What uses less utilities? One big batch of food or smaller meals?

[james.hendrickson]

So, I've been trying to eat at home more and I'm also trying to reduce my gas and electric bills.

Is it better to make a big batch of food or smaller single meals? I was initially thinking that it would be better from a time and energy savings standpoint to make one big meal, but now I'm not so sure.

[snafu]

While you will save considerable costs eating at home, I hope you understand there are supporting factors to consider than merely the cost of electricity in food prep. Some foods freeze beautifully and are wonderful reheated like Chili, some soups and stews.

Some foods lose flavour and texture when frozen or even just held in fridge so money and effort go to trash. Least expensive to operate is likely a microwave but it can result in rubbery food that looks repulsive. Crock pot is a miracle work horse that turns cheap cuts of meat, dried beans and lentils into fab, healthy foods, cheaper to operate overnight when rates are lower due to reduced demand.

Better yet, plug in before leaving for work and come home to delicious aroma, beautiful sauce, yummy vegetables you thought you disliked and protein of choice waiting for you to plate and enjoy. Depending on quantity needed, a toaster oven will bake, broil or roast without heating the kitchen and adding to AC hours.

Restaurants have a much higher overhead, staff, prep requirements and most use a huge amount of convenience foods with unpronounceable chemicals, fats and salt.

[disneysteve]

So, I've been trying to eat at home more and I'm also trying to reduce my gas and electric bills.

Is it better to make a big batch of food or smaller single meals? I was initially thinking that it would be better from a time and energy savings standpoint to make one big meal, but now I'm not so sure.

I would imagine the cost savings would be minimal but big batches would be more efficient.

Example: Bake one chicken breast at 350° for 30 minutes or bake 6 chicken breasts at 350° for 30 minutes. Same amount of energy used for 6 but you get 6 times as much food. Of course, then there will be some energy used to reheat the cooked chicken, unless you eat it cold in sandwiches, wraps, or salads or throw it in when cooking other things like soup or stew.

Crockpots are great for low energy usage and big batches of soup, chili, and other things that can be portioned off and frozen for later use.

[Outdoorsygal]

I make a few of my meals while on the clock at work. Both are cheap and very healthy and involve a crockpot like Steve mentioned. I don't freeze these items so cannot speak to that.

One is a split pea soup. I buy hamhocks at Longhorn meats in Auburn (local farmers who treat their animals humanely running wild in pastures, grass fed, etc). Chop up the organic onion, carrots, celery at home. Place it in the crockpot at work. Then add the water, ham-hock, bag peas and organic vegetables to simmer all night. It simmers the 5.5 hrs I am asleep that is. I wake up at 7am (still on shift) and add the sour cream. I bring it to the car and leave it in there until my shift is done at 9:30am. Then it is in the fridge at home by 10am. We have a fridge at work but I want to be a bit inconspicuous so am afraid I'd leave it by accident. My assumption is crock-pots are very inexpensive to use and your time is worth more.

We are paid to sleep about 8 hrs but part of that time I am usually doing online paperwork for my job. And doing my ebay/amazon business taking photos of items and listing them. It's ok with my employer as they know they should be paying me more money as a Supervisor. My work is always done.

If you can plug the crockpot in at work, to me, that is best. Even the split pea soup can be done at work then add the sour cream at home. Boil for 15 minutes and the meal is complete. Add brown rice and it is a complete protein. I buy my clients items while we shop at thrift stores, and often share my split pea soup. I am with one main client but supervise 5 others. They are all from the mental institutions California is closing down. Her electricity bill has not changed. I keep wanting to price large batches of split peas and pinto beans but haven't gotten around to it. We shop at a local health food store

I also do a bean and hamhock meal. That's what i call it. A bag of pinto beans, one hamhock, garlic, onion, salt, & 8 cups of water. This provides lots of protein. On the weekends during summer, I have put my crockpot outside for the sun to cook it naturally except the deer are a problem here. So quit doing that.