Make the most of your freezer
There’s no need to divide a recipe for a family of four by four. Instead, choose meals that can be frozen and reheated later. Examples of foods that freeze well include stews, lasagna, chili, muffins, and burritos. Freezing them in single-serving portions is also convenient.
It is good to remember one thing. Before putting food in the freezer, especially if you are freezing a lot of dishes, be sure to mark the date on them. Remember that it is recommended to consume frozen dishes within 3 months to maintain their texture and taste
Roasting a single chicken thigh in the oven may not be very practical, considering both the preparation time and the electricity consumed. However, even if you live alone, you shouldn't be afraid to cook a larger portion.
For example, roast a small chicken. For dinner, cut off the wings and drumsticks and set them aside with grilled vegetables. Chop up the leftover chicken and use it for other dishes: add it to a salad, a grilled sandwich, use it in a pasta dish, or on homemade pizza.
Prepare what you really love
The biggest advantage of cooking alone is that you don't have to make any compromises when trying to accommodate different eaters' tastes. If you cook something you truly love, you'll be able to eat the same dish with slight variations even several times in a row.
For dinner, you can make beef or chicken fajitas with vegetables. You can wrap some of the leftovers in a tortilla and take them to work for lunch. Use the leftover meat and vegetables from dinner to make quesadillas - just add cheese and heat them in a pan between two flatbreads.
Immerse yourself in the world of sauces
A good tip to avoid getting bored of eating the same ingredients all week is to change up your sauces. Guacamole, Thai peanut sauce, pesto, siracha, mustard, and honey – take inspiration from different countries. Then even the same chicken will sound completely new every time.
Invest in equipment
Some small appliances can collect dust while sitting on a countertop or cluttering a cabinet, but others will really make life easier when cooking for one person.
For example, air fryers are so popular around the world for a reason. This small convection oven allows you to cook food faster, and it is often crispier than in a traditional oven. Another advantage of this device is that it does not require a long preheating time, and it consumes much less electricity than a standard oven.
High-quality airtight containers and freezer bags will also make it much easier to deal with leftovers. Using the right food storage containers will extend the shelf life of your food.
The ideal recipe won't be complicated, time-consuming, or have a long list of ingredients. The culinary technologist offers two ideas – for lunch or dinner, and for a quick dessert.