Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think cookware for single people just doesn't exist?

235 replies

MindYourUsage · 03/03/2026 08:00

Please don't tell me to shut up and batch cook. Single people want to eat fresh, too. And not everything is suitable for freezing, defrosting and reheating.

I've been looking for a small (700ml) induction friendly lidded casserole dish that could also go in the oven and - nothing.

I even asked chatGPT - it served me a load that were 3.5L or 2.5L.......

you either get those teeeeny tiny little le creuset pots that are 250ml (I do eat a normal portion size so no and anyway they're ceramic not iron) or 2.5L litre things that I would have to over cook more than I need/want.

It's just weird when there is such a rise in single person homes that some celebrity chef hasn't cottoned on or something and come up with a cookware line that is for single-servings but isn't teeny tiny little dolls-house versions.

Rant over. Any other single people feel the same?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
21
Shedmistress · 04/03/2026 21:37

StuffFreedom · 04/03/2026 20:58

I thought one day I will be too weak to lift cast iron, so I better buy it all today to get maximum usage. Staub is definitely my favourite.

I know what Nigella means. Cooking for one tonight , I go to the freezer, look in for inspiration, there's half a cottage pie that wasn't that great the first time, a fish pie that I don't fancy, in fact I don't want any pies. There's the Bolognese sauce I didn't want last week, or the week before or the week before that. When I look in the freezer it's full of things I have made a decision not to eat or to eat before. What I really want is to open the door and find something unexpected and think oh, that sounds nice.
Sadly, I have metophically eaten every thing in the freezer before.

Perhaps all your food is tasteless as you have used the wrong sized pan to cook it in. Do better.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 04/03/2026 21:40

Aixellency · 04/03/2026 12:16

I completely comprehend the necessity to use the right size cooking container - but I’m still appalled at the false economy of regularly cooking in the tiniest amounts possible.

For some though, there as much pleasure in the cooking as the eating. Or at least, the cooking and the anticipation is part of the enjoyment of eating. So cooking little and often makes perfect sense. Food is more than just fuel…and if time / cost is not an issue then I struggle to see what economy, false or real, has to do with it!

Aluna · 04/03/2026 21:49

Shedmistress · 04/03/2026 21:37

Perhaps all your food is tasteless as you have used the wrong sized pan to cook it in. Do better.

Show quote history

There seems to be a lot of mince and mash based meals in that poster’s freezer - I don’t like either and yes we’ve all eaten those a zillion times.

I have game casserole with chestnuts and orange zest - delicious the first time so look forward to the next; red cabbage to go with previous; chicken forestiere ditto; lamb tagine and some pommes dauphinoise.

likelysuspect · 04/03/2026 22:58

StuffFreedom · 04/03/2026 20:58

I thought one day I will be too weak to lift cast iron, so I better buy it all today to get maximum usage. Staub is definitely my favourite.

I know what Nigella means. Cooking for one tonight , I go to the freezer, look in for inspiration, there's half a cottage pie that wasn't that great the first time, a fish pie that I don't fancy, in fact I don't want any pies. There's the Bolognese sauce I didn't want last week, or the week before or the week before that. When I look in the freezer it's full of things I have made a decision not to eat or to eat before. What I really want is to open the door and find something unexpected and think oh, that sounds nice.
Sadly, I have metophically eaten every thing in the freezer before.

I totally get what she means and she's right.

I think people are being obtuse, just like the responses about OPs issue.

likelysuspect · 04/03/2026 22:58

And I say that having just put 4 pots of left overs from tonight in the freezer.

Another 4 portions. Another 4.......

StuffFreedom · 05/03/2026 19:21

Aluna · 04/03/2026 21:49

There seems to be a lot of mince and mash based meals in that poster’s freezer - I don’t like either and yes we’ve all eaten those a zillion times.

I have game casserole with chestnuts and orange zest - delicious the first time so look forward to the next; red cabbage to go with previous; chicken forestiere ditto; lamb tagine and some pommes dauphinoise.

Show quote history

I going to up my game @Aluna I'm just emerging from the cooking bland for others stage.
I love the sound of your freezer.
Any other tasty dishes that freeze well? I'm making a list.

Aluna · 05/03/2026 19:43

StuffFreedom · 05/03/2026 19:21

I going to up my game @Aluna I'm just emerging from the cooking bland for others stage.
I love the sound of your freezer.
Any other tasty dishes that freeze well? I'm making a list.

Show quote history

Oh well I’m a lazy cook it’s all very easy. If you’ve got an Instant Pot i just throw everything in there and then freeze half.

What else - stroganoff, a Jamie Oliver pork goulash recipe that’s so good - that’s also very easy. Chicken korma, lamb korma etc.

Sgtmajormummy · 08/03/2026 11:13

I keep getting reels from this person on Facebook. One pot one person recipes.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1YDoo19EEc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Katrinawaves · 10/03/2026 12:33

These look interesting @MindYourUsage and on special offer via this article

www.mirror.co.uk/money/shopping-deals/mini-version-viral-best-pan-36837081

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread