Meal ideas - no kitchen!

[newname98765]

Our kitchen is completely out of action for a few days (no microwave or air fryer either).

I’m about to go and grab a rotisserie chicken to have with baguette and salad this evening. What else
can I do over the next few days?

We had a takeaway last night and it was criminally expensive for what it was so I’d prefer to try and assemble myself if possible.

Thanks!

Thanks for the ideas so far!

We have a fridge, freezer, kettle & toaster which are set up in the lounge and a gas BBQ outside

No - only under duress at a festival 😆

Falafel, hummus and pitta.
Cous cous salad can be made with just a kettle.
Various substantial salads

Correct

ETA just read your update about what you have.

Little toaster pouches that you slip into the toaster to make toasties. Cuppa soups.

Premade salads, cous cous. Cold quiche.

Can you not put your microwave or airfyer in another room? When my parents were having their kitchen done they had the microwave and a George Forman grill in the dining room. Alternatively its good excuse to eat out or get takeaway.

I don’t have either of those and not particularly keen to buy them as we don’t really need them going forwards and don’t have enough counter top space as it is

Look in the frozen section of supermarkets. You can get bags of ready meals that just need heating through so could be done on a fry pan or pot on the BBQ.

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/product/birds-eye-inspirations-spanish-paella-with-chicken-prawns-350g
https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/330775253?_gl=11280wpa_upMQ.._gaMjM1Njg0OTE4LjE3OTE5MTc4MDI._ga_H653QXESTPczE3OTE5MTc3OTUkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTE5MTc4MDEkajU0JGwwJGgxMDI1NTAwNTIx_ga_33B19D36CYczE3OTE5MTc4MDIkbzEkZzEkdDE3OTE5MTc5MzQkajYwJGwwJGg1MDg4Njc5ODc.
https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/317403223?_gl=11sclgn0*_upMQ.._gaMjM1Njg0OTE4LjE3OTE5MTc4MDI._ga_H653QXESTPczE3OTE5MTc3OTUkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTE5MTc4MDEkajU0JGwwJGgxMDI1NTAwNTIx_ga_33B19D36CYczE3OTE5MTc4MDIkbzEkZzEkdDE3OTE5MTc5OTIkajIkbDAkaDUwODg2Nzk4Nw..
www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/322326290?_gl=1278m80*_upMQ.._gaMjM1Njg0OTE4LjE3OTE5MTc4MDI._ga_H653QXESTPczE3OTE5MTc3OTUkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTE5MTc4MDEkajU0JGwwJGgxMDI1NTAwNTIx_ga_33B19D36CY*czE3OTE5MTc4MDIkbzEkZzEkdDE3OTE5MTgwMTAkajYwJGwwJGg1MDg4Njc5ODc.

Takeaways, meals out, invite yourselves to family and friends

You have no heat. So... well, obviously cold stuff. I am not sure what else people can suggest tbh.

So cold stuff you like. Or takeaway hot stuff.

Quiche, salad, coleslaw, beans. Pork Pies. Cooked meats/falafel. Potato salad (ready made)

You can cook potato waffles in the toaster.

Cous cous.

Noodles that only need to be put in boiling water, not simmered.

Buy hot plates. My cooker broke before summer had to wait a week for new one and installation. The hot plates saved us big time and easy to store away

Fresh pasta in a pan, boiling water on top works well for something warm(ish)

Raw meat and berries? That's your suggestion?

It’s a very small kitchen you say…. You’ll have access to your oven in a day or two I reckon. In the meantime… just have picnic dinners.

Get a microwave from a charity shop and donate it back when you’ve finished using it.

Can you borrow an air fryer or slow cooker, if you’d rather not buy a new gadget? If you’re short of space, a plug in hot plate would take up the least room afterwards (or could be sold on).

Alternatively, couscous or noodles can be “cooked” by pouring boiling water over them.

Bbq makes things easy. You can have your standard burgers/hot dogs or go a bit fancier e.g. BBQ veg like peppers, courgettes, mushrooms, aubergine. Have with couscous, plus BBQ chicken or steak. Corn on the cob is good on the bbq, you can even do jacket potatoes.

I had to knock up a meal when staying overnight in a premier Inn recently, didn't fancy a takeaway and there was a Tesco nearby. I bought some of the Itsu gyoza, boiled eggs, edamame (all from the meal deal section) and a packet of Indomie Mi Goreng which only needs hot water. Was surprisingly satisfying. Idahoan mash just needs hot water and you could easily heat some peas with just water from the kettle could have with cooked chicken or cooked sausages.

With the BBQ you're laughing. And as it's only a few days, I don't think it's too big a deal. Sausages/burgers or steak/chops (chicken is harder to do on the BBQ if you can't pre-cook it I feel although chicken breasts or cubed and done as kebabs could work). You could also do things like halloumi or prawns. If you have mad BBQ skills, you could also do things like a whole chicken or roast potatoes or whatever.

Lots of salads and bread as sides.

It it lands up going on for a bit longer, I'd simply ask someone if you can borrow a microwave. That will allow you to do bags of pre-prepared steamed veg, or ready meals or soup etc to add a bit of variety but I agree its not worth buying if it's not something you use usually and it's only for a few days.

I'm baffled that anyone would need to be guided on this TBH, everything that's been suggested is basic common sense.

I was in the same situation last year 5 days no kitchen. No problem with a BBQ (outside obv.), a kettle, and a microwave. Op doesn't have m/w but has BBQ, kettle and toaster, that's more than enough to get by. Get thinking OP!

I would scour facebook and other local selling sites and see if anyone nearby is selling a microwave or plug in hob for cheap. Some British Heart Foundation stores and some tips have second hand electricals for sale.

If it’s truly just a few days then I’d live off sandwiches, salads and pot noodles - maybe use the bbq for burgers and sausages if I got desperate for something hot and could be bothered. But as pp says, I bet it will take longer.

What a rude reply. I don’t need to be guided - I am just looking for inspiration on menu ideas. Surely most posts on this board are doing exactly that 🤷🏼‍♀️