Christmas is always an expensive time of year but this year people are even more conscious about what they’re spending due to the cost of living crisis.
The average cost of Christmas day celebrations is said to be £905, with £146 of that spent on food. But there are ways to try and cut back and one cooking influencer has shared her top tips to save on that all important Christmas dinner.
WorldRemit’s Caz Gundu, a Zimbabwean-British cooking influencer, has explained how sourcing better value ingredients and minimising cooking time, can help you cut the cost this year. Here’s her six best money saving tips for Christmas dinner:
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1. Spatchcock your chicken or turkey
“When we think of cooking meat at Christmas, we tend to think about the lengthy ordeal of standing by the stove and frequently checking the meat in the oven to ensure it doesn’t dry out. This drains energy and ramps up energy bills, but spatchcocking, or butterflying your chicken or turkey can really help to reduce cooking time. Simply cut and remove the backbone and apply pressure so that the bird lays flat on the tray. Not only does this quicken the cooking time, but it allows for more to fit in the oven at the same time. This further helps to save time and energy, letting you get back to your family, friends and festivities.”
2. Make your meat go further
“Have you ever considered adding chicken wings to the main meal? Not only is this a genius way to bulk up the main Christmas meal, but wings and thighs don’t dry out as easily as chicken breast meat and are perfect for young children to tuck into.
“To save time, marinate your wings the night before, so the seasonings can soak into the meat. Of course, be generous with the seasonings. Alternatively, if you have people who don’t like the bone, cook until soft and the meat should fall right off.
“If you opt for another meat instead of chicken or turkey, speak to your butcher about alternative cuts. For example, a chuck steak is more cost effective than a T-bone steak and just as delicious. A local butcher will be able to advise you on more affordable cuts of meat, and you can even ask them to slice thinner cuts, which means they cook quicker and save energy.”
3. Buy mixed seasonings rather individual seasonings
“A pre-made seasoning with all the flavourings, such as garlic or barbeque, helps lower the cost of ingredients. You can easily buy mixed herbs with parsley, basil, thyme, marjoram and oregano, which are perfect for seasoning meat, potatoes and vegetables.
“Not only are they generally cheaper, but buying mixed seasonings saves the stress of looking for individual seasonings during the Christmas season when they are in high demand and fly off the shelf! Be mindful when using mixed seasonings, as they may have added salt in them.”
4. Buy dried herbs instead of fresh
“Dried herbs last a lot longer than fresh herbs but still have a delicious flavour. Plus, you don’t need to use as much in order to achieve an ideal flavour profile. Stocking up on cheaper dried herbs will not only reduce the amount of waste produced, but thanks to their long shelf life, they will save you money well into January.
“With Christmas setting Brits back an average of £905 this year according to WorldRemit’s Cost of Christmas study this is more important than ever.”
5. Buy from a wholesaler
“At Christmas, you will probably have more mouths to feed than usual, which comes with a larger price tag. Buy from a wholesaler if you are cooking for extended family or have a lot of guests. For instance, an overnight market allows you to buy more produce at a cheaper price. However, be sure to head down early to ensure you get all the items you need!”
6. Optimise your kitchen tools
“Have you ever thought about using a rice cooker for Christmas dinner? A kitchen staple for most households, a rice cooker is an efficient tool which will free up space on the hob while you make other dishes, in turn, saving you time and helping you reduce your bills by using less energy.
“For people in the UK, you can bring the taste of Zimbabwe to your Christmas by adding rice rine dovi, or peanut butter rice on your menu, it’s a staple dish. A rice cooker can also be used to cook vegetables, desserts and even some thinner, softer meats.”
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