So it’s the end of August and for students that have just celebrated their A-Level results that means one thing: off to university! Now for many new students, this will be the first time being completely in charge of preparing your own food. So here are some handy tips to bear in mind when starting off in the kitchen that may save some pennies and some time!
- Rice is part of the student’s staple diet. You can buy rice in bulk at Asian supermarkets if you can find one in your city. One of my flatmates in my first year of uni did this and it lasted for nearly the entire year! – Just make it is stored somewhere cool and dry.
- When a joint of meat is on offer, you can prepare it for different meals throughout the week. Simply label and freeze and defrost when needed.
- Don’t throw away stale bread – it’s great for making breadcrumbs, croutons and bread and butter pudding! Bread can also be frozen. This is helpful if you don’t eat it often, in order to get the most use out of a loaf.
- Invest in some good-quality knives and cooking utensils. They will last for years!
- Stock up your spice rack – good seasoning can make plain dishes taste amazing. Some of my personal favourites are Season-All by Schwartz, cumin, paprika, mixed herbs and – of course – sea salt and black pepper.
- Some supermarkets offer discounts on ‘ugly’ vegetables. Asda is currently trialling a ‘Wonky Veg’ box across some of their UK stores. At £3.50, it could be ideal for students and those on a tighter budget. Some other stores that have similar offers include Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s.
- Make the most out of ingredients – before you shop, plan your meals for the week ahead and buy according to the plan to minimise food waste.
- Keep bananas away from other fresh produce – they produce ethylene gas which makes other fresh fruit and veg spoil quicker!
- Keep up to date with special supermarket offers – check their websites on food shop day. Most supermarkets also offer loyalty cards that can accumulate points to exchange for store discounts if you’re a little short on cash.
- Go off the beaten track – sometimes good kitchen equipment can be found at independent stores. I found some of my kitchen supplies for very good value at a local market stall.
The Fud Magazine 