This is a BIG one. Cooking in a group is a really good way to save money on food since you’ll be cooking more food at once, therefore being able to take advantage of buying in larger quantities (which is generally cheaper). It also means that you’ll have to cook less frequently since you can take it in turns. Cooking is also a great way to get to know your housemates better or make new friends. Obviously we’re not saying you need to cook with a group every day, but maybe think about picking one night a week for a group dinner.
There are some items of kitchen equipment which you really don’t need as a student - but that doesn’t stop companies trying to sell them to you! When you get to the end of the year and start moving out you’ll realise how much stuff you actually never ended up using. So next time you’re looking to restock your kitchen, take a look at our lists of things you need, and things you probably don’t.
It’s always a good idea to keep a supply of flavour boosters in your kitchen, just in case you need to add a bit more oomph to something you’ve cooked. We’re talking about stock cubes, salt, pepper, chilli powder, dried herbs, hot sauce - all these things are going to really add to the flavour of your food.
There are loads of recipes out there which claim to be ‘student-friendly’, but sometimes they still end up using obscure ingredients, taking ages to make, costing loads of money and making way too much washing up. When choosing a recipe, do a quick check to find out how long it takes, how many ingredients are needed and whether it has a suitable serving size. Some recipes might also have a price estimation which can be helpful too.
If you’ve spent loads of time cooking a delicious dinner, there’s no point in chucking away all the leftovers once you’re done eating! You can safely store loads of different types of leftovers in the fridge or freezer for another day. Get a container (something like those plastic takeaway boxes are great), fill it up and whack it in the fridge or freezer.
Which of these cooking mistakes are you guilty of? Have we missed anything off the list? - tweet us @studentfooduk
