Reverse Meal Planning

joedenise

@ruby_eskimo - I've got a halogen oven which I use for most things which would normally be cooked in the oven, I've also got a Remoska which also gets regular use.  The SC has ended up in the cupboard as very rarely use it as DH isn't keen on the taste and texture of anything cooked in it but instead I prefer to use a hob pressure cooker which is now 20+ years old.  I buy a new seal each year when I go to France as they are far cheaper there and easier to get as can just pick them up in the Supermarket.  The microwave also gets a fair bit of use!

I looked at the Ninja but decided I couldn't justify any more gadgets with the amount I already have.


Sorry but that doesn't really help you does it?

ruby_eskimo

Primrose said:

Ruby-eskimo
i suspect available storage space and frequency of use any be a criteria here.  How often will you be preparing meals using these device?  Will they give you value for money fuel-wise compared with using other forms of cooking?

EssexHebridean said:

I'm looking at one of the Instant Pot versions of those at the moment Ruby - we too have been considering an air fryer for a while, and in the current climate I can REALLY see the advantage of a pressure cooker. I was looking at the Ninja originally then saw in the reviews that you need various extra "bits" to actually get it to do what it says it does. (IIRC the slow cooker function needs a different lid, and the dehydrate function needs a rack which has to be purchased) We're in a position where space is indeed at a premium too - and the "two lids" initial situation of the Ninja also put me off (that's two before you even consider any more it might need - we just wouldn't have the storage space!). not quite committed yet, but I think we're going to. 

The main reason we are hesitating is that for us, it probably won't save us money - the vast majority of our cooking is done using gas, and of course that is far cheaper than electric cooking even with the increasing price of gas! We need to properly accept that it will have time advantages, and if it does replace the existing slow cooker, possibly space advantages as well. 

Thank you for the comments. 

For us storage isn't really a problem - we already store the slow cooker in our "pantry" (the cupboard under the stairs) and there is lots of space in there for both an additional device and a larger device. 

As for frequency of use: we have an electric hob and oven and don't have a microwave.  We use our slow cooker at least once a week and then the hob for most other things with the odd thing in the oven.  I've actively been trying to reduce our oven usage because it takes so long to preheat, so we aren't having things like chips as a side (much to DH's disappointment) because I don't want to have the oven on for 15-20 minutes preheating.  I can see us using an airfryer multiple times a week instead of the oven.

I've never used a pressure cooker but can see the advantages of having that functionality rather than a slow cooker for time saving.

Oh I don't know, might just replace the slow cooker and see what happens.

EssexHebridean

Mum cooked me a handful of chips in her airfryer the other week so I could see how nice they were - the preheating took 3 minutes, I watched her set it. She says that compares with at LEAST 15 minutes for the oven.  If you cook with electric and use something like one of those machines instead of the electric hob or oven I would be astonished if it doesn't save you money on cooking - and I'd think that even for one of the fairly expensive multicooker type things, the payback will be nowhere near as long as you might expect. 

If we were cooking on electric it would have been a no-brainer, no question about it! 

fionaandphil

We were in the same position about air fryer and slow cooker and have been debating since last winter. We've just gone for a 9 in 1 Ninja in the end. I really like it and have tried quite a lot of the functions. So far we've done pressure, dehydrate, slow cooker, air fryer and roast/bake.

Funnily, slow cooker is my least favourite function as I didn't feel it cooked as well as the one it is replacing but I will keep trying. Dehydrate works well with the standard trivet but I am looking out for the special one with several layers as this will work better with our gluts of vegetables, but will take a while to offset the cost of purchase. I didn't expect to like the pressure cooker but did and it is a game changer in time saving. The bake function works well and I've done pies in it a few times. The air fry function is very good, we've done a lot of home made chips and wedges.

If I'd tried beforehand I'd probably have bought a slow cooker and a smaller, cheaper air fryer. I  happy with it and will use most of the functions, just need to practice.

Do check out the size though, it is easily as big as our microwave and takes up lots of space.

Soontobeoap

I have heard of reverse meal planning but never tried it before. Started this week and WOW! I cant believe how much food that i have in the house. After an initial stock up of loo rolls, cereal, margarine, cheese and pasta this month, i should only need to buy milk, bread, eggs, veg and fruit. We are 2 meat eating adults and although i have been working on cutting food costs for 9 months now, October and November need to be cheaper to help with Christmas and heating bills. Its also been great for trying out new recipes like tuna burgers and old recipes from past frugal years like egg and sausage picnic pie. I am loving being more inventive. 

