Please help me kick the processed food habit

queengoth

It's the tiny fridge that bugs me most, the freezer is a 12volt one and I have a 240v tiny chest freezer in the spare room but i would love one of those giant American fridge, freezers. I found when I lived in a house most of the work surface was taken up with unused gadgets, bread maker, slow cooker etc now all I have is the microwave and a 1950's fruit squeezer that I couldn't bear to part with.

PasturesNew

queengoth wrote: »

I found when I lived in a house most of the work surface was taken up with unused gadgets, bread maker, slow cooker etc now all I have is the microwave and a 1950's fruit squeezer that I couldn't bear to part with.

I've got a hob - with a piece either side. One side's got the toaster and kettle; the other side's got the breadbin. Both sides have a wall unit over them. I pull the toaster/kettle to the edge to use them; I will move the bread bin somewhere else....

I've then got a sink 12' away - on the opposite side. That has a space either side, but no sockets. One side is directly under the gas boiler, so unusable for anything and I like to keep it clear "in case there's a leak or emergency".

Then there's "the workspace", 1.5 cupboards wide. That has sockets. The microwave is permanently there. When I use the mini oven that also goes there.

I usually "cook", continually criss crossing the barren middle of the kitchen. Big floor space, no actual useful cupboards or worktop.

Beans on toast is:
Toaster pulled forward, put bread in.
Walk to the other corner to open the beans. Carry beans to the 3rd corner to put them in the microwave.
Cross the kitchen diagonally to turn the toast over.
Cross the kitchen diagonally as the beans just pinged and need a stir.
Cross the kitchen diagonally as the toast just popped up.
Cross the kitchen diagonally to get the beans out of the microwave and plonk them on the toast.

Mine's almost like a galley kitchen - but with 12' between the walls.

I can't put the toaster/kettle next to the microwave as that leaves no room to put the food down when I take the food out of the microwave.
The slow cooker also goes onto the spot beside the microwave, so when the SC's on, there's no spare space.

Lots of air room, lots of floor space, no working space/cupboards/sockets.

suki1964

PN Seeing as your hob isn't used, stick a bit of work top or a board or a glass board over the top of it and use it as counter top

I have loads of counter top yet I still use the hob top on busy cooking days

PasturesNew

suki1964 wrote: »

PN Seeing as your hob isn't used, stick a bit of work top or a board or a glass board over the top of it and use it as counter top

I have loads of counter top yet I still use the hob top on busy cooking days

I can't do that. I'd be petrified I'd accidentally knock a knob or something and the gas would fizz out and I'd end up blowing myself up.

Also - it's a bit high to be honest. I'm only 5' high and the hob's boob height, so not really a comfortable/useful working height for anything.

I'm also "clumsy" (dyspraxia), so could open up a whole new can of worms with anything balanced on anything else.... and trying to lift something off, being short & cr4p, I'd most likely end up catching the thing and pulling it off, dropping it on my foot, making me drop whatever I was holding

I'm an accident looking for somewhere to happen

moneyistooshorttomention

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've got a hob - with a piece either side. One side's got the toaster and kettle; the other side's got the breadbin. Both sides have a wall unit over them. I pull the toaster/kettle to the edge to use them; I will move the bread bin somewhere else....

I've then got a sink 12' away - on the opposite side. That has a space either side, but no sockets. One side is directly under the gas boiler, so unusable for anything and I like to keep it clear "in case there's a leak or emergency".

Then there's "the workspace", 1.5 cupboards wide. That has sockets. The microwave is permanently there. When I use the mini oven that also goes there.

I usually "cook", continually criss crossing the barren middle of the kitchen. Big floor space, no actual useful cupboards or worktop.

Beans on toast is:
Toaster pulled forward, put bread in.
Walk to the other corner to open the beans. Carry beans to the 3rd corner to put them in the microwave.
Cross the kitchen diagonally to turn the toast over.
Cross the kitchen diagonally as the beans just pinged and need a stir.
Cross the kitchen diagonally as the toast just popped up.
Cross the kitchen diagonally to get the beans out of the microwave and plonk them on the toast.

