one saucepan cooking

tina_malteser

i live alone so unless im having visitors over for tea its just me, it got me thinking about empty tins!! can i cook more than one thing in a single saucepan and save on gas (electricity) i like peas and sweetcorn mixed together so i combined enough to eat in one tin instead of one saucepan, enough sliced potato in water in one tin and enough cabbage in water in another tin..then filled the saucepan halfway up with water like a bain-marie..hey presto it worked and saved on gas...:j i probably saved a 3rd on my usual amount of gas having them cooking in the same pan at the same time and used the hot water from the pan to make the (instant)gravy, hence not boiling the kettle...does anybody else have a cheaper and less fussier way of cooking for one:T

krlyr

I've seen quite a few "one pot" recipe books, I'm sure you could find them free online too

krlyr

Here you go

kittycat204

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=earth-talk-can-dont

Don't shoot the messenger.

valk_scot

How about a pressure cooker? You may never use it for actually pressure cooking anything but many types come with three triangular inserts for cooking several foods at once, plus of course the liquid foodstuff or gravy in the base.

You can also get three-tier pots, with a solid base and either two perforated tiers on top for steaming or one solid based tier and one perforated tier for steaming and reheating. Or buy a cheap bamboo steamer out the Chinese supermarket or a universal type steamer to fit in an existing pot.

Ad86

I also cook 2-3things in one pan and use the hot water for gravy/sauces.

kettlenic

Or a steamer - then you can layer things in the trays and use electricity - cheaper than gas...

lostinrates

kettlenic wrote: »

Or a steamer - then you can layer things in the trays and use electricity - cheaper than gas...

I use a hob steamer (on electric hob) and honestly cannot understand why they are not more popular. I have steamed veg regularly as a meal, and when we have new potatoes they go in the water at the bottom. Fish and chicken can be steamed, though admit I am not keen on steamed chicken.

Tiered steamers are healthy, quick, and easy and easier to produce veg at the just right point than when boiling them.

Need2bthrifty

I'm cooking for myself most of the time and like Lostinterest I use a steamer loads - unfortunately I only have one additional tier (hope to get another to add on) - but use the bottom with the water for things like potatoes and root veg that are generally going to be mashed (sometimes I put in an egg to hard-boil for sandwiches the next day)

Food that needs less cooking time like green beans/spinach/broccoli/frozen veg along with things like fish go in the top layer.

gayleygoo

Cabbage, bacon and potatoes is a good one pot meal, I use our pressure cooker but a large saucepan would be fine. I boil up a joint of bacon (from Lidl they are usually around £3.49 depending on size and sometimes reduced in price) for an hour or as directed on the packaging. I take it out to rest, then put the scrubbed spuds into the pot of hot, bacony water and do those until about half cooked. Then pop in some shredded cabbage and cook until, well, cooked. Drain the water, reserving some to make gravy if you like. This is one of our favourite dinners and if you make extra then it's great all fried up the next night as bubble and squeak. No reason why you couldn't also add other veg like carrots and parsnips along with the cabbage.

lostinrates

Need2bthrifty wrote: »

I'm cooking for myself most of the time and like Lostinterest I use a steamer loads - unfortunately I only have one additional tier (hope to get another to add on) - but use the bottom with the water for things like potatoes and root veg that are generally going to be mashed (sometimes I put in an egg to hard-boil for sandwiches the next day)

Food that needs less cooking time like green beans/spinach/broccoli/frozen veg along with things like fish go in the top layer.

Hehehe, best misread of my 'name' ever. Thank you for making me grin!