You do not have to know how to make exquisite dishes to cook for yourself in college. With simple recipes and ingredients, you can cook up a storm while sticking to your budget. Going to the grocery store on a student budget can be a discouraging experience. It often feels like one is drowning in a pool of expenses.
Preparing your own meals should be a fun way to indulge in your favorite meals and not an overwhelming series of costs that always leave you calculating the total amount spent. So, here are some of the best tips you can use to prepare your favorite dishes without breaking the bank when you are in college.
Create a List of Food Items You Need
When you want to write a research paper successfully, you have to know the materials you need in advance.
Otherwise, you might get stuck, and you would need to delegate the paper to a paper writing service for it to be done well. The same principle should be applied in cooking; you have to know the ingredients you require in advance.
Planning a few of your weekly staple meals will help you shop appropriately.
The meal plan will allow you to get a clear glimpse of the specific ingredients you require. When going grocery shopping, ensure that you buy the groceries in bulk since items such as rice, pasta, and frozen vegetables are usually cheaper when bought in bulk.
Moreover, go for store brands instead of name brands since they are generally more affordable and equally good quality.
Keep updating your grocery list by adding what you need and eliminating items still stocked.
Buy Canned and Frozen Food
The primary challenge students who cook for themselves face is food spoilage. One may want to fuel their body with fruits and vegetables but may never get to use all their fresh supplies before they expire, which can be discouraging and might draw you to ordering takeout instead.
The solution is to buy frozen or canned food since you can use them several times without getting spoiled as long as they are stored properly. Therefore, if you have a fridge, store your vegetables and canned food and label the date on them. If you take some time before having your leftovers, you can move them to the freezer for better storage.
Identify Your Key Ingredients
One reason why writers mentioned in the Grademiners review produce superior quality papers is they know the right words to include in a paper and what to leave out. You also need to know what ingredients you require and what you can do without.
Preparing meals for yourself can be costly if you don’t know the specific ingredients you require or those that are unnecessary. Here are a few powerhouse ingredients to have in your kitchen:
- Eggs are a must-have in your fridge. They are a good source of protein and are also a versatile ingredient. You can use them for breakfast, boil them and add them to your salad, or bake them, making them a budget-friendly addition to your kitchen.
- Legumes such as lentils, beans, and peas are a healthy addition to your kitchen and can be used to make quick and efficient meals.
- Rice is a world staple that should not be missed in your kitchen. Rice is an excellent source of carbohydrates and can be used to prepare a wide variety of meals. Rice goes well with various proteins, such as chicken, meat, and beans.
- Bananas should be your go-to fruit since they are versatile. You can use them for smoothies, pancakes, or even cereals. They can also make for a quick, potassium-rich snack.
Store Smartly
Since you will be purchasing food in bulk and probably eating alone or with your roommate if you have one, it is best to store your foods properly to extend their shelf life. For instance, if you have a lot of onions and potatoes, you should store them in a calm and dark place.
Other perishables, such as meat and veggies, should be frozen in zip-top bags if you will not use them soon. Zip-top bags are suitable for such storage since getting all the air out of them is much easier than containers.
Maintain a clean and orderly pantry to prevent dust accumulation and the growth of germs on food items.
You can store food items such as rice, lentils, or beans in containers to ensure they are not in open packs. Additionally, keeping your pantry neat will make it easier for you to remember what you need to purchase so you don’t buy duplicates of what you already have.
Watch Your Cooking Technique
Your cooking techniques contribute significantly to budget-saving cooking. One technique you should adopt is making simple recipes that require fewer ingredients and do not take much time. Besides, you can cook in batches and store frozen portions for later use.
It will allow you to stretch food out for longer, which is cost-efficient. What’s more, having ready food in your freezer means you will not frequently eat out.
Another essential cooking technique that will save you a lot is utilizing leftovers. Keep leftovers; you can freeze them and use them in other recipes, which means you will preserve the ingredients you would have used in making a new dish.
Most importantly, invest in seasonings and herbs to add flavor to your simple meals, and they usually cost less.
Mop-Up
The busy school schedules and part-time jobs often make cooking look almost impossible for most students. However, if done correctly, cooking can minimize your food budget. Taking some time off on Sundays to prepare meals for the whole week and purchasing groceries means you will not have to order takeout or even prepare meals during the week when you are busy.
The excellent ways to achieve pocket-friendly cooking in college are meal planning, storing your food items properly, having a grocery list, and adopting better cooking techniques.
