Cooking is a great way to de-stress, save money on food, and maybe eat a little healthier. When most recipes are geared toward families of 4 it can be hard to use up all the ingredients we purchase before they go bad. We are here to provide you with tips and tricks so you can successfully cook for one. Visit the UC Davis Teaching Kitchen on Pinterest to find useful recipes and advice for your college cooking needs.
AT THE GROCERY STORE:
1. Grocery shop once a week. It can be tempting to pick up only the foods you need for that day, but this can lead to you purchase more than you need and not sticking to your meal plan.
Speaking of…
2. Create a meal plan. Set aside some time to figure out your breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. This way you can shop for these ingredients. With this plan, you’ll have something to look forward to at home and will be less likely to dine out.
3. Have “Theme Weeks.” If you have stir-fry on Monday, spaghetti on Tuesday, and soup on Wednesday, you’ll be picking up a lot of different ingredients that week. Consider assigning themes to each week: such as recipes from certain countries or recipes using a certain vegetable in different ways. You’ll save money on your weekly groceries and learn how to make some fun new meals.
4. Utilize your store’s bulk section and deli. Save money and reduce food waste by purchasing only the amount of food you need. Some grocery stores with bulk sections and delis include Safeway, Nugget, and the Co-Op.
5. Pick up canned and frozen foods. These products last for months or years, so you can stock up and fill your freezer with the essentials, without worrying about items going bad. (Tip: grab free canned foods and other goods from The Pantry!)
IN YOUR KITCHEN:
1. Find single-serving recipes. Check out our Pinterest board “Cooking For One” to find easy, single-serving recipes if you’re not into leftovers. That being said...
2. Enjoy your leftovers! If you cook a larger recipe, refrigerate your leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. Cooking every day can be daunting; this is a great way to cut down on your cooking (and cleaning) time.
3. Take up meal-prepping. Set aside some time on the weekend to cook your dinners or lunches for the week in mass quantities. You’ll be able to use up your ingredients while they are still fresh, and save on weeknight cooking stress. Here are some tips on how to stock your college kitchen to make meal prepping easier.
4. Use your favorite mug! Mugs are a convenient way to make a single portion of a meal. Maybe you have heard of mug cakes, but did you know you can make pasta, scrambled eggs, and rice in mugs too?
5. Freeze for later. Take advantage of your freezer! Most prepared foods last in your fridge for about seven days, but can last in a freezer for months. Visit our “Cooking 101” Pinterest board to learn how long specific foods can last in the freezer (and some other cool kitchen tips!).