EssexHebridean

Invented a recipe for red lentil and coconut dhal tonight - entirely with ingredients we had in and my word was it tasty, I’m quite impressed with myself! I chanced it would work out OK and did a double batch so there will be a tub for the freezer too.

Meal plan for next week is done. Reverse planning all three way to free up freezer space - so we’ll be having:
Bacon, mushroom, & butternut squash risotto (mostly from the freezer)
Omelette (cheese & mushroom) for him one night, and a Buddha bowl type thing for me.
blackbean chilli (from the freezer) and rice
pulled pork (from the freezer) and wedges

We’re out one evening next week, and will eat at the pub. Tomorrow evening will be cheese & biscuits, and I’ll patch something together from what we have in for Sunday. 

MrEH is shopping tomorrow as I’m out - I’ve added a few storecupboard extras on to the list too - lemon & lime juice we need both so I’ve said get two of each, and some dried fruit on special offer ahead of it being needed for the Christmas cake.

Suffolk_lass

Welcome @Soontobeoap, good to "see" you here as well as over on GC! Lots of ideas and mutual support with lots of experienced money savers. Also lots of newer participants so always good to chip in from our own experiences, any which way.

Over here, the aftermath of FF-gate rumbles on and I had been compiling an inventory of freezer contents as I defrost the freezers. Nightmare as DH stuffed a load of stuff in the produce freezer I had already organised and recorded so I will have to do that one again when we get back from holiday. I also need to write up my meat freezer contents in a spreadsheet as he was scribing as I called. Not so bad as much of this is in baskets but they will need some reorganising as some are mixed up now. I found two small bags of lamb mince from the last year's half lamb and we have not started on this year's yet. I dod make shepherd's pie last week to reduce the meat mountain by one. We are off on hols today so will be radio silence from me for a couple of weeks. 

Ooh, @ruby_eskimo, I have two slow cookers (and an aga with a slow oven). I have one with a (Russell Hobbs) ceramic bowl and ceramic lid I have had for years, but also one with a (Sunbeam) shallow ceramic dish and plastic lid that you can also fry in (like this but a different make). No experience of big combined products here to offer insights but mulled wine in a slow cooker? just saying... if you are in a combined device you have to have somewhere to store it

ruby_eskimo

Thanks for the feedback everyone.  I think the multi-cooker is winning for us as the pressure cooker functionality is very appealing with the air fryer too.  I watched so many video reviews over the weekend 😂  DH has a Prime account and they have a sale starting tomorrow so if the one I like goes in the sale then we'll be picking it up.

Back to reverse meal planning, we're having leftover pasta bake from the freezer with some broccoli for dinner today.  Slowly working through the freezer and need to make an effort with the cupboards now.  Although did realise that we're out of chopped tomatoes somehow 😳

EssexHebridean

I just had a nosey at Prime to see if the multi-cooker I am wanting is on at a sensible price but it'll still be slightly cheaper from L@kel@nd using one of their vouchers as long as they do actually get stock in time before the vouchers expire! I've signed up for the email alert when it comes back into stock anyway so we'll see! 

Reverse planning here for tonight is MrEH having an omelette which will use up the final three eggs in the box. I'm having a sachet of mixed grains (microwavable - winner!) with some random sauteed veg I think - the veg will definitely include mushrooms (most things do) plus possibly some sprouts - yes, I know, but they're there, they need using, and they're starting to shout at me. I'll halve them and gently cook them in some sesame oil anyway. Probably some feta crumbled over the top as well. Regardless of how random it sounds I'm sure it'll taste OK! 

joedenise

Lots of using up stuff today.  Lunch was a hash using up various bits from the fridge, some cooked potato and butternut squash, half a pepper, last of a bunch of spring onions, a few mushrooms and tomatoes.  All fried off together and then added some frozen minced beef.  Once that was cooked served with a couple of fried eggs on the top.

Tonights dinner will be some of the pulled pork from Sunday in a wholemeal roll from the freezer, with the last of a bag of frozen chips, corn on the cob from the £1.50 Lidl box I got at the weekend, half a tin of beans from the fridge and the last of some coleslaw made the other day (no mayo added yet will do that shortly before serving).  Looking forward to the LOs!