As of Saturday I'm kitchenless!

[geminisnake]

my fridge freezer is 2m tall

Is that a metre each??

Will find and do recipe tomorrow, there's a whole section in that book about microwave things so I'll try and do a list and you can say the ones you're interested in

 

[The Boy]

If you will still have a freezer, you could just cook up big batches of spag bol, stew etc and freeze them. Cook in microwave as and when.

 

[Strumpet]

It's moving it, not switching it off. Needs times for all the chemicals to settle or summat. Same with a new fridge - you're not supposed to turn them on for 24 hours. Although we forgot and it doesn't appear to have done any harm.

My new fridge is coming tomorrow!!!!!!! *bounces madly* Ahem...anyway...I have to leave it for 6 hours before turning it on n using it. Yeh summin to do with cos it's moved n tilted about etc.

I aint that nice

You are! Anyway....summin for you soon. Been ermm pre-occupied.

 

[scifisam]

If you're up for a bit of experimenting, you could use lots of microwave recipes (rather than just using it for reheating like most people do).

Otherwise, you have a fridge, a freezer, and a hob to do occasional frying on - you're sorted.

However, if you want an extra hob, you can buy two ring electric hobs for about £25 (maybe less; that's what they cost down the shop by the market on Bethnal Green Rd). Could be useful if you ever do a really big meal that requires more than four hobs once you get your kitchen back.

Could a neighbour store some frozen food for you for a day?

 

[Epona]

^ Yep get a cheap plug-in electric hob, it will make the experience far less stressful. I didn't have a cooker or fridge for about 3 months after I moved in here as I couldn't afford to buy them right away, but got by with a microwave and an electric hob that I borrowed.

 

[beeboo]

I think beeboo was recently kitchenless. She should be along in a bit to offer tips and advice.

heh, someone paid attention to my ramblings

We did about two months without a kitchen (I estimated 3 weeks!), which has just FINALLY come to an end.

I thought I would be a more enthusiastic kitchenless cook than I was, but I mostly coped by stocking up the freezer in advance (luckily I wasn't aware of the 24hr rule on moving freezers!) and eating loads of microwave meals.

Beforehand what I'd been worried about was coping without an oven and a hob, when actually the main things which put me off being more ambitious were the lack of prep space and difficulty cleaning up.

We only had a microwave, but actually even if we'd had a gas stove, I'm not sure I'd have used it much. In the end it was easier to eat a meal out of the plastic tub it came in than it was trying to wash up in the bath.

ETA: the other thing was that I had totally under-estimated the mess that the builders would cause - the entire house was constantly coated in dust. I'd set up a 'mini-kitchen' in the living room but it was always so dirty and dusty it was impossible. Anything that wasn't boxed and sealed couldn't be used without being washed first.

 

[longdog]

we do but we need to move the fridge freezer into another room (planned for friday) and that needs to stand for 24hours between it's plugged back in so nothing can be in the freezer in that time

Freeze as many 2 or 3 litre bottles of water as you can and leave them in the freezer when it's unplugged. As long as you don't open the door too many times they will easily keep the temperature low enough for 24 hours.


I would at this point like to add I've been without a kitchen for six weeks and it's going to be at least another three weeks until I have one back. The most valuable lesson I've learnt is that you need to keep some work surfaces, having to pick something up just to put something down does your fucking head in.

As far as recipes goes I can't help except to say liver and onions (with tinned carrots, peas and new potatoes) does OK in a casserole in the microwave. One hour at half power does the job if you start with hot water from the kettle.

 

[Addy]

If you have a nearby Iceland (spits on Kerry) I can confirm that their curries are alright....and microwavable.
Tried the Chicken Tikka massala, Jalfrezzi, Buhna and all come with a 4 out of 5 stars... not a patch on a real Indian, but good for frozen food.
Their chicken tika bites and Sticky chicken skewers are also ok, nice with a noodle/stirfry combo which you might be able to achieve on a george forman griddle type thingy.

Has work begun yet?

