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?

The smallest Le Creuset casserole (cast iron) is only 1.5/1.7 litres I think, and it's the one I use the most since my husband died. But the smallest stainless steel saucepan is even smaller - not sure of exact size, and it has a metal handle and lid so is also perfectly oven proof as well.

I have never had an issue, but I agree with the OP - I don't like batch cooking, because I almost never fancy the same thing two days in a row. Once it's been frozen I go right off it anyway! Freshly cooked from fresh ingredients is almost always better, if cooked properly. The reason that bolognese / casseroles / etc often taste better second timer round is that they were never cooked long / slow enough in the first place, IMO :)

You might want to try searching under ramekin as those are single serving oven proof dishes. I do single serving shepherds pies in them

https://www.johnlewis.com/browse/home-garden/cooking-baking/view-all-roasting/ramekins/_/N-7d9wZ1z0p3yl

they are miniature casserole dishes.

Agree that is a great method, I love slow cooked porridge from pinhead oats. Got one in there now, and yes the bain marie method is great! I bought this pot which sits in there perfectly and doesn't sit proud of the basin top so the cooker lid can still go on :-)

I simply cannot imagine a planet on which I would ever cook only enough rice for one serving.

As a pp commented, it’s not ‘leftovers’ - it’s just normal, sensible cooking.

Wilko might be helpful here - I found some smaller cookware for my mum on their website recently - https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/my-grey-casserole-dish/p/8291628
I also found a slow cooker for my BF when he is on his own - amzn.eu/d/031mxw1y

No ikea near me, I turned to chat gpt after google was just throwing up dud results. Figured it could "read" all the pages quicker than me and get to an answer faster.....

Single since 2007 and lived alone since 2012 and have indeed had this problem since I became more interested in cooking more interesting meals for myself, the kind that I see in recipe books that involve specific methods.

Glass/pyrex cookware is a good option though - good value and comes in lots of different sizes with lids. just brown the ingredients in a frying pan on the hob and tip in.

Not sure where you live but Staub/Zwilling have shops for B rated stock at discounted prices in Bicester Village and Wembley. You can also shop via WhatsApp from these shops and they will ship to you. You can also find them on Amazon Warehouse at discounted prices. Huge Staub fan, you won’t regret your purchases even if you buy at full price and if you look after them well they will last you for life.

Also, look on Vinted, OP. There are some really good value Staubs on there, as well as some of the other suggested pots, in good condition.

I have given away several of my larger saucepans and bits of ovenware but no, I don't find it a problem at all.

I got some great options for single dishes and pies etc from TK Maxx

So cook and eat the amount you want to? I don't see the problem here, and I am a single person.

When I lived alone I didn’t struggle- I had a small air fryer from Lakeland and a one person slow cooker, can’t remember where that was from though. Probably not very helpful!

Well I've got a small frying pan and small saucepan. And a fairly small baking tray. Those are what I would use if I was just cooking one meal for me.

But I do tend to think if I'm making stew or sauce or something it's the same amount of effort to make a bigger portion so I'll just save some for the next couple of days.

Also Air fryers are ideal for single people aren't they?

Not suitable for a hob at these are great for single portion desserts or pasta bake, lasagna or similar in the oven. We got one for our daughter to take with her to university and the other one is used by me if I am on my own when my husband is working away.

For things like currys, I definitely do cook two portions and then just one goes into the freezer.

www.amazon.co.uk/Stoneware-Souper-Cubes-individual-portion/dp/B09RQ7JHQN/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis?th=1

One of the few things I kept from my dad’s kitchen was his smallest cast iron casserole. It’s perfect for 1-2 portions.
i think it’s from Sainsbury’s. It’s like the old Pyrex in design with the lid being like a small quiche tray and no handle so it can be used for a couple of roast potatoes too.

Not entirely relevant, but I get upset that there aren't small portions of everything- there are only two of us, and so much stuff goes to waste: sauces, bread, butter- we only use a bit when we want it, then it is out of date/mouldy.
We have taken to use mayonnaise instead of butter and spreads. Does anyone know where we can buy small bits of food?

This. I often cook just for me (DP works away a lot) and there's no way on earth I'd go to the effort of making a single portion of risotto or biryani, so I make 2 or 3 portions and have it over the next day or two.

Warms up absolutely fine, often better, I can't see how it's 'not fresh'. Or your second portion of risotto can be fried up into patties with beaten egg (and cheese) - similar to arancini but way easier.

When I packed DD off to Uni I bought her stackable saucepans with lids and removable handles. She has cheap Tower ceramic ones and seems to be able to make cakes in them (smallest is 16cm).

Would that work?

What exactly are you trying to cook? I think the thing is that people tend to use these for joints or a whole chicken. You can’t get a teeny one person joint or chicken. It’s not really economical to make a stew that takes 4 hours of slow cooking or a cassoulet in one portion sizes. Because of the energy and cooking time required. Most everything else can be cooked in a baking dish and those come in all sizes.

You’re throwing away bread rather than automatically putting what you can’t eat immediately into the freezer?

Heavens!

I know bread isn’t the must expensive thing, but as someone living alone most of the time it seems strange to me that people aren’t on top of maintaining a larder that works for them. I cook from scratch every day, have veg box deliveries and Ocado deliveries and eat well - with almost zero waste, ever.

We can freeze it. My point is, you can't buy just little bits of stuff.

Not sure if its helpful, but this little electric pot can be used for making stews (so assuming casseroles would be ok to):
Drew & Cole Drew&Cole CleverPot - Black | Very

Casseroles meals are the type of meal you are meant to make more servings of. This is due to casseroles often tasting better after the sugars break down during the refrigeration process - but also because it takes so long to cook in ambulance oven.

When I was single I ate steak and vegetables or got take out as take out was often cheaper than buying all of the ingredients to only use a portion of each.

I have a tiny pot that I use for boiling a small number of eggs, usually, so I don't need as much water.

Pots and cookware exist in all sizes. I think I got all mine in Ikea.