To ban cooking for teenage boys

[Boysfood]

I have 3 teen ds 15,17 and 19.

They cook all the time. Breakfast lunch , I make dinner they then cook in evenings and when getting home. My electric bill is too high.

I’ve asked them to have cereal or toast or instant porridge etc for breakfast. Sandwiches etc for lunch and snacks to be something that doesn’t need cooking. We always have these type of things available but they ignore me and start cooking. I can’t remove the oven etc and they often do this when I’m out or in bed. Only 19 year old works so I can charge him more rent to cover his share but others still in education and I don’t know what to do .

Would an air fryer help?

So your children are cooking healthy meals and you want them to eat junk?

I would buy a cheap air fryer - much cheaper to run than the oven. I resisted for a long time but now ours gets used all the time by one hungry teen or another

Get an air fryer and make sure they clean up after themselves.

I don’t know. They seem to be using the pans a lot for things like pasta so I’m not sure. It’s the fact they ignore me that’s really starting to make me angry. I’ve reduced the pocket money for 15 and 17 year old already to make them realise but then they seem to think they are paying to cook as much as they want

Who said anything about junk? Non cook breakfast ideas were toast and avocado, instant porridge nut butter and fruit, yogurt and fruit. Lunch was sandwiches - with healthy fillings ? Not unhealthy

How did you come to that conclusion. Did you just feel like you needed to say something?

How much cheaper are air fryers to run ?

Ffs they’re kids and they’re obviously hungry.
Why don’t you encourage them to batch cook so they can warm it up?
Cooker shouldn’t be costing you that much to run anyway

It’s as much about the cost as it is the fact they are ignoring me

Air fryer. There are different styles and sizes, but are all much cheaper to run than an oven.

Also, if you have freezer space, encourage them to batch cook/ double/ triple portions. Then reheating will only take minutes in microwave or airfryer, again much cheaper to run than the oven.

Is the cost of electricity you are worrying about ? Or ingredients ? Or the residual mess. Not sure you cant stop them cooking but there are simple solutions.

What are they supposed to do? Go hungry?

Batch cooking and an airfryer. I love the airfryer. If they're hungry toast and cereal won't do much.

It’s the cost mostly followed by the fact they are ignoring me repeatedly

Two of those options include using a toaster and a kettle.

Do you have a smart meter to really gauge how much these breakfasts and lunches are costing to cook?

Is there anything else at all you can cut back on?

What are they cooking?

And yea, airfryer is cheaper to run than oven

There is food for them and it’s filling and healthy its just not hot

What sort of things are they cooking apart from pasta?

So don't have the food they cook in the house then? Then if they want to cook it they will have to go out and buy it themselves (which might put them off in terms of time and money.

Have you identified why they prefer hot food over your alternatives? That might help you come up with a better plan of option.

They are eating not willfully destroying your home....they dont need punishment you just need to be clear how youd prefer they do it.
They need to eat.

Reducing povket money clearly isnt landing so id stop that and reset.

Bathx cooking is great so id be looking to get them into that.

Honestly I'd get an instant pot you can do about 2 kg of rice, a big batch of pulled chicken/pork or a stew.
2 big tupperware boxes. Boil a big bag of pasta and put a bit of oil on it or boil potatoes and that can go in their too...

It goes in the fridge and they can just microwave it for 2mins when they want it. (Presumably you have a microwave?)

Or just get a really big pot so they can batch cook.

Saves on mess.

I rarely use my oven now I have an air fryer. You don’t have to wait for them to heat up so it’s cheaper and quicker.

So they are ignoring you. What punishment are they getting for that?

I mean, unless they are roasting a chicken, I don't see that these things would make much difference to the electricity costs.

Electric showers are a massive drain, especially if someone is in there a long time, are you sure that isn't the culprit instead?

I agree with the PP who said you should try not having the foods in the house.

It's a shame because it's Winter and that makes a lot of us want hot food but if you really can't cut back on anything else or buy an air fryer, I guess it's the best option.