HELP!! Kitchen Help - cooking without a kitchen (merged)

RAS

Thought I would add this link http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/miniature-miracles-quick-meals-with-a-mug-and-a-microwave-8465379.html

Some of them may not be the cheapest of deals but they will cost very little to cook and are perfect for those with very little kit and those cooking for one.

Required

Knife
Chopping board
Microwave

Note the comment about using a 900W oven and adjust timings though.

Lilyplonk

During the power cuts of the late 60's/early 70's my dad got our two ring camping hob out of storage and bought a large new container of Calor Gas for using at home.

It was a bit restrictive, but the power cuts were only lasting for around 4hrs at a time on a geographical rota basis and all households were well aware of the days/times involved in advance.

We were able to at least use the Pressure Cooker and had many pans of Hot Pot/Scouse while others were travelling to the chippies in other parts of our town.

I think that if people are considering getting some kind of 'extra cooking arrangement/gadget' a camping hob would make a great alternative.

Also useful is a Halogen Oven and/or a George Foreman Grill/Griddle.

sweaty_betty

Hi there - we're having an extension done over the next few months and are going to be without a kitchen for probably around 8 weeks.

We will have the microwave and fridge freezer in the dining room, possibly also the toaster, but I'm a little worried about how we're going to manage to eat reasonably cheaply and healthily during this time. There's only so much salad or cheese on toast that I can stand!

I've decided to work through the freezer and make batches of chilli, bolognaise which can be taken out, defrosted and heated, but would appreciate any other tips you might have. At the moment I'm imagining lovely warm weather and a BBQ every night - but that's probably a bit optimistic

Any ideas?

PasturesNew

If you put dry pasta into a bowl/jug and pour boiling water on it then shove something on top to keep the heat in .... after 10 minutes or so the pasta is cooked. Worst case is that too much heat escaped, in which case simply drain, top up with boiling water again and wait a bit longer.

theoretica

Instead of draining and topping up again with boiling water I would zap things in the microwave to reheat - pretty much anything you boil can be done with a kettle and microwave.

My thoughts also turn in this direction:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Single-Table-Top-Hot-Plate-Hob-Portable-Camping-Caravan-Stove-Cooker-Hotplate-/281081418114

arbroath_lass

I'd recommend you get a slow cooker. You can cook all sorts in them and with the addition of your microwave I'm sure you could actually do fairly "normal" meals for the eight weeks.

chippy2u

Get a Halogen Oven. Since getting one I have not used my cookers oven at all. There is virtually nothing that can't be cooked in a halogen oven. I can cook a full roast dinner just by using the halogen oven to roast( meat,roast taters, yorkie puds) and a micro wave to cook veg etc. Well worth the investment (about £40/60) and it saves on electric as well!

PasturesNew

theoretica wrote: »

Instead of draining and topping up again with boiling water I would zap things in the microwave to reheat - pretty much anything you boil can be done with a kettle and microwave.

My thoughts also turn in this direction:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Single-Table-Top-Hot-Plate-Hob-Portable-Camping-Caravan-Stove-Cooker-Hotplate-/281081418114

Yeah, so would anybody that has a microwave..... but if she's using the microwave to reheat frozen meals, it's nice the pasta can be 'cooking' alongside that.

Spendless

We've recently gone thru this for a fortnight and it's not the preparation of meals if you have access to a fridge/freezer, microwave, kettle and slow cooker. The problems were space to put everything. Fortunately we have a conservatory where everything went and this was the most problematic for me, where to wash up. If you have a utility area, with a seperate sink, it should be a doddle. If you are having to traipse washing up bowl or pots, pans and cultlery upstairs to the bathroom a lot harder! We managed by picky food, rotiserrie chicken, crusty bread, salads, quiches, eating out at friends/relatives and some take-aways.

sweaty_betty

Thanks - some good suggestions so far! I hadn't thought about washing up, I'm not looking forward to that bit...