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

[MindYourUsage]

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?

Or to put it another way - "Shut up and batch cook"

Amazon sell many types and sizes of cookware, by various makers.

But those sorts of meals lend themselves perfectly to storing in fridge or freezer - stew or curry type meals - so you’d just make two portions in that case. Or get a smaller pan. There are lots available in department stores and cook shops. I lived on my own for years, cooked extensively, and never encountered this ‘problem’. There are some things in life where being one is difficult, like single supplements for travel, but honestly - cooking pots isn’t one of them.

This is such a non issue, only on mumsnet do I see single people acting so hard done by or like the world is against them. And I say that as someone thats been single for years and now a single parent.

Go to TK Maxx they have all sorts of weird and wonderful sizes

I had a little slow cooker from Lakeland once that did a maximum of 2 servings.

It's not batch-cooking though, it's just...cooking. Things like curries, casseroles etc are best cooked the night before as flavours percolate through the dish. Batch cooking typically involves cooking a large pot of something and then separating it into smaller containers for daily use. Cooking enough casserole for two days is not it.
Single person here. I have 1l casserole dish which does me three meals. I consider myself eating fresh food and I certainly don't batch cook in any shape or form.

If you dont want to batch cook, and for the life of me I cant understand why because making enough for 2 portions and saving the second for another meal is not only energy efficient but time efficient, then just put less in the casserole dish or pan.

I have 2 single serving casserole dishes which I use for making nachos and macaroni cheese as we have one each. I just bought them in a regular cook shop and have had them for over 20 years. Never thought to measure their volume

I have the same pots and pans now that I had when I was single and I can't for one second think of a time that I've ever had an issue cooking?!

You're talking about making biryanis and risottos OP, just make them in a normal sized pan?!

John Lewis have a 20 cm casserole.
And Pyrex do any size you might want.

Pyrex do a 1L and 1.7 https://www.johnlewis.com/browse/home-garden/cooking-baking/pots-pans/pyrex/casserole-stockpots/_/N-7d3bZ1z13zw7Z1z0wxa1

I've got a casserole dish for two. Just put leftovers in the fridge, it's not batch cooking.

Anyway the best thing to buy really is a Remoska. The smaller version. Costs pennies to use and lasts decades.

Can’t you divide it into portions straight away where you put one on your plate and the others into Tupperware so you are not tempted to go back for seconds?
Seems more of a ‘you’ problem than the type of available cookware.

Also small saucepans and frying pans are available.

Lots of single person sized pyrex and containers. A small rice cooker can make a meal for one person. Kitted my DD out for uni with it all. However, she now likes to make enough for at least two so she has a serving for a second night, so we’ve had to buy bigger dishes and a bigger rice maker. And as other say… you’re not obliged to fill a big pot/pam, so put the ingredients for one person in it?

Weird to make casseroles your hill to die on re batch cooking.

That Staub 800ml one would be great. 100ml really isn’t going to make much difference.

I know exactly what you mean. I to, am looking for a small, but not too small, deep lidded casserole dish.

I use my Staub rice cooker a lot as a pan, it's deep but at 16 or 12 cm in diameter (didn't know they did the 12cm) i reach for it all the time. And it takes up less drawer space.

Here's an IKEA link for a 16 cm https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/vardagen-pot-with-lid-enamelled-cast-iron-matt-black-80560667/

And my beloved Staub, dark interior, so doesn't show the burnt times. I have a stunning dark, green one with an etched lid. They change the colours around. Have an internet deep dive.
https://www.zwilling.com/uk/staub-la-cocotte-16-cm-round-cast-iron-rice-cocotte-citron/1029064.html

Now find me a rectangular, lidded, 21 cm by 14 ISH lidded dish please

This. I can't see the problem. Also, batch cooking a casserole, for instance, and having it with fresh vegetables is still eating fresh food.

I just use the glass ones personally. Have 3 all in small sizes. But you can get others

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazing-Cookware-Terracotta-Casserole-Peacock/dp/B00JQZYB4Q?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Did you have a look at this one, OP? It looks ideal for what you're describing.

Just go in a charity shop and find a good old fashioned pyrex dish. It really is as easy as that.

They won't work on an induction hob.

Lakeland does a 14cm casserole, 1l capacity. Much smaller than that and it would start to be too small for a hob. Probably not such a problem on an induction hob but very small pans aren’t very stable on my gas hob.