to purchasing more groceries than you need for a single recipe, which results in wasting leftover ingredients. Having excessive leftovers is an added challenge as repetitiveness can make meals unappealing, thus resulting in waste. Unfortunately, most recipes are designed for at least four servings, often requiring ingredients that are not regularly stocked, potentially leading to a one-time use.
Maintaining a healthy and economical lifestyle means resisting the temptation of ordering takeout every night and attempting to cook at home. Fortunately, there are five cost-efficient ways single folks can prepare meals in bulk without wasting food.
1. Consider a Vacuum Sealer:
This tool might be an upfront investment, but it pays off in the long run by extending the life of perishable items. For instance, you can buy meat on sale in bulk, use the necessary portion, and vacuum seal the rest. The sealer is also useful for leftovers. From vegetables to meatballs and even cookie dough, you can seal and freeze individual servings for future use. Vacuum-sealed items have a longer life because there’s no risk of freezer burn or juices leaking out. Consequently, you could have meals ready for weeks ahead without needing to shop for groceries while you utilize your frozen stock.
2. Plan Similar Yet Varied Meals:
When cooking in bulk, the monotony of the same meal can be daunting. Though economy suggests cooking one recipe to last the week, the likelihood of dumping the rest after a few servings due to repetitiveness is high, undermining the desired saving strategy.
A versatile way around this would be to plan different meals for the week that incorporates similar ingredients. By merely changing a few key aspects, like salad dressings or sandwich meat, you diversify your menu, ensuring the groceries are used up without getting wasted.
3. Utilize Your Freezer:
A freezer becomes an invaluable tool for singles cooking in bulk. It is useful for both preserving raw ingredients or cooking, dividing into individual servings, and then freezing an assortment of recipes. Frequent use of the freezer also provides a cost-effective way to cook in bulk.
Additionally, resources like Pinterest can provide a variety of ways to assemble and freeze ingredients in advance, providing a way to avoid food spoilage.
4. Choose Soups and Pasta:
Despite requiring consumption of the same dish repeatedly, pasta and soup are cost-effective meals that can be cooked in bulk. Since they usually require fewer ingredients, they’re light on the budget. These dishes also tend to retain their flavors the longest, making them ideal for leftovers.
5. Be Innovative with Leftovers:
If consuming leftovers isn’t appealing, there are ways to repurpose them. Once a week, use your leftover ingredients to whip up a new dish. If you have leftover veggies, consider incorporating them into a frittata, pizza, pasta, or soup. Creative usage of leftovers not only prevents waste but also breaks the monotony of meals.
Cooking for one may seem inconvenient, but with a touch of creativity and some essential tools, cooking in bulk becomes not only economic but also enjoyable. Sharing your tips and tricks to manage cooking for one or utilizing leftovers would be greatly appreciated!
