Spend Less Time Cooking

Are you someone who enjoys cooking? I am! I could cook all day long for no particular reason. In the hot Phoenix summer, that isn't an option. Plus, it uses a lot of gas and electricity. So how do you cut back?

Cook in large amounts! When I know that it's going to be a week with no company or just a laid back time, I make enough to last us the week (plus some extra for freezing or having company over on the weekend). For instance, I'll soak a few cups of beans overnight and then pressure cook them the following morning. I'll make enough rice to last the week. And I'll have enough chicken (shredded or chopped) or ground meat to last as well.

Freeze leftovers. If you have a feeling they won't get eaten, or you plan on making something different instead of having the same meal, freeze it! I have a Food Saver vacuum sealer that cuts out frost bite. Place the meal in the bag (baked chicken and rice, pork chops and potatoes, enchiladas with beans and rice, chicken soup, etc), vacuum seal it, label it, and use it when you're sick, or as a frozen dinner for work. It costs far less and you know what it's made with.

Eat fresh. For those that can eat fresh produce, always have a head of dark green lettuce, baby spinach, and various other veggies on hand. A simple salad is refreshing in any season! No cooking involved. (Psst, you can make your own dressing too...it's simple. I'll post a recipe.)

Cook outside! What?! What is this "cooking outside" you speak of?? Ok, so you know ovens and stoves haven't always been around. So how was food cooked? Well, over a campfire, underground, in a pit. Try it!
-I just bought my first Dutch oven recently and I cannot WAIT to get my charcoal chimney made (there will be a tutorial on that as well) so I can have meals  made outside, in the ground, without heating up my whole house!
-Try solar cooking. It's simple directions (ok, I have yet to try it, but there will be a post about that too!) and you use the sun that's already burning down on the Earth to cook. Sure, easy enough.
-Or just have a nice fire in your yard, or go camping, and cook over it!
-Grilling is a great option too. If you have natural gas at home, you can buy a conversion kit at Home Depot or Lowe's that allows you to hook the grill up to the gas line at your house. I suggest calling the gas company out to do the work since it is a bit dangerous. Explosions, fire, you know.


If you have suggestions or tips on other ways to cut back the cooking, feel free to comment!