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Housekeeping

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Shopping and cooking for one

12 replies

AlwaysReadyForABlether · 25/02/2013 19:23

There have been loads of great threads recently about how to save money on the weekly shop - bulk buying, batch cooking etc.
All great for families but does anyone have tips for someone on their own? What things are worth bulk buying that will last ok? Any other ideas?

OP posts:
CrispyHedgeHog · 25/02/2013 19:38

I tend to buy the trays of chops/steaks etc and divide them up when I get home.
Mince I'll cook a big shepherd's pie or whatever with it and divide and freeze it.
I cooked a whole chicken yesterday which will feed me for most of the week tbh in various guises.

I tend to stick with frozen veg - a packet lasts me for aaaaaaages so that's very cheap. I reckon I can eat for about £40 a week if I'm sensible.

mummywithnosleep · 25/02/2013 19:39

Ok here goes from my single days!!!!

Shredded wheat last ages and stay fresh ad they are in small bags inside the box

Pizza etc I used to buy fresh from morrisons it asda and cut in half (6 inch) and then freeze as a half was about the right size for me

I used to batch cook but I used to bag or use those foil tins you can get into smaller portions ie just enough for me

Cheese freezes well when grated add to colli for a quick tea

Always had u h t milk in the fridge and cream in the freezer for coffee

What sort of food do you like I will see if I have a recipy for a freezer version

Fairygen · 25/02/2013 20:05

I do exactly what Crispy does, even down to separating packs for fresh sausages and bacon. I've started to buy packs of frozen chicken breasts, so just need to defrost individually. Also frozen diced onion is a great when cooking for one.
I swear by herbs and spices as they can make the same meat, veg taste totally different
I plan all my meals so I don't waste much. Just because you're cooking for one, doesn't mean you have to live on beans on toast and pot noodle!!
X

erowid · 25/02/2013 20:07

Do you have a freezer? If so, you can still do batch cooking and just portion everything up into single 'chinese takeaway' tubs for homemade ready meals (lasagne, cottage pie, chilli, soup etc). I would also only get out half a loaf of bread from the freezer at a time so it didn't go stale before finishing it.

Rice, tea bags, sugar, lentils, spices, cereals, pasta and anything tinned all last months if you buy in bulk. Pet food can lids are handy for keeping canned food a little longer in the fridge.

When I was living alone I only ever bought fresh fruit and veg or perishables every 2-3 days otherwise it just kept going off and I'd end up throwing it away. Try and buy your veg loose rather than packaged so you'd only get what you need.

AlwaysReadyForABlether · 25/02/2013 20:21

Can you buy those takeaway style tubs in the supermarket?

OP posts:
MegaClutterSlut · 25/02/2013 21:42

I think I've seen the foil trays in Asda, if not they definately sell the plastic takeaway one's in the £1 shop

erowid · 25/02/2013 21:44

Wilko's also have them Smile

AlwaysReadyForABlether · 26/02/2013 01:45

I think where I go wrong is I'll cook a batch of something but just keep the extra in the fridge. So I end up having the same thing for a few nights running. Then I'll get fed up with whatever it is so it just gets wasted.

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starsandunicorns · 26/02/2013 02:35

Only myself and dp here but we do different shifts so lots of times I cook for one. My dp doesnt like gravy so when I make a casarole I dish up but the remaining sause/gravy I bag up in freezer bag couple of ladles in each tie the bag and place in takeaway tub. I place the bag in the tub first so they fit.

That way if I dont have work I take four sauasges cook them pull out homemade forzen mash ( always make enough for 4 people so can freezer in either a one petson or 2 person portion ) deforst in microwave while sausages cooking and one of the fozen bags of gravy open bag place in jug deforst and heat through. Sauasges and mash with yummy gravy. And my dp has the other sausages for sauasge sarnies for breakie

I also buy 6 pint milk but seprate into pint bottles (the one pint plastic bottles that when used I wash out) and freeze the milk that way save money as one pint from shop are expenisve ( I did this when my dc used to have phasres of going off milk) The plastic bottles can used time and time again

I also freeze sliced bread and used it straight from freezer for toast ( I buy the reduced bread for this to save money)

Cook pasta for 2 people than half it so you can make a pasta salad the next day.

My dp hates ham. I got a small ham joint reduced at xmas boiled it up sliced it up when cold and portioned it out for sanires then wrapped in grease proof paper and froze.

I deforst it when i have work ( work nights so i pull it out of freezer in the morning) placing it in greaseproof paper means not having to pull about with a knife and means freezer is not full of half empty freezer boxes.

Cheese is always forzen here as we only buy it when on offer.

I also make own sausage rolls ( I use fozen pastry and reduced posh sauasges and make my own sauasage rolls large ones then freeze good for lunchs )

Also I buy frozen veg but also peppers onions and mushrooms.

Hope that helps

Honu · 26/02/2013 07:55

Why didn't I think of decanting milk like that stars as I am the only one who uses it?

I have a microwaveable dish divided into 3 so I can easily cook 3 different veg (one knob of frozen spinach, a carrot in a little butter, fresh green beans, or whatever) all at once, and only one dish to wash.

AlwaysReadyForABlether · 26/02/2013 09:38

Stars you are so organised!

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starsandunicorns · 26/02/2013 15:03

Not organised just being very poor for a very long time had a controling xh for a long time and was a single mum for sone years too but thankyou very much. Though you should see the clean clothers plie mountain

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