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How long does it take you to cook on average?

18 replies

Hope54321 · 01/10/2021 09:51

We’re an asian family so curry is common for us to consume regularly. On average including prepping, such as chopping ingredients, it takes me 1.5 hours to cook every other day. I don’t cook every day!

How long does it take you to cook on average?

OP posts:
NotMyCat · 01/10/2021 09:52

I batch cook.. most things take around 45 mins including cleaning up, some longer but it's not stuff I stand over

soupey1 · 01/10/2021 10:04

Variable but from 45mins to 2-3 hours. To be fair I love cooking so am happy to spend ages messing around in the kitchen.

ItWasntMyFault · 01/10/2021 10:09

Usually about 45 mins ish. I often cook double and freeze so less on the days we are using something I've previously frozen.
Obviously if I'm doing a roast or something like that then it takes longer.

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PlonkyWillyWonky · 01/10/2021 10:15

Depends entirely on what I'm cooking, I'm happy to spend hours prepping /cooking if I don't have to leave the house
If I have a busy day about 30-50 minutes
Feel free to post your curry recipes though Grin

MatildaIThink · 01/10/2021 10:21

@Hope54321

We’re an asian family so curry is common for us to consume regularly. On average including prepping, such as chopping ingredients, it takes me 1.5 hours to cook every other day. I don’t cook every day!

How long does it take you to cook on average?

It really depends on the meal, but perhaps also what you class as cooking. Simple meals the time doing something might only be 5-10 minutes, but cooking it might take a little longer, complicated meals might take 30-45 minutes of prep and hours to actually cook.

Last night I did chicken fajitas, chopped an onion and threw that in a pan to brown off whilst I chopped some peppers and chicken breasts into strips (3-4 minutes) and very thinly sliced chorizo, took onion out of the pan and threw in the chicken and spices, about 10-12 minutes to cook the strips, added the peppers and onions in. Whilst the chicken was cooking I laid the table, grated some cheese, got out the salsa and sour cream etc. Chicken + other bits into a bowl, popped the tortillas in the microwave for quickly to warm, onto a plate, put on table, husband comes downstairs from settling the oldest to bed, we sit down and eat. Probably 25 minutes in total, something really simple like pesto pasta takes minutes, other things are often just a bit of prep, popping things in the oven and steamer etc.

In winter sometimes I will do the prep the evening before if it is a slow cooker meal, goes in the slow cooker and ready for the evening. Fish and veg takes 15-20 minutes. On a Sunday either me or my husband might do a roast, again prep time is probably only 20 minutes, even if the cooking can take a couple of hours, with a final bit of work of 15-20 minutes when it all comes together at the end.

The longest time cooking I do is when I bake with my eldest as she is only five, it takes quite a while.

ElephantOfRisk · 01/10/2021 10:21

Obviously varies depending on what we are having, but I'd say probably an hour a day.

TheUnbearable · 01/10/2021 10:37

An hour a day minimum.

I made a vegetable risotto yesterday despite stirring it lovingly it stuck a tiny bit when I popped in to the garden to pick some fresh basil. I roasted some meat in the oven to go with it.

I do some slow cooker meals in the winter. That’s really quick. I shared a house at uni with an Asian girl and she taught me how to make curry. I have followed that but put it in the slow cooker so it can be left. Meat is very tender in a slow cooker.

AtleastitsnotMonday · 01/10/2021 10:49

Quite difficult to quantify but I’d say on an average weekday around 40 mins hands on time but often there is time in the oven on top where I get on with other things. I don’t tend to spend much time cooking breakfast, either cold or things like grilled tomatoes or microwaved scrambled egg which only take a couple of minutes. I tend to prep anything for lunch whilst making dinner.
At weekends I would probably say 1.5-2 hours as I tend to do more complex things and cooked breakfasts and more exciting lunches.

PurpleDaisies · 01/10/2021 10:51

Weeknights 30 minutes to an hour (unless reheating batch cooked food). It can be longer on weekends because I enjoy it.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/10/2021 10:58

Probably 15-20minutes of active cooking (chopping, mixing etc)
But something may be on the hob or in the oven a lot longer than that, just needing an occasional stir or next thing adding. But I'm off doing something else in that time.

Pikamoo · 01/10/2021 11:13

I normally go down to the kitchen an hour before I want dinner on the table. Unless I've got an easy meal lined up then probably 30 minutes. I think the minimum I could spend is 30 minutes unless I'd prepped everything beforehand. I always feel like I'll have loads of down time when cooking but actually end up being fairly constantly cooking/cleaning up/laying the table so an hour gets eaten up very quickly!

Curry is one of my easy meals as either I make the sauce mix when I do the marinade for the meat or else I'll use a pre-made paste.

usernotfound0000 · 01/10/2021 11:14

Most meals are 30-45 minutes, on a weekend I will plan ones that take a bit longer as there is less of a rush then.

MintJulia · 01/10/2021 11:17

I cook every day. Anything between 15 & 45 mins.

I try new recipes at the weekend so I can add variety.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 01/10/2021 11:17

Half an hour most days, sometimes 45 minutes to an hour. Sometimes 20 minutes for a stir fry (including preparation time). Perhaps an average of 40 minutes. I am cooking from scratch (if not always all elements from scratch) most days.

bumblingbovine49 · 01/10/2021 11:18

I refuse to cook anything that takes more than 40 minutes . Most often it is 10- 30 mins . If you are taking 1.5 hours every other day, it works out at 45 mins a day. That is a bit too much time for me but then I loathe cooking

I occasionally do cook for longer than 40 mind but only if entertaining and/ or very special occasions

bumblingbovine49 · 01/10/2021 11:22

Sorry I meant to add my time is for active cooking too. I don't count if something is on the hob simmering or in the oven for an hour etc if I can leave it. Risotto on the hob for instance is active cooking but a pasta bake in the oven or an oven baked rice dish once put in the oven is not

Morgantowers · 01/10/2021 11:29

About the same when I cook from scratch. Onions, peppers and mushroom chopped and fried with spray oil so takes 20 mins at least, chopping for steamed broccoli and carrots is quick but a faff setting up steamer saucepan. Then cooking meat, so chopping prepping meat, making a marinade or sauce and either stir frying it or oven cooking it. I often do all the veg cooking for 2 or 3 days and store in fridge or freezer. Curry, casserole, teriyaki all save well in freezer.

If I'm doing a pasta with frozen veg and breaded chicken from freezer then 25 mins.

BigWoollyJumpers · 01/10/2021 11:30

Generally about 45mins unless I am feeling super lazy.

Last night case in point, Tortellini in broth. Less than 10 mins. Bliss.

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