What do you do for tea during heatwaves ?

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I really don’t want to put the range cooker on during a heatwave, the thought of it fills me with dread ! Got me thinking, what dinners do you do when it’s so hot? I need ideas other than just salad.

Whatever we fancy, our kitchen is reasonably cool, eat the same as usual.

I e got an Aga that’s on all the time. I have turned it down slightly as my gas bill is going up by £470 next year apparently, so things take longer to cook.

Pizza last night.

Prawn and Avocado salad tonight. Currently boiling a beetroot to go with it and will boil some new potatoes to make a potato salad.

Salad (noodle salad for example), pasta.

Because some of us have small houses and tiny kitchens which get afternoon or evening sun and it's unbearable. Add to that menopause and I could cry in anticipation of how awful this week will be especially as ds won't eat salads or sandwiches. 😭😭😭😭

Whatever is quick and easy

Tonight we’re having some Greek style chicken on flatbread with corn cobettes and salad.

I know how much you all despise “picky bits” so I’ll say we sometimes have bits (cold meat, cheese, baguette, dips etc).

Stir fry with noodles is good when it’s warm because it’s made quickly.

The heat gets out, otherwise it would stay hot in there forever!

Even if an oven doesn’t leak, the heat has to slowly dissipate. It will make the kitchen hotter. It’s just thermodynamics. However brilliant your range.

Even without the heat from the oven, I can’t face any type of hot food in heat!

Yes, I love how some people have apparently no understanding of physics 🤣

Any leftovers on the side whilst cooling down are also going to give off heat into the kitchen as a well, even after the oven is off. And in hot weather, that process is going to take even longer because of the hotter ambient temperature/possible lack of a cooling breeze/ventilation etc.

Air Fryer.

Picky bits - quiche, pork pie, finger sandwiches etc… - jacket potatoes done in the microwave, air fryer meat in wraps/pittas

A nice well seasoned plate of ice.

I try to cook more mediterranean dishes when it’s hot, but it is surprising how many of them still use the oven! It does feel more natural to eat like that during hot weather though.

Pasta with a sauce made from creme fraiche and some salmon and peas stirred in. Jacket potatoes with cottage cheese. Pizza. Fishcakes with some rice. Normal stuff! Salad is a side, not a dinner.

I just cook on the BBQ. Lots of seafood with BBQd veggies, salads and DH will have steak, lamb etc with the same sides.

When it’s cold we leave the (very modern and fairly fancy) oven open after we’ve finished cooking to warm the room up…it definitely sends heat into the room.

Just normal meals but not a roast as that would just feel a bit weird!
some people make a bit of drama about the heat!

@Ophy83 that sounds delicious any more ?

The heat affects my appetite so I'm unlikely to want the same food I'd otherwise have.

I like a cold soba noodles salad or rice noodles salad with lots of veggies. Or a big houmous bowl with veggies and salad and falafels

Curry! Perfect for hot weather (or any weather) though i would opt for fish curry as it cooks for less time, i have a great 20 minute recipe. Alternatively fajitas, I think chilli is the key to a hot weather meal.

Steak with a jus made with frozen spinach and any additional herbs/seasoning easy to hand. Mopped up with a doorstep of bread slathered with butter.

None of us ever want to eat much when it's hot so lots of salads with deli meat or marinated chicken or fish done in the air fryer, sandwiches, wraps and buffet type food like quiche, sausage rolls etc.

Stir fry
salads
fish
I made a quiche tonight - oven was on but it’s a light meal
husband did gazpacho in the blender
My appetite is def less what it’s hot so light meals are the way to go.