How/what did you cook when your kitchen was being done?

[Murtette]

The build finally starts soon and we'll be without a kitchen for three weeks. I had thought we were going to be able to stay in a friend's house for part of it whilst they were skiing but that's fallen through so I'm wondering how or what I'm going to feed us for the three weeks between the existing oven & hob being ripped out and the new one being installed. We've currently got a freestanding fridge freezer and microwave so I'll move those into the dining room. And after the first week I'll have a sink in the utility (and a washing machine but that doesn't help with the cooking!). Any suggestions? Would a slow cooker help or would I need to use a hob to brown off meat? I have plenty of purees in the freezer for 7mo DS and portions of food for 3yro DD but I usually add rice or pasta or couscous to these. Can I cook any of these without a hob? DD would probably be happy on a diet of cheese sandwiches for every meal for three weeks but she'd end up with scurvy which I'd rather avoid!
Thanks

Buy a two burner gas camping stove and a toaster. That combined with a microwave should see you through with no problem really. You'll be able to cook just about anything then apart from baked stuff.

We had no kitchen for about 6 weeks . Lots of microwave meals :-) you can do couscous by pouring hot water over it and sealing with clingfilm till the water is absorbed. You can get individual packs of rice to microwave. Eat out at weekends. Got quite used to not cooking, made me wonder why we needed a big kitchen ha ha!

We had no kitchen for five months. I had a microwave and my father made me shedloads of chicken casserole for the freezer (parked in hall). I also had a rice steamer in which I could cook pasta - there is a particular M&S ready sauce that I still can't face, five years on as we ate so much of it .

We got a 2 ring/mini oven from argos but you can get lucky from other people offloading on ebay after doing their kitchens! Make sure you have a fire blanket nearby (in permanent kitchen too) but in makeshift kitchens things can get cramped and fires cab start easily....... We nearly had a big problem but our blanket sorted it. I dread to think about if we hadnt had a fire blanket.....

A slow cooker would be very helpful. I was without a cooker for a week recently after the old one died. The main reason for browning before slow cooking is just appearance. If you weren't too fussed about that then it'll be a lifesaver. I was really glad of mine.

You can get single induction hob things from amazon from about £25 - may be safer than camping stove

Microwaveable things, salads, my lovely mum sent up some meals...oh and takeaways, of course.

Blimey Lala 5 months That I don't envy. I managed 3 weeks when ours was done last month and even that was longer than I thought it was going to be.

I had m&s ready meals . The house was such a mess I didn't want to cook at all.

I used a Baby Belling from an aunt, and gave it away on Freegle when I'd finished. You can get similar two-ring plus oven electric mini-cookers quite cheaply now, I saw one in Robert Dyas yesterday for £50

Was adequate to cook for up to 8 with simple meals.

We also have a combination microwave which has ovening and grilling ability. That plus a kettle and toaster were plenty but it might have been tricky doing a turkey.

Didn't need to use the slow cooker as the oven was big enough for a casserole but one would be handy if you are cooking much.

You will also need worktop and washing-up space. If you have one or more old kitchen units, they will be handy. The old worktop can be cut down to fit, but should be screwed to the unit to prevent it wobbling or sliding off. you will probably be throwing the old units in the skip when finished so may as well make use of them until the new kitchen is ready. Get at least two large plastic washing up bowls and a big tray that will take a plastic drainer.

Washing up will be more of a grind than cooking. You must have at least a cold tap and somewhere to empty the bowl.

You will appreciate an occasional pub meal or carvery.

Put things away or covered or your plates and mugs will get coated with builders dust. Those plastic storage crates with lids are handy and can be stacked.

A portable radio will be cheering.

You will need good working light such as a desk lamp.

I would be reluctant to use a portable gas stove as I would be worried about fires or gas leakage.