Shopping for one can be tricky a lot of the time. A lot of the items sold in supermarkets are aimed more at families. And food waste is a real problem, it seems so un-environmental to be buying more food than we need, I feel pretty bad throwing any food away. So I’ve put together this set of ingredients that can be kept in cupboards, fridges and freezer of those cooking for one, and will help us be efficient and minimise waste.
Passata
A can of chopped tomatoes can make a great sauce or stew, but for four people. What am I supposed to do with a whole can? Well, tomato passata is the answer, it can come in a jar with a re-sealable lid, or I’ve bought it in a cardboard carton with a screw top. Keep in the fridge and just take what you need for your meal. Or store in the freezer if you won’t need it for a while (planning is pretty important too when cooking for one). Try in a spaghetti puttanesca or an aubergine parmiginna.
Frozen Spinach
I love fresh spinach. I still buy it. But how big are those bags! If I’m buying that I’m eating spinach for at least three meals over the next week or so. Well, you can buy it frozen and it’s pretty good. It comes chopped and grouped together in balls. Just take out of the freezer and stir into a stew or casserole about 5 minutes before serving.
Concentrated Liquid Stock
You can get some good stock cubes at supermarkets. But I don’t need a whole one! Check out the little bottles of concentrated liquid stock. Same principle as a stock cube, but infinitely divisible. Can be used in stews and risottos for one.
Chilli Flakes
Again chillies come in little plastic-covered packs that sometimes have more in than I want to use. Substituting for the dried chilli flakes that are found with the spices works for me. Plus there are all sorts of different varieties and they keep for months rather than days.
Frozen peas
This one isn’t even a tip just for one. Everyone has a bag of frozen peas in their freezer. Those adverts where they talk about how quickly they go from picking the peas to freezing them surely worked on me. I’m always whipping them out to add some vegetables to my meal, and easily divisible.
…and one to avoid
Lemon juice in a bottle
It doesn’t taste like lemon juice. You can just buy a single lemon, and then if you have to, put half in the fridge for the next day, or add to your gin and tonic.