Mine's almost like a galley kitchen - but with 12' between the walls.

I can't put the toaster/kettle next to the microwave as that leaves no room to put the food down when I take the food out of the microwave.
The slow cooker also goes onto the spot beside the microwave, so when the SC's on, there's no spare space.

Lots of air room, lots of floor space, no working space/cupboards/sockets.

In the course of all my kitchen googling - I've seen quite a few freestanding mini kitchen tables (some with a shelf or the like as a "bottom layer"). I think some have wheels on too? Could you maybe buy one of them? I think things like that start at around £100 - and go up to rather more expensive.

I've seen some that are like narrow freestanding breakfast bar with 2 stools one can put in underneath them and I think they're a good idea in some circumstances. It was my first thought to have one of them - before I decided to have a built-in breakfast bar going along the other wall of the kitchen.

You could choose whichever price point suited you on that.

Then put one of them bang in the middle of the kitchen floor and that would be extra work surface for you.

EDIT; I just googled -putting in "freestanding kitchen breakfast bar". The one I was contemplating at one point is around £250 (sale price). But there is, for instance, one from Arg*s for around £60.

suki1964

PasturesNew wrote: »

I can't do that. I'd be petrified I'd accidentally knock a knob or something and the gas would fizz out and I'd end up blowing myself up.

Also - it's a bit high to be honest. I'm only 5' high and the hob's boob height, so not really a comfortable/useful working height for anything.

I'm also "clumsy" (dyspraxia), so could open up a whole new can of worms with anything balanced on anything else.... and trying to lift something off, being short & cr4p, I'd most likely end up catching the thing and pulling it off, dropping it on my foot, making me drop whatever I was holding

I'm an accident looking for somewhere to happen

Lol I know I shouldn't laugh but you do make me so want to wrap you up in cotton wool whilst feeding you chips and cider

Your inventiveness around your predicaments amazes me

jackyann

I too often feel like an accident waiting to happen!

But a for OP - loads of good advice, but I would add: what do you really like? What makes you go 'yum'? Then think about a way of cooking this - or cooking it simply, and think about what it will stretch to as well.

If you can afford it, I'd suggest a vacuum packer to help extend the life of a lot of food.

PasturesNew

This thread isn't about me, it's about somebody asking for help.
I'm a lost cause

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

... freestanding mini kitchen tables .... one from Arg*s for around £60.

Let's get back to solving solvable problems.... I'm unfixable.

Treasurequeen

I have just moved into a flat and I am finding it hard cooking for one ( I am a social eater I don't like eating on my own). I have a betterware salad keeper and its keeps my salad fresher for longer. Frozen veg is always in my freezer and I use what I need so no waste there. I also like the microwave veg bags you can get in the supermarkets one bag is enough for one person and its easy to cook. I am disabled so cant use the hob without supervision so the microwave is my best friend along with my oven. I have a meal planner I got in wilko that I plan my weekly meals on. I don't have a lot in my fridge at the moment but my freezer is jam packed full of homemade meals such as soup, Bolognese, casserole, shepherds pie, hotpot. I just get it out and defrost and then pop it in the microwave. I make a cheese sauce out of nearly out of date milk and make broccoli cheese and freeze. I make macaroni cheese with leftover bits of cheese and then freeze it for another day.

I use tinned veg and potatoes and put them into casseroles, I must say having a cupboard of spices and herbs is essential to make food taste better. I listen to my nans advice if it looks alright and smells alright it is ok to eat. I ignore best before dates im more cautious with dairy. Meat I get on offer and freeze and then make batch meals with it and then freeze it in portions. Sausages I bag them up into twos and freeze in freezer bags, they can be put into homemade toad in hole, with a mini cooked breakfast.

pollyanna_26

With apologies to op .
PN Have a look at the Ikea bekvam kitchen trolley , Solid birch , top and two lower shelves and two wheels at the rear . I have two and they are very useful as they are easily moved to where you are working and in your case could then be returned to the dead space . Measurements are 58cm x50cm work area . I had mine delivered as am nowhere near a store but they are very useful and suitable for painting , staining should you wish .
polly