We all dread that bimonthly feeling when we reach into the postbox and grab that electricity bill not knowing what numbers are about to present themselves.
The cost-of-living crisis has heightened this anxiety, particularly for those with many mouths to feed and family members to keep warm, as household appliances keeping ticking away, racking up that energy bill.
For those that like to cook and also want to save money in the process, MuscleFood.com has devised seven simple money saving cooking hacks, that could help keep those numbers down when its time to pay up.
Soak your pasta
This can be done to save money on time spent cooking and the burden of costly appliances. Soak your pasta before you go to cook it, to cut down on the length of time spent doing so.
Just 90 minutes of soakage allows it to absorb the water without activating the starch. After that, bring water to a boil and put the pasta in for 60 to 120 seconds, as opposed to nearly 10 minutes, to get fully cooked pasta.
Switch off your oven
Studies have show that tend ovens to be the least energy efficient way of cooking, but for those using it as their mainstay appliance and method, there are ways to cut costs.
To maximise, utilise the residual heat by switching off the oven five minutes before your food has been completed.
Fill up your oven
Ovens are at their most effective when using each level available to you.
Make the most of your oven by utilizing all of its shelving space. If cooking small, place in some vegetables and use them for tonight or tomorrow or heat up a quick snack for the family.
Freeze your fresh herbs for another time
Fresh herbs are often sold in large quantities.
Before their expiration date, chop them up and pop them into ice cube trays with water or stock.
These can be put into any future meals to flavour them up or defrosted and used as a garnish. The cost of the herbs will be much better spent and there will be no waste.
Make use of your potatoes
Efficient storage is essential. Many store potatoes in the fridge, some pop them in the cupboard next to onions and some keep them in a separate basket.
Maximise your potatoes by storing them with apples - this will stop them from sprouting and save you from throwing away perfectly good spuds.
Freeze sandwiches
Keep bread and sandwich fillings from going to waste by pre-making and freezing sandwiches using ingredients from your cupboard and fridge.
This way you will have lunch fillings at your fingertips, which will also be fresh.
Cook extra and freeze half
Batch cooking is one of the most effective ways to keep costs down in the kitchen.
Through the re-use of old takeaway containers and any tupperware, simply add double of whatever meal you are making and enjoy it by freezing for a later date.
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