Wise Ideas for Cooking for One

It starts with the right utensils and certainly smaller quantities of all foodstuffs that you buy. Just shop more frequently and only buy for the short term with the exception of stuff that keeps well and is on sale. The benefit is that you get to use mostly fresh ingredients and throw away a lot less.

A good microwave is really important since you will cook most of your vegetables in it using a Pyrex measuring cup. Get more than one and in different sizes. The 4 cup size is really very handy and you can even boil water in it for drip coffee or tea (filtered water, of course, so buy a pitcher system and keep it in the refrigerator). I use a stainless steel funnel with handle for coffee and the 2 cup filter which I place right in the stainless steel travel mug and pour the water into it that I just got out of the microwave. Why is it that the handle of the measuring cup is always at the back of the microwave when the timer beeps? Make sure you use a potholder or oven mitt to handle anything that needs to be removed from the microwave. Also remember that microwaved food continues to cook for a bit after the cascade of waves stops so don’t eat it right away. A little standing time is in order otherwise you cook your tongue, lip or the roof of your mouth. (And why do coffee filters feel the need to leave the box in pairs? Must be something they learned from watching the activity outside the ladies' washroom door of any good restaurant)

A really good skillet is a must and you should also buy an all stainless steel mesh splatter cover at the same time to match the size of pan you prefer. My preference is now a Henckels 10” stainless steel unit with a stainless steel handle that can go into the oven as well. The handle seems to stay quite cool but you should have a silicon pot holder and some longer oven mitts especially if you put the pan in the oven. The manufacturer rates the pan for 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a newer non-stick environmentally friendly coating that really works well so clean-up is a dream. It isn’t cheap but it is well worth the investment. It is good for everything from scrambled eggs, fish, sauces, browning meats to stir frying and beyond.

Add some stainless steel pots, stainless steel cooking and utensils, a silicon spatula with a good wooden handle, a few quality wooden spoons and a flipper or two that is non-marking for the skillet. Everything is designed for ease of use and clean-up. Yes they can be dishwasher safe but you should learn to wash dishes in the sink if you are only cooking for one. Dishes sit too long in a dishwasher waiting for more to be added to make for an efficient load if you are the only one using them. A couple of plastic cutting boards and thin sheets are good for knives and can be cleaned with a mild bleach solution or kitchen anti-bacterial soap. Keep you knives sharp and store them in the block with the spine resting on the groove which means the cutting edge is not in contact with the block as you extract it. Don’t put knives in the dishwasher since all that movement will dull them more quickly. For more information on kitchen knife care check out http://bozoplay.hubpages.com/hub/Kitchen-Knife-Safety

I keep a few heavier glasses in the freezer for all manner of beverages and only use it for one serving. If I want a second beer or other drink, I use another glass from the freezer which means most of my drinks stay nice and cool.

Your dinner plates and serving bowls should be microwave safe which means no gold trim and simple or no patterns. A few Pyrex or Corning ware bowls with covers are useful in the microwave or oven but the oven is not that efficient for cooking for one since it uses a lot of heat to make a small meal. A smaller propane barbecue is a good way to cook a lot of foods. The Weber Q series is a good choice and they even make an electric unit that would be good for use on apartment balconies but it is not available in Canada as yet. The folding stand makes for a dual purpose grill for the propane units since you can use it for tailgating and camping.

Making larger quantities of some foods is a good idea and freezing the rest for later use in the microwave really makes it easier during the week. A 4 quart size slow cooker is a great tool for making all sorts of tasty foods like chili, stews, soups, one-dish meals with potatoes and vegetables (sausages cut up, chicken pieces, etc.). Eating the first portion fresh is wise since the aroma will make you want to anyway and you can use the skillet to reheat or the microwave later if you freeze what is leftover. The 1.75 cup Ziploc containers are a good size for most second and third meal portions that are still in the slow cooker.

A simple rule of thumb for all of your utensils is usually more expensive is better but not always true. The more expensive units will usually last a very long time and be more efficient, but something like a slow cooker only means that unit is too large for your needs and has added features that really don’t make it a better cooking utensil. You might need a timer and I prefer a Kitchen Aid digital unit and use a rechargeable battery in it. If you aren’t cooking with the microwave, it works just fine as a timer but read your instructions so you aren’t accidently cooking nothing in the microwave which isn’t good for the unit. My Panasonic has a separate timer setting so that is no problem.

If you can’t buy food in smaller quantities or the sale price is too good to resist, just separate the items when you get home and freeze portions that you won’t be using that day. Ziploc freezer bags in the medium and large size are good for that task. A good example is chicken breasts which are usually packed 4 or 5 to a tray when they are on sale. Shopping at stores that have a meat and deli counter or two and let you pick your own fresh produce quantities is usually a better choice. You don’t gain much if you end up throwing away things like half a head of lettuce, most of a celery stalk, a large bag of potatoes that ends up rotting away, a large loaf of bread, etc.

Down the road you can get more creative with something like a pizza stone but for now learn how to make things like stir fries with the rice being cooked in the microwave and the vegetables and smaller meat portions done up in the skillet. Sliced deli meats also work well for additions to omelettes and stir fries. A simple sauce is bottled ranch or Caesar dressing.

Cooking for one doesn’t mean you have to eat overpriced frozen entrees and take out all the time. You can learn how to make tasty and nutritious meals that you can serve to that special dinner guest. Buy the better wine and use a few candles. Everything is more appetizing and looks better with the addition of wine and candle light, including the chef. So you might consider more than one plate, fork, knife, glass etc. and just adjust things for the larger quantity of foodstuffs required.

And the place to get most everything for your culinary needs is one of those larger home outfitting outlets found in those big box malls. The exception is anything electronic since the big box stores where you got your HDTV and iPod usually have sales on quality products so that is where you will probably acquire your microwave and toaster. When possible buy it on sale but buy the better or best quality items that the store sells. If you choose these, they will be part of your kitchen arsenal for a good portion of your adult life and some might even get passed on to your next of kin.

The benefits of cooking for one at home can help your pocketbook, improve your health, and impress your friends and your companions. You can get a lot of good ideas by surfing the net for interesting recipes and ingredients lists for your shopping trip. Go ahead try baking muffins, making perogies, grilling pineapple, grilling steel-head trout, microwaving corn on the cob, and making almost anything that is better than the canned variety. You will surprise yourself and find that you are a good cook. Just don’t be afraid to experiment and occasionally make charcoal or grilled leather. Yes there is a lesson there—don’t cook things too long. Better to undercook slightly than to overcook anything. You can always put something back on the stove or in the microwave and cook it a little more. You can’t do much with dried out overcooked anything. Have fun and enjoy your creations.

Cleaning Stainless Steel

An effective cleaning agent that is in most every house already is WD-40. Just rinse out the item being cleaned with soap and water if it will come in contact with food. If you have any concerns about the toxicity of WD-40 you should consult the Material Safety Data Sheet http://www.wd40.com/files/pdf/msds-wd494716385.pdf

Kitchen Gadgets

If you are looking for some ideas on buying kitchen accessories, utensils or gadgets then this link might help. http://bozoplay.hubpages.com/hub/Essential-Kitchen-Gadgets