Janice Lozano
Cooking is an underrated skill, especially for university students. Many students rely on dining halls, takeaways, or their parents' cooking, and therefore miss out on the benefits of home-cooked meals. Cooking for oneself at university can be challenging, especially with busy schedules and limited cooking supplies. However, it is an essential skill to learn, promoting healthier eating habits, saving money, and preparing students for life after graduation. This paragraph will discuss tips for university students to cook for themselves, covering meal planning, grocery shopping, basic cooking supplies, and simple recipes to get started.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meals | Quick, easy, cheap, single-serving, leftovers, nutritious, healthy |
| Recipes | Online, cookbooks, basic, simple, few ingredients, one-pot, student-specific |
| Cooking supplies | Basic set, borrowed, second-hand, expensive |
| Food storage | Freezer, meal prep containers |
| Food sources | Groceries, takeaways, restaurants, ready meals, frozen meals |
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What You'll Learn
Make a list of go-to dishes
Cooking for yourself in university can be challenging, especially if you are a beginner. Here is a list of go-to dishes that are easy to prepare, require minimal ingredients, and can be cooked in batches:
Pasta
Pasta is a versatile dish that can be prepared in numerous ways. Some simple pasta recipes include alfredo pasta, mac and cheese, and cajun chicken pasta. These dishes are easy to make and can be customised with various ingredients, such as vegetables, meats, and spices.
Chicken
Chicken is a great option for university students as it is affordable, versatile, and easy to cook. You can bake, grill, or fry chicken breasts or tenders and season them with various spices, such as buffalo sauce, jerk seasoning, Italian seasoning, or Korean spices. Chicken can be served with rice or pasta and vegetables for a balanced meal.
Rice Bowls
Rice bowls are a simple yet filling option. Cook a batch of rice and keep it in the fridge. You can then add various toppings, such as cooked chicken, vegetables, beans, or sauces, to create different flavour profiles.
Soups
Soups are easy to make and can be a great way to incorporate vegetables and proteins into your diet. You can make a simple chicken noodle soup with ramen, frozen vegetables, and chicken. Alternatively, you can make a hearty goulash with ground beef or Italian sausage, onions, and macaroni.
Casseroles
Casseroles are one-pot meals that are easy to prepare and can be customised with various ingredients. You can use any type of meat, such as turkey, beef, pork, or lamb, and add vegetables like green beans, carrots, or corn. Varying the spices and ingredients will give you a new casserole each time.
Pre-made Meals
In addition to the above dishes, there are several pre-made options available that can be a time-saver for university students. Frozen meals from stores like Trader Joe's offer convenience and taste without breaking the bank. Pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from stores like Costco or Walmart can also be frozen and used in various dishes.
Having a repertoire of these go-to dishes will make cooking in university less daunting and help you eat nutritious meals without relying solely on takeaways or dining halls.
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Use your freezer
Using your freezer is a great way to ensure you always have a nutritious meal on hand, without having to cook from scratch every day. It's a particularly good tip for university students, who may be cooking for themselves for the first time.
Firstly, stock up on some key ingredients. Frozen meat and vegetables are essential, as they can be used in small portions and save the rest for another meal. This avoids food waste and means you can have some variety in your diet. Chicken is a good option, as it's versatile and can be cooked from frozen. Try dicing cooked chicken and freezing it in a bag, or buying frozen chicken tenders to cook when you need them. You can also freeze pre-cooked bacon, which can be reheated in a microwave.
Other foods that freeze well include rice, pasta, and soups. When cooking rice and pasta, remember to not fully cook it, as it will finish cooking when you reheat it. Soups can be frozen in plastic freezer bags, laid flat. You can also freeze vegetables, but they will need to be prepared first. Broths are another good option for freezing.
You can also make and freeze full meals. Burritos, for example, can be made with cooked chicken, corn, beans, tomatoes, and cheese, then frozen and reheated in an oven or microwave. You can also make and freeze chicken fajitas, or a chicken, broccoli, bacon, and potato bake. For a sweet option, try making and freezing apple crisp.
When freezing meals, choose containers that are disposable or easy to wash and store. Aluminum foil pans or baking dishes are a good option, and you can get them in different sizes depending on how many people you're cooking for. You can also use plastic freezer bags for soups and sauces.
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Cook with others
Cooking with others is a great way to make cooking for yourself at university less stressful and more enjoyable. If you have roommates, try coordinating your meals with them. You can either split up cooking portions of one meal, or take turns to cook for each other on different nights. This way, you can share the workload and also the costs of ingredients.
