Student Cooking

So, you’re a student and having to fend for yourself! Check out my Student Cooking Guide and you’ll be cooking Quick, Easy Recipes in no time.

Equipment

Don't go and buy a 12-piece crockery set, all you're soon-to-be student housemates will be doing the same. Then you'll have one mighty large washing up problem!

However, there are a couple of things you should make sure you have. Invest in a casserole as this can be used for anything on the hob and in the oven. And a good quality large knife - this will handle anything. More on utensils.

Planning

When your a student cooking, write your shopping list and plan what dinners you’re going to eat for that week - then you’ll know exactly what to get. You’ll also save from making endless trips to the corner shop for things you’ve forgotten.

Saving at the supermarket

Don't impulse buy at the local convenience store - they ARE more expensive. Do big shops at the supermarket once per week or fortnight. Don't be frightened at the initial cost of bulk buying meats - it WILL pay off in the next trip to the supermarket (remember to freeze the meat and veg you don't need that week).

Bulk cooking (the REAL money saver)

You don't have to be cooking for someone in order to bulk cook. If you can all cook for each other once a week then great, however, if you're a student cooking for just yourself, cook simple recipes in bulk and freeze the leftovers. An extra freezer may come in extremely useful here. We know students need to save money, so log onto your local Freecycle Network as freezers are always going for free on there.

Before you know it, you’ll have stockpiled a whole host of dinners in your freezer ready to re-heat without any hassle.

Lunch time

If you can, make sandwiches and take them into Uni wherever possible. Don't worry, your student counterparts won't look down on you for this.

Extending shelf life

If you're going to be making smoothies, mix and chop the fruit and freeze the mixed fruit in separate sandwich bags. You can also chop and freeze veg and bread too.

Health and nutrition

And if that's not enough information on student cooking to get you started, don't forget the governments recommended Eatwell Plate. This will be even more important considering the amount of drink you’re likely to consume in the next 3-4 years!

Check out my Simple Student Cooking Recipes. And for plenty more tips on cooking from scratch, check out the rest of our Cooking Guides.