Sometimes it can be hard to justify cooking a fab meal when it's just for yourself, but solitary cooking shouldn't be grim.
Patrick and Russell of The Gastro Gays joined Louise McSharry on RTÉ2FM to talk about some of the best ways to cook on the small scale. From buying meat for one to cooking indulgent recipes on a smaller scale, the food-loving duo have got you covered.
A common tip for those eating alone is to plan ahead and prep your week's worth of meals in one go. And while some people adore the structure and familiarity that batch cooking brings, others may find the process painfully mundane.
For example, when it comes to dinner time, Loise says her routine ranges from "takeaway to toast", while Patrick says he enjoys using up whatever he has stocked in the fridge, and Russel tends to satisfy a particular craving on a particular day.
Whether it be your cooking style, the kind of food you crave, or the amount of space you have available in your fridge, batch cooking won't necessarily be something that suits you.
So, rather than buying mince by the batch, for example, Russel suggests shopping local and asking your butcher for exactly what you need on the day. This will not only help you satisfy whatever meal you're craving but you'll be cutting down on food waste and helping to support a local proprietor.
"We're so into the convenience world of things," notes Russel. "Go to your local butchers and you can get the smaller quantities as you need it when you need it."
"Use the things that you have," agrees Patrick. "Head to the shops a couple of times a week and have a plan, get smaller shops in and hold yourself accountable."
As well as shopping smaller on a more frequent basis, the duo suggest finding recipes that can be as basic or as indulgent as you desire. For Patrick, cooking for one comes down to making the most of the humble instant noodle.
"I have packets and packets of them always in stock, in plentiful supply," he told Louise. "How can you elevate it up? Add in extra greens, add in an egg, add in some spicy stuff, add in some crunch stuff."
For more helpful tips and tricks, listen back to The Gastro Gays on RTÉ 2FM at the top of the page.