You can also try building dinner into study groups. Rotate cooking duties and get everyone to help the cook of the day. Even if this is only one or two days a week, it can be a big help and a great way to socialise with your peers.
If you're cooking with others, it's a good idea to plan your meals in advance. This will help you to make sure that you have all the ingredients and equipment you need, and that everyone knows what they're doing. It can also be helpful to choose recipes that are quick and easy to make, especially if you're all busy with university work.
Cooking with others can be a fun and social way to eat well at university. It can also be a great way to learn from each other and pick up new recipes and cooking techniques.
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Use online recipes
University students can benefit from using online recipes to learn to cook for themselves. Online recipes are easily accessible and can be a great way to get excited about cooking. Here are some tips for university students on using online recipes to cook for themselves:
Finding Recipes
There are endless recipes available online, and students can take advantage of this by searching for new recipe ideas. Websites like SuperCook allow users to input the ingredients they have on hand and find recipes that use those ingredients. This can be especially useful for students who may have limited ingredients or want to avoid food waste. It is also possible to find recipes tailored to students, which are typically quick, easy, and inexpensive.
Planning and Preparation
To make meal planning simpler, students can compile a list of go-to dishes that they know they can cook and enjoy. This can include dishes with simple ingredients that can be mixed and matched to create variety. For example, chicken can be cooked with various spice variations, such as buffalo sauce, jerk seasoning, Italian seasoning, or Korean spices. These can be paired with pasta dishes or rice. Students can also take advantage of their freezer to store meat and vegetables, allowing them to use only what they need for one meal and save the rest for later.
Time Management
Online recipes can be a great way for students to find quick and easy meals that fit their busy schedules. Students can look for recipes that require minimal prep time and few ingredients. For example, a hearty ramen soup can be made by adding frozen vegetables and chicken to a packet of ramen. Students can also use slow cookers to prepare meals while they are in class, so dinner is ready by the time they come home.
Customization and Creativity
Online recipes provide a wealth of options for students to customize and create their own variations. For example, a basic chicken wing recipe can be dressed up in different ways. Students can also experiment with different ingredients and techniques to suit their tastes and dietary preferences.
By using online recipes, university students can develop culinary skills, gain confidence in the kitchen, and enjoy delicious and nutritious meals.
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Buy cooking supplies
Cooking supplies can get expensive, so it's a good idea to start with the basics and only buy what you need. Here are some essential cooking supplies that university students may find useful:
- Pots and pans: A non-stick cooking pan, a cast-iron skillet, and a small pot are good starting points. A tall pot for cooking pasta can be useful, but if you don't want to buy one, you can borrow it or use a smaller pot.
- Baking equipment: A sheet pan and a glass baking dish are useful for roasting vegetables or meats and baking cakes or cookies.
- Utensils: Basic utensils include a pair of tongs, a large spoon, a paring knife, and oven mitts. A meat thermometer can also be helpful for checking if your meat is cooked.
- Storage: Meal prep containers are great for storing leftovers or pre-cooked meals. Buying matching containers can help keep your kitchen organised.
- Appliances: A small blender is handy for making smoothies or blending sauces. A slow cooker is another useful appliance for students as it allows you to cook meals while you're in class or doing other activities.
- Basic ingredients: It's a good idea to keep a stock of basic cooking ingredients such as salt, pepper, garlic, vinegar, olive oil, flour, sugar, and butter.
To save money, you can ask your family and friends if they have any spare cooking supplies that they don't use often. Thrift stores and second-hand shops are also great places to find cheap cooking supplies, although the condition may vary.
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Frequently asked questions
University students can save money on cooking supplies by asking family members for spare supplies or buying them from thrift stores. Students can also borrow supplies from community offices. To save money on ingredients, students can shop at affordable grocery stores, such as Trader Joe's, or in ethnic neighbourhoods, such as Chinatown. Students can also save money by buying ingredients and cooking for themselves instead of ordering takeaways or eating at restaurants.
University students can save time by cooking with roommates, meal prepping, ingredient prepping, and cleaning while cooking. Students can also save time by cooking large batches of food and storing them in meal prep containers to eat throughout the week.
University students can find easy recipes by searching for them on Google or Pinterest. They can also use websites like SuperCook to find recipes based on the ingredients they already have. Students can also save recipes they enjoy in a repertoire so they can easily decide what to cook and break the monotony of cooking every day.
