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?

Geez why’s everyone so accusatory here!! Op I’m not single but yes I find all sizes of eg oven dishes totally wrong!

Not RTFT past the first page; hopefully by page 5 you have had more people getting where you’re coming from but just chipping in as what seems to be a rare voice of agreement. As the sole vegetarian in the family I often have to do smaller meals just for me; reducing quantities but using normal size pot often doesn’t work as the large surface area means liquid evaporates more quickly/stuff burns more easily. And I’m not going to tell you to ‘just batch cook’ as you’ve clearly said you don’t want to…

Yes agree it is hard to find cookware or meal ideas for one. In theory it’s easy but most recipes are aimed at families. I did find a mini cake pan that made a perfect sized cake for one that made me unreasonably happy! I think companies are starting to cotton on now with smaller portion sizes/packets aimed at solos. Argos do a good range of smaller cooking electricals 1L slow cooker, fryer etc) that are useful for us singletons

https://amzn.eu/d/01X4Zvev

300ml - that's probably plenty if you are also having rice? Oven and induction safe.

When I'm cooking things for one, I did a lot of my casserole type meals in pyrex dishes. They come in a range of sizes. I have a set of 3, and the middle size does a large single portion, or two smaller portions. Depends on appetite I guess! The pyrex range are great, as they're oven and microwave safe, and they wash up well.

Lakeland do a good range of sizes. I used to stock up on their mini baking pans, which were ideal for when you want to cook something like a single portion of oven chips, or a single chicken breast. I had loads of them!

Yes YABU because there are loads of pots and pans around the 1l size. Your can’t expect every single individual need to be met by every company. You can also use a bigger pan to cook a smaller amount of food.

Lakelands 16cm casserole is great for one person cooking. I use it a lot. I haven’t found it too big for anything I make.

I have a young DD so often cook 1.5 portions but also often make things she won’t eat in single portions when she is at her dad’s.

I have had some success on ebay buying vintage cookware which seems to be a bit smaller in scale. Ive bought some lovely enamel stuff in very good nick (no brand names and rather 70s in colour!)

Is 440mil too small?

Vogue Stainless Steel and Aluminium Tri-Wall Mini Casserole 10cm - GG026 - Nisbets

@MindYourUsage

That is really not what the other poster said 😳.

Everyone has tried to help! You are being really combative about this like it’s some personal vendetta agains single people.

ChatGPT is not idea for shopping for
cook wear - go to a big cook shop or use amazon (not google) or all the helpful suggestions PP have made.

Amazed at some of the snarky responses on here OP

You're right that cooking in a big pan changes the ratio of how you use liquids and the speed at which a single portion cooks and I do understand why you might not want to have batches of food, I batch cook lots of things but what it means is the freezer is piled up with dinners and someone might not want that, or have the space to do that without eating the same thing day in and day out.

Lidl do a lovely cast iron dish set when they come around again, the small one is 1.35l, I also have a small Swan slow cooker and a tiny rice cooker. I have small frying pans and small milk pans. Grains are particularly difficult due to the layer of liquid so Ive taken to doing small portions in the microwave or the small rice cooker. Theres also a tiny soup maker which is amazing.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/30637780/lidl-le-creuset-casserole-dish-dupe/

https://www.kaleidoscope.co.uk/products/swan-1-5l-slow-cooker-retro-red//A-80K907

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/62569/lakeland-mini-electric-rice-cooker-05l?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20891625552&gbraid=0AAAAADtoD6NaT9ygwUr6Sc5VagKk2EQCD&gclid=CjwKCAiAqprNBhB6EiwAMe3yhimLIuMdQPaLh2yaJEPismKjiK-jwUKd9z3IKghqCdE_whW1yu34jRoCLawQAvD_BwE

https://justmeproducts.co.uk/product/soup-maker/

I do believe that a small Nacco from Denmark is what you are looking for. I don't think they're still in production, but you can find them second hand and these things would last through a nuclear war, so please don't have any qualms about buying used. This particular listing is a good price:

Small Nacco 15E Denmark Blue Enamel Cast Iron Casserole Oven Dish | eBay UK

I've got this exact one, having bought it more or less by accident second hand on Facebook marketplace, but now I would not be without it!