 

[dwenfish]

we do but we need to move the fridge freezer into another room (planned for friday) and that needs to stand for 24hours between it's plugged back in so nothing can be in the freezer in that time

i reckon that's bollocks that whole "you need to leave a fridge a day after it's been connected thing" if you're just moving it from one room to another it'll be fine- i used to live somewhere that had daily, if not hourly power cuts that turned the fridges and freezers off and no one ever got ill....

edit- just read addy's post above- ah so it's to do with the gas moving about during movement! i always thought it was due to turning off then on again, so ignore me!!

 

[aqua]

If you have a nearby Iceland (spits on Kerry) I can confirm that their curries are alright....and microwavable.
Tried the Chicken Tikka massala, Jalfrezzi, Buhna and all come with a 4 out of 5 stars... not a patch on a real Indian, but good for frozen food.
Their chicken tika bites and Sticky chicken skewers are also ok, nice with a noodle/stirfry combo which you might be able to achieve on a george forman griddle type thingy.

Has work begun yet?

due to an outrageous quote from a sparky we've been waiting for someone else to come and have a look

they came today, everything back on track now

 

[Stig]

Ooh, knew my recipes would come in handy one day.

One tin of tomatoes
one tin of baked beans
one tin of EEC surplus stewed steak
No vegetables, don't be silly.
Mix in a bowl
Et Voila! A microwave stew recipe you'll never forget.



I swear by Maris Piper potatoes microwaved, halved,
covered in cheddar slices, (squash potato halves down firmly, you can balance much more cheese on that way) garlic granules, chilli powder, pepper, parsley and dill weed, re-microwaved, then eaten with really rather a lot too much butter, and salad and pickle on the side.


Stir fries are a good bet too, your veg can be very swift on the gas rings while your carbs are doing in the microwave.


Lastly, I think you should experiment with Microwave bacon.
I was told that bacon does very well indeed in a microwave. So I tried it, and it was shite. Maybe I was doing it wrong? Further research is required, no doubt.

 

[aqua]

A microwave stew recipe you'll never forget.

I swear by Maris Piper potatoes microwaved, halved,
covered in cheddar slices, (squash potato halves down firmly, you can balance much more cheese on that way) garlic granules, chilli powder, pepper, parsley and dill weed, re-microwaved, then eaten with really rather a lot too much butter, and salad and pickle on the side.

Lastly, I think you should experiment with Microwave bacon.
I was told that bacon does very well indeed in a microwave. So I tried it, and it was shite. Maybe I was doing it wrong? Further research is required, no doubt.

 

[Stig]

So, you liked the stirfry idea then?



*goes back to drawing board*



eta: ps I'm not the only one who hasn't come up with any actual proper recipes. We're still waiting for those to flood in. I can't wait, I need ideas for what to eat at work now I've killed the grill.

 

[aqua]

I can't stand stir frys

 

[wtfftw]

We're hopefully going to be having kitchen work done in the summer so just to jinx things (further - the man already didn't turn up to give us a quote) I am keeping an eye on this thread.

Lentils work in a microwave. bung some onion, garlic, lentils and water in a pot. Nuke it. Add a tin of tomatoes. nuke. I throw in anything we've got like carrot, herbs, whatever. voila, lentil splodge.

 

[Melinda]

How are you getting on Aqua/ Bees? Eating out more?

 

[longdog]

Lastly, I think you should experiment with Microwave bacon.
I was told that bacon does very well indeed in a microwave. So I tried it, and it was shite. Maybe I was doing it wrong? Further research is required, no doubt.

Totally made of fail.

Bacon is bloody awful cooked in the microwave. It smells wrong, looks wrong, tastes wrong and has a horrible texture.

 

[longdog]

Oooh. There is one recipe that does fine in the microwave.

Tin of corned beef cubed
Tinned new potatoes cubed
Red cabbage
Onions or better still shallots
Fresh (well, cooked and vacuum packed) beetroot cubed.
Tin of beans (anything from 10p baked to ultra posh)

Nuke until cooked (about 15 minutes)

Pour resulting slop on to plate

Top with optional fried egg(s)

Eat with crusty bread and butter.

Looks bloody awful but tastes superb