I have a rice cooker and I enjoy it. It is easy to clean, and all I have to do is measure out the rice and water, then push a button. I don’t have to stand over the stove for 10-15 minutes trying to get rice to cook right. It comes out better, and is easier to make and clean up after due to the cooker.
Plus I’ve read you can cook tons of things in it. I haven’t bothered yet, but making pasta in it should be feasible. Since I eat rice and/or pasta several nights a week, this is nice.
So what other cooking items are a good idea for lazy people who don’t like to cook or clean up after themselves? Is a crock pot a good investment, or are those overrated?
I love my George Foreman grill (or rather, a panini press). Burger patties, sliced veggies, Asian wrapped foods (pot stickers, samosas, egg rolls), burritos, wraps, sausages, portobellas… they come out with a great texture and grill lines to boot.
Yes, if you use a liner and are careful not to puncture it.
Put the liner in, dump in four cans of condensed soup, add four boneless & skinless chicken breasts right out of the freezer, and set on high for four to 6 hours. Or, if you get up early, set on low for 8 or more. Very easy plus you can save the liquid in the freezer for the next time.
I’ve also made beef using the above method. Ham is another good one, dump in a jar of ham glaze then put the ham in. Or chili beans and beef cubes for some chunky chili.
Crock Pots are the ultimate in cooking devices for lazy people. I mean, you still have to do the cleaning and chopping, but peeling is pretty optional, and there’s no standing over anything and stirring and watching and adjusting heat. Plenty of the recipes you may already use will convert to a Crock Pot with little change (other than maybe reducing the amount of liquid you add), and there are thousands of recipes written specifically for the Crock Pot. (I don’t use a liner, though - too much of a hassle for me, and my Crock Pots have removable crocks that are essentially nonstick enamel.)
After that, I’ll give you the foodie answer: a really good knife and a cutting board that’s not too small and not too big. I feel like more of my time, energy and effort is spent compensating for crappy knives than any other part of cooking when I’m cooking in someone else’s kitchen. And a really good knife, IMHO, doesn’t have to be a $400 Henkel. It just has to feel good in your hand, balance nicely as you move it and hold a good edge. My favorite was under $25, but it’s just perfect for me. I won’t even bother naming the brand, because it doesn’t matter - it probably won’t be perfect for you. Only way to find your perfect knife is to go hold a bunch of them (one at a time).
Those three things are permanent residents on my kitchen counter.
Oh, and a Foodsaver. I have a handful of Crock Pot recipes (mostly shredded meat) that I’ll make, then right after I eat, while it’s still hot, I’ll put into two or three Food Saver bags and toss right in the freezer. It makes for another lazy meal. Just pull it out of the freezer, let it thaw for a a few minutes under running water, microwave what I want to eat for a few seconds and toss the rest in a Tupperware container for another night.
One of my favorites (aside from my George) is the Fasta Pasta microwave pasta cooker. It might seem like a gimmick, but I’ve never had anything but success with it.
I make it using chicken thighs instead of breast meat and add cilantro and lime at the end. I also double the amount of black beans. Serve it over rice (from your rice cooker!) and Bob’s your uncle.
I toss it all in at 7:30 before leaving or work and cook up some rice when I get home.
Oh, and I don’t use a liner. Right into the dishwasher or a soak and a scrub.
I may have to try that, but instead of doubling the beans I’d leave them out since I’m not a fan. I’ve been making barbacoa, so this’ll be a nice change.
I have a nitpick though. Since I do food costs at work, unless she used the other half of the cilantro for something else, she has to count the entire cost of the cilantro (99¢) as part of the total cost of the meal. If you buy it for 99¢, use half and throw the other half in the garbage, it didn’t cost you 45¢, you still spent 99¢ on the meal…unless she used the other half for something else. I don’t follow her blog, maybe she’s good about that.
Yeah, I ignore the pricing bit. Her recipes are generally really good and the main point, that you can eat freshly made food on a budget, is a good one. She is honest about when she gets something on deep sale price, too.
NuWave PIC induction cook top. About 100 bucks. It’s about the size of a frying pan. It uses an induction field to heat ONLY the metal pan, pot or gridle you place on it. It stays cool. Plugs in to a 110 volt outlet. You can dial in the exact temp, like 465 degrees. Try that with a gas flame or even electric range.
So what’s in it for a lazy person? You can easily take it outside, plug it into an extension cord ( only 1500 watts) and cook out on a picnic table, or even outside your RV. No mess. No scrubbing down the kitchen range. Great for grilling steaks, or just bacon n eggs.
Rocket Grill (sorry no link, on my iPod) is even better than a foreman grill. It’s faster and you cook in a bag so there’s zero cleanup. Cooking frozen food is the best!
