Meals that’s don’t need an oven or hob!

[moodymary]

Apologies if this has been asked a lot - I couldn’t see any recent threads.

We will be without a kitchen for about 10 weeks during buildings work. I will have a temporary set up - microwave, fridge etc, and a bbq.

Please hit me with your meal ideas that don’t need a conventional oven or hob!

We are not slow cooker fans, but I’m not averse to buying an air fryer or George Foreman grill type thing if need be!

No dietary requirements to factor in. DD is fairly fussy but I’m used to adapting dishes to suit.....

Not very imaginative, but I'd batch cook a load of chilli/curries that I could then serve with microwave rice!

Ooh, although I'm assuming access to a freezer, which you might not have, sorry.

You need a hob at least. I got a plug in induction hob from ikea and also used a slow cooker and microwave. You can't cope with just a microwave for 10 weeks. Mind you ours was September to February without a kitchen so bbq wasn't really available so you could use that a bit more.

Sorry - of course that should read ‘that don’t’

If you'll still have a freezer (and i very much recommend you do, even if you have to have it in a bedroom!) then batch cooking is an obvious thing to do. Cooked pasta in sauce freezes well, eg bolagnase sauce with penne or fusilli - just make a tonne of that and freeze in portions. Chillies and curries too - as pp says, serve with micro rice. And I did a few sort of spanish chicken type dishes - chicken fried off with peppers and paprika in tomato sauce,served with micro baby pots.

When our kitchen was being done we bought a fair few ready-roasted chickens from the supermarket, served with microwaved mash...

Can you bbq? And of course ready meals - they do work out ££ but the higher end ones are all right when you're stuck without a kitchen.

We did a rotation of take away/ready meal/something from the freezer/something almost ready-made from the supermarket/bbq.

I'd get an instant pot (or whatever electric pressure cooker floats your boat) if I were you. Curry, soup, stew, mince, pulled meat, poached chicken, ramen, steamed veg, rice, porridge, pot roast lamb, chilli, ribs, dal, beans etc. I use mine every day because it's cheaper and more convenient than the oven or the stove. You can get one with an air fryer lid too.

Microwave will do all veg though. Bbq can be used like a stove, oven or grill but it's a bit more effort and you'd need to be arsed cleaning up afterwards.

Could you buy something like this? www.argos.co.uk/product/9495331

Then you at least have 1 hob.

During building work that meant working from a temporary kitchen for a few months we had a plug in single hob which helped us save money on takeaways but clearly you might not have space. Something like this... uk.ciarraappliances.com/products/ciarra-induction-hob-16-amp-plug-2000w-with-timer-function-touch-control-uk?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla-uk-all-0716&utm_term=a4b955a76d094474b6df9f866fe9adf1&utm_content=feed-title-cbtih1-ow-19&gclid=CjwKCAjwnZaVBhA6EiwAVVyv9DvPTFrBubCFh-dEbKr4Unp5Cp86X2XOTLYguK6zFMP2q5S4a5DyFBoC1W0QAvD_BwE

Microwavable rice pouches are pretty good. But I'd still find space for a countertop one zone electric hob if you possibly can.

We did this with an upstairs room as a kitchen but we had a microwave that could also be a grill or oven and bought a cheap two ring plug in hob. Main problem was only being able to plug a certain number of appliances in at once.

Salad. Jacket pots, microwave meals.

Can you get a camping gas stove so you atleast have a hob to make pasta etc?

I have two ninja appliances (the 14 in 1 and the ag551 grill) I rarely use my hob and oven through the week now.

Dry energy efficient also

*very

Basically anything from Genivieve Taylor's bbq books. I have the veggie one but this one looks good https://www.amazon.co.uk/Foolproof-BBQ-Simple-Recipes-Barbecue/dp/178713671X/ref=ascdff_178713671X/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463286725632&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1131122646725499524&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006638&hvtargid=pla-1082778358008&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

I would get a Campingaz Party Grill & do kebabs, halloumi, burgers, sausages, chicken, steak etc on it. Then do salads & do some microwave meals.

You can buy tinned potatoes already cooked.

Campingaz Party Grill Gas Stove, Small Gas Grill and Camping Cooker in One, Camping Stove for Camping or Festivals, Versatile Cooking Options, Space-Saving to Transport

amzn.eu/d/5a1UdbF

I used my multi cooker thing to cook rice and a teppanaki grill thing to cook stir fries a lot, or salads and cook fish on the grill etc. easier in summer. We had lots of takeaways of course - 3 months it took

If you can afford it, & both like toasties, then a flat plate sandwich toaster is very helpful in this situation. In addition to toasties, you can do things like fried eggs, bacon, quesadillas on it. They're generally pretty easy to clean (just wipe clean with a damp cloth while they're still hot & then again when they're cold if it needs it).

We moved at the beginning of lockdown & couldn't get our oven fitted for almost a year because no gas fitters would attend for non-emergency works. We had a microwave, sandwich toaster, health grill, single ring hotplate, toaster, & an instant pot. Also an electric egg steamer which makes perfect soft or hard boiled eggs every time (I love it!)

Buy a remoska!

Rice, pot noodles, salads, jacket potato in microwave.

Thank you for such great suggestions. Yes, we’ll have a freezer so will batch cook beforehand. I agree, it doesn’t seem do-able without a hob of some kind - thank you for the links, will take a look.

This most definitely!

www.lakeland.co.uk/brands/remoska-brand

Since its Summer time can you just have salads with cold meats/ smoked salmon/ cooked chicken etc with nice bread. That, plus meals you have cooked in advance, plus a few takeaways to break things up should see you through. It might be a great opportunity to get a break from cooking!!

I did this when I moved into a council house and couldn't afford any appliances. Just heat up tinned food in bowls and packet food as is in the microwave. You can get all sorts of tinned food now including proper curries etc, packet rice, packet veg. It's a bit of a fanny on because you have to do it in stages but it is workable.

Veg curry in microwave. Use and veg and spices or curry paste. Cook rice with water and the spices/paste, add veg and cook for a few more minutes.