How to Save Money when Cooking this Winter

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The cost of living is going up, and this winter, households across the UK are set to feel the squeeze. It’s going to be more expensive to heat your home, to run your car, and even to cook your food. In the latter case, there are a few things you can do to make your budget go a little bit further. Let’s take a look at a few of these measures.

How to make your food last longer

If you can keep the food you cook around for longer, then you’ll end up wasting less of it. The best thing you can do is work out how the ‘best before’, ‘sell by’, and ‘use by’ dates work. For the avoidance of doubt, it’s best to trust in a visual and smell-based inspection. It’s generally only processed foods that will pose a risk to health. When fruits look like they’re going bad, you can freeze them for use later in cooking and in smoothies.

Certain foods should be placed in the fridge, while others should be kept out of it. By understanding the differences, you’ll be able to make your food last longer, while freeing up space in your fridge at the same time.

Bulking out batch-cooked meals

If you’re making big, hearty meals in large batches, then there are a number of ways you might pad things out, and fill those plates up without spending too much more. Certain kinds of root vegetables, like carrots and potatoes, represent an easy way of adding calories to a stew. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking to make soups, then you can keep them frozen for months before you get around to using them. That means you can cook dozens of portions at once, provided that you have space in the freezer to keep them. A pressure cooker might be an invaluable tool when it comes to both soups and stocks.

Plan your meals

If you get to the evening and you aren’t sure what to eat, then you might be tempted to order a takeaway. This is a surefire way to end up spending more money than you otherwise would. Get around this temptation by planning your meals in advance, and by setting aside time each evening to make those meals. Ideally, you’ll want to tidy up after you’re done – that way, the kitchen will look that little bit more inviting the next time you come to cook.

Try new things

If you’ve excited about a new method of cooking, then you’re more likely to be inclined to cook for yourself. Alternative means of cooking might save you from turning on the cooker. They’ll also save you on energy in the process!