The Frugal Approach to Cooking

These are some simple penny pinching tips to help reduce your debt. It is important to try implement as many of these frugal tips as possible. Furthermore, the savings should be used to directly reduce your debt capital - not just pay the interest on debt.

Tips for Saving Money on Cooking

Free Food.

At this time of the year, you can find free food in many hedgerows. Blackberries, wild strawberries and mushrooms. It can be good fun learning which food are edible. If you have young kids they are likely to enjoy the challenge. It's certainly cheaper than taking them to a leisure centre.

Turn Off Appliances at Right Moment.

If you are baking in the oven. You can probably turn it off 10 minutes before it is finished, as the heat will remain.

Don't Overboil.

If you are boiling vegetables, simmer lightly rather than aggressively boil. If you are are over boiling you are using too much gas and can turn the heat down without affecting the cooking. Also don't cook for too long.

Don't use too much water.

If you making a cup of tea for one person, don't boil the whole kettle, make sure you can seem the line for minimum water use needed. Similarly, when boiling vegetables, keep a lid on and don't boil excess water which will take longer and require more heat.

Microwave.

A microwave can be useful for heating and reheating food using less energy than conventional methods. A microwave is not so great at boiling water, but for reheating food, it is excellent. Just make sure the food is heated all the way through.

Eat Raw.

In modern life, we have a tendency to overcook food, which is a shame because it reduces the quality of the food, and leaches vitamins from the food. Eating vegetables raw, is a little of an acquired taste, but, it is very nutritious.

Avoid Ready Made Meals and Sauces

Supermarkets can place a premium on ready cooked foods, because they tend to be bought by the 'cash rich time poor' If you buy your own ingredients you will save a lot of money, especially for cakes and meals.

Buy discounted Food near sell by date.

Supermarkets often sell food at a discount when it is approaching its sell by date. Some foods don't deteriorate at all and the best before date is quite conservative. Take advantage of these special offers to save money