(Image courtesy of rhoftonphoto)
Living alone in an apartment is a great experience to teach independence and to let you discover who you are before you start sharing your space with another person. Many times young renters go from sharing a house with family, to moving in with a roommate, to getting married and sharing a home with a spouse-though this progression can be great it leaves no time to be on their own. There’s one aspect of living on your own that can cause a bit of trouble for those who do decide to take the leap into single-living- meal times.
It’s easy to find great recipes to make for a family of five, but living alone means many renters won’t have to cook such large meals outside of the occasional dinner party. With the tips and tricks in this article from renters.apartments.com you won’t have to worry about wasting food just to make yourself a delicious meal. Keep reading to learn how to cook for one.
Shop smart: Perishables like fruit, vegetables and bread can go bad quickly, especially when there’s only one person eating them. Instead of buying the pre-bagged apples, just buy three or four. For bananas, don’t be shy to break off a few from the big bunch of six. Bagged salads also have a short shelf life, so be diligent in eating them as soon as possible after you buy them. Bread and bagels can be frozen and toasted to extend their use. And don’t discount canned and frozen foods – canned soups are perfect for lunch, and frozen berries can be whipped up into a delicious morning smoothie.
Cook for the week: One of the best options for single meals is to cook something you can portion out throughout the week. In the winter, chili, beef stew, lasagna and other baked pastas are all great options. Find a recipe that sounds good online and head to the store, fire up the crock pot or oven and get cooking. If you think you’ll finish what you made within the week, you can store it in the fridge. Otherwise, stick the extras in the freezer and pull them out on a rainy day.
Opt for one-dish meals: Using three burners on the stovetop and the oven all for one portion seems time-consuming and daunting. Look for things that can be made using one or two pots and pans, with all of the major food groups in one dish. Some ideas include omelets or frittatas,pastas with a meat and veggie of your choice (chicken and broccoli Alfredo, meatballs and mushrooms with red sauce, carbonara with bacon and peas), or a casserole.
Use multipurpose ingredients: Tortillas often come in packages of 10, but that doesn't mean you have to eat tacos five days in a row. Search for an ingredient – say, chicken – and find a couple recipes that use it. For example, have grilled chicken breasts on Monday, chicken sandwiches on Tuesday and chicken soup on Wednesday. This strategy will ensure you’re not wasting food, and will also make you less likely to get bored with eating the same thing for a whole week.
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