Save money by mastering the art of batch cooking

Batch cooking can be a great way to save money – and nearly two-thirds (63%) of adults do it, according to new research.

Cooking in bulk also appears to be particularly popular among younger adults, with 75% of the 18- to 34-year-olds surveyed saying they batch cook.

Across all age groups, people who batch cook estimate that on average it saves them around £60 per month on food costs, the survey of 2,000 people by the Agriculture and Horticulture

Development Board (AHDB) found.

Spaghetti bolognese and curry were the most popular options, followed by casseroles and stews, chilli con carne and soup.

AHDB home economist, Denise Spencer-Walker offers five top tips for batch cooking success...

1.Shop with batch cooking in mind “When making your shopping list, ensure you’re buying with the view to batch cook. This will ensure you buy enough ingredients to make more than one meal and means you can stretch food out for longer. Aim to make three to four times more than you would normally cook, cool and then freeze in individual portions.”

2.Choose your ingredients wisely

“Ensure your batchcooked meals are healthy and nutritiously balanced,” says Denise.

She says lean red meat is a natural source of iron and vitamin B12, adding: “To make your meals stretch that bit further and boost your fibre intake, why not add some extra veg, beans or pulses to your meat dishes?

“For example, throw in a can of kidney beans or lentils to your beef bolognese sauce or lasagne, or chickpeas in a curry.”

3.Batch cook a variety of meals “Variety is the spice of life and to

ensure you’re getting a good balanced diet, try and mix up your batch cooking,” says Denise.

You could transform the leftovers from one meal into something else, by making soups, sauces and curries from leftover veggies, for example.

4.Store

To retain the freshness of your food, it’s important to store it safely and in line with the use-by date. If you’re worried you won’t get through what you’ve cooked over the following couple of days, you could freeze it.

your food correctly 5.Reheat food properly

“It’s important to ensure you thoroughly reheat your food, be it chilled or defrosted until it’s piping hot throughout,” says Denise.

“Incorrect reheating can impair eating quality or lead to potential food poisoning.”

Advice: Denise Spencer-Walker

Add extra veggies to your batch cook for healthier meals that go further