Budget Cooking can be Easy and Delicious
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009
by Chef Todd Mohr
Web Cooking Classes
We sure do hear a lot about saving money these days. In fact, budget cooking is one of the top food trends for 2009. Whether due to necessity, lifestyle changes, a desire for simpler living - whatever the reason - cheap living is really catching on! The good news is that learning how to cook is actually a key ingredient in this new, more budget-wise lifestyle. When you understand basic cooking method, you are well-prepared to create wonderful meals at home, saving money at the same time.
If you know how to prepare meat (chicken, beef, pork) quickly and efficiently, it makes sense to buy your favorite meats in larger quantities when they are on sale. Trim and prepare the meat, portioning it into serving sizes. Label and date each package and put each portion into the freezer. Now, when you are ready to prepare dinner some night, just take out a portion and prepare it using your favorite cooking method with your favorite ingredients. This budget cooking tip actually saves time AND money!
Celebrate at Home
Going out to a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion is always a treat, but it does have its drawbacks. For starters - if you want to enjoy a bottle of wine, expect to pay somewhere around 2 1/2 times as much as you would buying the same bottle at a store (and that's before tip!) But ... when you know how to apply basic cooking methods to great ingredients - you can create very high caliber meals right at home. And you can do this quickly, easily... and cheaply! This can also justify using the highest quality ingredients you can find and afford. You'll still be saving money by toasting your occasion... at home .
Tackle the Tenderloin
This is still one of my best budget cooking tips for preparing one of the best steaks - the filet mignon. Anyone who eats beef enjoys a nice filet mignon - especially on the outdoor BBQ grill - cooked just the way they like it. But even at the grocery store, this premium cut of beef comes at a premium price. So one of my favorite cooking secrets is that breaking down an entire filet is actually much easier than most people think. You start by removing the chain, which is the fatty muscle running along the side. Then you remove the thick "head". What's left is the tenderloin, ready to be cut into steaks. Portion them all equally - I usually go with 3.5 oz per steak - and cut. See - not that hard! You not only save money, but you end up with some great steaks at the start.
The not so Obvious
It might seem obvious, but the best way to save money on your food bill is to eat less , right? Well, the actual truth of the matter is that most of what is cooked is not eaten and goes to waste. A great way to save money is actually to make less - not necessarily eat less. Portioning is a secret of basic cooking method and a great way to save money. This is because most home cooks over-produce food rather than run the risk of running out of food, which everyone hates to do. However, if you portion correctly on the preparation side, you will save money and have another added bonus: proper portioning also ensures you will not have to even worry about leftovers. So you've solved another common budget cooking dilemma - what to do with leftovers? There won't be any!
Once you've mastered a few basic cooking methods and simple techniques for preparing great food, you'll find it to be a very simple and rewarding way to incorporate budget cooking into your frugal lifestyle.
Chef Todd Mohr is a classically trained chef, entrepreneur and educator. Since 2007, he has been the creator and host of the Cooking Coarse video series, which is known for its straight-forward and entertaining approach to cooking instruction. Chef Todd's simple philosophy - burn your recipes and learn how to really cook - has helped many home cooks and professionals alike finally achieve success in the kitchen.
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