For some people, cooking meals for themselves is as easy as pie. But, for others, a simple beans on toast can feel like the finals of MasterChef.
When you go to university, whether you have been cooking your whole life or have never turned an oven on, you will have to start making meals for yourself. So, here are some tips to help you navigate the world of cooking, in case you have never had to venture into it before.
Simple recipes
There are millions of easy, four step (or less) recipes online for you to try. Don’t jump in at the deep end and try to make a three course gourmet meal on your first night away. That will just end in you ruining the pans you bought and then ordering a takeaway.
A simple tomato soup or lasagna, even grilled chicken and potatoes are easy to learn. Once you get a few basic meals under your belt, then you can expand your horizons and start attempting those harder meals.
Practice cooking meals
If you have never cooked before, you should ask someone in your family or a friend who you know is a kitchen connoisseur, for their help. Ask them to coach you through how to make some staple meals.
Practicing these meals with someone who knows what they are doing means they can iron out the little things you may be doing wrong or answer any of your questions.
Maybe set a few dates aside before you move out. Actually making the meals yourself will give you some added confidence in the kitchen. So, once you are university and left to your own devices, you are familiar with what you have to do.
If all else fails, just facetime them and ask why your pan is smoking.
Seasoning
Even a pinch of salt and pepper can give a once flavourless chicken a new lease of life. So, don’t be stingy when it comes to seasoning.
If you haven’t experimented with other spices before, now is your time! You can buy packets of seasoning for under 20p. Add some new and exciting seasonings here and there and you’ll start to figure out what you like and don’t like.
Take it from the Spice Girls and ’spice up your life’, literally.
Invest in good pans
Obviously, don’t fork out hundreds of pounds on two gold plated pans, but a couple of solid pans will take you a long way. If you are just cooking for yourself, two pans should be enough.
There is no point buying four pans of varying sizes, because you probably won’t be able to fit them all in your corner of the kitchen anyway.
Just buy the kitchen essentials for now and once you start cooking, you can go to Home Bargains or even the pound shop and get those things you actually need.
Use the microwave
The microwave is a hidden gem. It can perk up any meal and save you bags of time. It will never be as good as food made in a pan, but it is a close second.
Be careful with your microwave usage though. Sometimes it can ruin a once lovely meal, making it damp and soggy. Trial and error with this may be the way forward. But once you hack it, the microwave will be you right hand man.