cost-cutting special.
1 BUY IN BULK I’m not talking fresh stuff that spoils easily and ends up getting thrown out – Imean products that don’t require fridge/freezer space such as rice, pasta, noodles, dried pulses, nuts, oils and some seasonings. Buy in larger quantities and they’re significantly cheaper per gram. Our online article about the best online shops for regional ingredients (search ‘cuisine specific grocers’ at deliciousmagazine.co.uk) is useful, as these shops often sell goods in bulk for a lot less than chain-store prices. The ‘World Food’ aisle in supermarkets is good, too – look on the bottom shelf for the biggest, cheapest packets. Stocking up on long-life essentials (ketchup, tea, sugar, tinned foods) when they’re on offer saves money in the long run.
2 INVEST IN ENERGY-SAVING GADGETS Pressure cookers and air fryers may be pricey up front, but they pay you back in reduced energy bills. Pressure cookers drastically reduce the time needed to prepare slow-cook meaty casseroles, beans and lentils, for example, and air fryers can save on oil and energy costs. You can cook chips in an air fryer in 10 minutes, and fillets of fish are done in just 4 minutes. Not to mention your kitchen won’t smell like a greasy spoon.
3 ENJOY NO-COOK MEALS Using the oven and hob eats up fuel so, while the weather’s warm, plan to make perhaps two meals a week without heat: think salads, dips and fridge desserts. Look up our collection at deliciousmagazine/nocookbudget to explore a range of fuel-less recipes.