I can tell you how much it holds, because I usually reheat homemade soups and stews in it, and the jars I store those in are 700ml. I suspect it's actually a 1 litre capacity, but not 100% sure.

I would just cover an induction / oven friendly dish with tin foil or am I missing something?

I freeze food in these for my uni student children (they do different sizes like a 600ml) and then they just pop in the oven (taking the plastic lid of obviously.
Misichao Stainless Steel Airtight Food Storage Containers with Lids - Stackable Meal Prep Food Containers for Kitchen & Pantry, Leakproof, Reusable Metal Bento Lunch Box 1100 ml 3 Count : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

BOSKA Cheese Baker 500 ml - Camembert Baking Dish - Camembert baker - Perfect for Camembert - With Tealight - Sturdy design - 6,1"x5,1"x5,7" : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

Odd. Live alone, have 2.9 L cast iron pot and I can cook a meal with one set of leftovers? Not anything past one serving is ‘batch cooking’. Most people, single or not, don’t want to have to cook every single day.

I guess there is a lack of these very specific sizes because you’re the only person wanting to buy them?

I've got cookware of all sizes and lots of gadgets.

I got this before before Christmas.

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/giles-and-posner-mini-pie-maker-green-10265617.html?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=531573&awc=1599_1772540510_8cb962dbea006665bb09cc8deabdba3f&srcid=369&xtor=AL-1&cmpid=aff~https%3A%2F%2Fshopforward%2Enl%2F~Comparison%20Shopping%20Service%20%28CSS%29~531573~ShopForward+CSS

Got a 1.5l slow cooker and a soup maker.

That's not really how AI works.

ChatGPT just confidently told me that today is the 14th January 2026...

It's a predictive model. It's getting better but it's finding common cookware for you.

Use your freezer. Bread freezes brilliantly. I make my own bread, slice it and freeze it. Butter keeps for ages in the fridge. Just take out half a block at a time. Or freeze it. I live alone, cook a lot and rarely throw any food away.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hawkins-Casserole-Die-Cast-Reheating-MCSY75/dp/B0BVYWCPRF/ref=asc_df_B0BVYWCPRF?mcid=92b61cec283439368f778104b9d1eff3&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=717099647460&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=454961632554988735&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045060&hvtargid=pla-1966384789863&psc=1&hvocijid=454961632554988735-B0BVYWCPRF-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

DS needed a set of pans with stainless steel bottoms for uni accommodation. Amazon and IKEA had good options.

Middle of Lidl often have a really nice stainless steel bottomed Ernesto range pots available from time to time. The one we have is 2.5 L but it's a neat and small for 2 stove top casserole

Try these ;

https://uk.shopping.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrkOJ3q2KZpu1EYjAN3Bwx.;_ylu=Y29sbwMEcG9zAzEEdnRpZANEMjk3MzYtR1NLSU4tVUstQ18x?p=lakeland+cookware+for+single+people+on+sale+clearance&ei=UTF-8&type=Y143_F163_225899_091823&hsimp=yhs-018&hspart=trp&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Aw%2Cm%3Apla-title&fr=yhs-trp-018&IG=0ae4389d198441ad9d000000001f471e

um...no. Because you don't have to completely fill a pot when you're cooking?
Have lived on my own for years and have literally never had this problem.
Also don't see what the issue with 'batch cooking' is. It doesn't mean having to eat the same meal everyday for a week!

If you make a small-ish lasagne, for example, have 1 portion that day. Will then last in the fridge for a day or two so if you had it for Monday evening could have the second portion for lunch on Weds. Then freeze the final 1/2 portions and have them weeks later. Really not an issue. I'd find it more effort to cook something new every single day!

the freezer is your friend. Not sure why butter gets wasted, I am on my own and use about one pack of butter a month. It keeps fine in the butterdish in the kitchen but if you use even less than that then cut a block in half and freeze half. same with sauces, My botthles of sauce last for months in the cupboard, even longer in the fridge. You wouldn't save money buying samller amounts, its the packaging and putting it in the wrapping that costs money, a smaller pack of anything costs much more per oz than a bigger one.

I’ve got a set of three Pyrex casseroles with lids. The largest is what I’d call ‘normal’ size; then the middle one is a bit smaller, and the smallest one is ideal for one person.

They weren’t expensive. Perhaps you need to look at sets rather than individual cookware, OP.